The Islamic Development Bank Scholarship Programme is more than just a scholarship program in the traditional sense of straight financial assistance to outstanding and qualified students. It is also a tool for improving the socio-economic conditions of the Member Countries and Muslim communities.
It is a scholarship program and a development program simultaneously since the scholarship is given as an interest-free loan (Qard Hasan) to the students and as a grant to their communities/ countries to which they belong.
The benefits and eligibility criteria for securing the Islamic development bank scholarship (IsDB) for either undergraduate, master & Ph.D. Scholarship Programs are thoroughly discussed in this article.
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Islamic Development Bank Scholarship (IsDB) Programs
The Programmes are essential parts of the developmental initiatives led by the Bank since 1983 to foster technology and knowledge sharing among its member countries and Muslim communities in non-member countries.
They are designed to attract talented male and female students and build the required competencies, focusing on sustainability sciences to empower communities and assist them in achieving their national and global development plans, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The motto is to develop the students/researchers as Good Citizens & Competent Professionals (GCCPs).
The Bank funds and implements its scholarship programs to develop the human resources of its member countries and those of the Muslim communities in non-member countries.
IsDB offers six scholarship programs:
- Undergraduate
- Master’s
- Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Research Programme
- IsDB-ISFD for Technical Vocational Education & Training (TVET) for 21 Least Developed Member Countries (LDMCs): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somali, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, and Yemen
- IsDB-ISFD Bachelor studies for 21 LDMCs, as mentioned in No. 4 above
- IsDB-The World Academy of Science (TWAS) Joint Programme for Capacity Building and Technology Transfer
IsDB Undergraduate Scholarship Programme
The IsDB scholarship program was launched in 1983 to assist the MCs and Muslim Communities in non-member countries in developing their human capital, especially in fields that are both relevant and important for their development.
Also, it provides educational opportunities to academically deserving young students from IsDB Member Countries (MCs) and Muslim communities in non-member countries to pursue undergraduate or first-degree study.
Eligibility Criteria
The Programme is open for academically deserving students who strongly desire to engage in social services and community development after graduation. Candidates MUST ensure that they meet all the criteria of the program listed hereunder, failing which the Application will not be considered:
- Must be a citizen of any IsDB member countries or Muslim communities in non-member countries.
- Candidates from non-member countries must be Muslim.
- Must have obtained a high school diploma or registered in one of the top 10 public/government universities in his/her own country.
- Must have a minimum of 70% in his/her high school final GPA.
- Candidates must choose a field of study listed among the approved disciplines of the program.
- Must provide evidence of language proficiency in the university medium of instruction as relevant. The language proficiency must be supported by a document or certificate, e.g., for English, by a recognized language certificate such as TOEFL or IELTS, or passed the required level test conducted such as by British Council or equivalent system in French or other languages).
- Must provide certified English or French translation of all documents if they are initially in other languages.
- Applicants must not receive any other scholarship at the time of application and during the study.
- Must be medically fit and willing to undergo medical tests after selection.
Benefits and Facilities
The program covers the following items:
- Monthly stipend commensurate with the cost of living in the country of study.
- Tuition fees, if any, are subject to IsDB’s approval.
- Cost of medical treatment at the university/government hospital.
- Economy class return air tickets (once at the time of joining and on completion of study) and installation and equipment allowance for the students selected to study abroad at partnered universities/countries.
IsDB Master Scholarship
The Programme started in 1998 to assist IsDB member countries and Muslim communities in non-member countries in developing their human capital to enhance the ability of students to participate in the Islamic Development Bank Scholarship Ph.D. Program.
Also, they aim to increase the number of intermediate-level manpower necessary for effective technology development, transfer, and maintenance.
And to increase access to the educational opportunities available under the IsDB initiatives in human capital development by creating a unique program suited to their circumstances and needs.
Eligibility Criteria
The IsDB scholarship program is open for academically deserving students and mid-career professionals from member countries and Muslim Communities in non-member countries. Candidates MUST ensure that they meet all the criteria of the program listed hereunder, failing which the Application will not be considered:
- Must be a citizen of any IsDB member countries or Muslim communities in non-member countries.
- Candidates from non-member countries must be Muslim.
- Must have a minimum of 70% in his/her Bachelor studies GPA.
- Applicants must choose a field of study listed among the approved disciplines of the program.
- Candidates must provide certified English or French translation of all documents if they are initially in other languages.
- Applicants must provide evidence of language proficiency in the university medium of instruction as relevant. The language proficiency must be supported by a document or certificate, e.g., for English, by a recognized language certificate such as TOEFL or IELTS, or passed the required level test conducted such as by British Council or equivalent system in French or other languages).
- Candidates must not receive any other scholarship at the time of application and during the study.
- They must be medically fit and willing to undergo medical tests after selection.
Benefits and Facilities
The program covers the following items:
- Monthly stipend commensurate with the cost of living in the country of study.
- Tuition fees as charged by the university and approved by the IsDB.
- Cost of medical treatment at university/government/public hospitals.
- The economy class returns air tickets (once at the time of joining and on completion of study) and installation allowance for the students selected to study abroad at partnered universities/countries.
- Thesis preparation Allowance.
IsDB Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Research Programme
The IsDB scholarship program was launched to produce technically qualified human resources in the IsDB member countries and Muslim Communities in non-member countries by providing scholarships to promising and outstanding scholars and researchers to undertake Ph.D. studies and Post-Doctoral research in development-related fields.
This came with a particular focus on “Sustainability Science” and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Presidency 5-Year Plan (P5P).
Eligibility Criteria
The Programme aims to help promising and outstanding scholars from member countries and Muslim communities in non-member countries who meet the following criteria:
1. Ph.D. study
- Have a Master’s degree in one of the fields of analysis of the program.
- Have a minimum (“Very Good”) academic standing;
- Preferably have work and research experience.
- Have a research proposal in one of the program’s fields of study stating its scientific and development relevance to the community/country.
- Be medically fit and be willing to undergo medical tests after selection.
2. Post-doctoral research
- Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in one of the approved fields of the program.
- Have a minimum (“Very Good”) academic standing.
- Have not less than two (2) years of experience in the field of research.
- Must have a record of publications/research in the same field.
- Have a research proposal in one of the program’s fields of study stating its scientific and development relevance to the community/country.
- Be medically fit and be willing to undergo medical tests after selection
Benefits and Facilities
Ph.D. study
The program covers the following items:
- Monthly stipend commensurate with the cost of living in the country of study;
- Tuition fees, if any, are subject to Islamic Development Bank Scholarship’s approval;
- Cost of medical treatment at the university/government hospital.
- Economy class return air tickets (once at the time of joining and on completion of study) and installation and equipment allowance for the students selected to study abroad at partnered universities/countries.
- Thesis preparation allowance
- Scientific papers’ preparation allowance
Post-doctoral research
The program covers the following items:
- Monthly stipend commensurate with the cost of living in the country of study;
- Cost of medical treatment at the university/government hospital.
- Economy class return air tickets (once at the time of joining and on completion of study) and installation and equipment allowance for the students selected to study abroad at partnered universities/countries.
- Scientific papers’ preparation allowance
IsDB-ISFD Bachelor Degree Programme
The Programme started in 2019 by the Islamic Development Bank Scholarship and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), with the specific aim of reducing poverty in the following 21 Least Developed IsDB Member Countries (LDMCs):
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Chad
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- The Gambia
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Niger
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somali
- Sudan
- Togo
- Uganda
- Yemen
Eligibility Criteria
The prospective candidate must meet the following eligibility criteria for the IsDB scholarship programs. Candidates MUST ensure that they meet all the criteria of the program listed hereunder, failing which the Application will not be considered:
- Must be a citizen of any of the 21 IsDB LDMCs listed above.
- Must have obtained a high school diploma or registered in one of the top 10 reputable universities in his/her own country.
- Candidates must have a minimum of 70% in his/her high school final GPA.
- Must choose a field of study listed among the approved disciplines of the program.
- Must provide evidence of language proficiency in the university medium of instruction as relevant. The language proficiency must be supported by a document or certificate, e.g., for English, by a recognized language certificate such as TOEFL or IELTS, or passed the required level test conducted such as by British Council or equivalent system in French or other languages).
- Candidates must provide certified English or French translation of all documents if they are initially in other languages.
- Must not receive any other scholarship at the time of application and during the study.
- Candidates must be medically fit and willing to undergo medical tests after selection.
Benefits and Facilities
The program covers the following items:
- Monthly stipends are commensurate with the cost of living in the country of study.
- Tuition fees as charged by the university and approved by the IsDB.
- Cost of medical treatment at the university/public hospital.
- Economy class return air tickets (once at the time of joining and on completion of study) and installation and equipment allowance for the students selected to study abroad at partnered universities/countries.
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