MastersFully Funded

Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme

The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme funds outstanding African and Asian students from selected developing countries to pursue a master's or PhD abroad — through a 50% grant and 50% loan structure.

Provider: Scholars4Dev (Africa)

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Eligibility & requirements at a glance

Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme is open to eligible African students at the Masters level, with fully funded funding. Below is a quick summary of who can apply, what's covered, and the key dates — full details are further down the page.

Who can apply: Masters · African students
Funding: Fully Funded
Study level: Masters
Deadline: Rolling / see sponsor

Key eligibility criteria

Applicants must be from eligible developing countries, have excellent academic records, and ideally be under 30 years of age.

What the fully funded award covers

Visa & residence costs

About the Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme (2026)

The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme (ISP) funds outstanding postgraduate students from selected developing countries — including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Madagascar and Egypt in Africa — to pursue a master's or PhD at any university in the world. It is administered through AKF country offices. ## Why this scholarship matters for African applicants Aga Khan ISP is distinctive for two reasons: it is one of the few scholarships that lets you choose any university worldwide (rather than a fixed list), and it operates as 50% grant + 50% interest-free loan. The loan structure makes it more sustainable to fund larger cohorts each year. ## What the award covers Up to 50% of tuition fees and living costs as a grant, and the remaining 50% as an interest-free loan repayable over 5 years after graduation. Travel and visa costs may be partially covered depending on the country office. ## How the selection process works Apply through the AKF office in your country — not directly to the global secretariat. Eligible countries each run their own annual application window with country-specific shortlisting, interviews and final selection. Selection prioritises academic excellence, financial need and the development impact plan. ## Application tips that move the needle Pick a university and programme that clearly maps to a measurable development outcome in your home country. AKF panels are very specific about 'how will this scholarship benefit your community' and weight the answer heavily. Get a guarantor in place early — the loan portion requires one. ## Deadlines and intake windows Country-specific deadlines fall between January and March each year. Confirm with your local AKF country office (e.g. AKDN Kenya, AKDN Tanzania). ## Useful internal reading - Browse open scholarships: https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/scholarships - How to write a winning scholarship essay: https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/blog/how-to-write-winning-scholarship-essay - Scholarship interview questions for African students: https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/blog/scholarship-interview-questions-african-students Always confirm the live intake on the sponsor's official site before you build a timeline around it.

What the Fully Funded Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme covers

The award components below were extracted from the sponsor's published description. Always cross-check the exact figures, ceiling amounts and conditions on the official site before you budget around them.

Visa & residence costs

Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme eligibility for African students

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

Applicants must be from eligible developing countries, have excellent academic records, and ideally be under 30 years of age.

Documents required for the Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme application

A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.

Valid international passport (bio page scan)
Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
Research proposal or statement of purpose (500–2,000 words for PhD)
Published or unpublished writing sample (PhD and research-led Masters)
Financial-need declaration or family-income statement (sponsor-specific template)
Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders

How to apply for the Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme 2026

A practical, sponsor-agnostic sequence used by >95% of international scholarship applicants. Adapt to the sponsor's specific portal — the order rarely changes.

1
Confirm eligibility on the official site
Open https://www.scholars4dev.com/2467/aga-khan-international-scholarships-for-developing-countrie/ and verify your country, level of study and English-language status against the current call. Sponsor rules change between intakes — never rely on third-party summaries alone.
2
Secure a study place or admission offer
Apply to the host university or programme first where required, and obtain a conditional admission letter. A growing number of sponsors only fund applicants who already hold an offer.
3
Sit required tests and gather documents
Register for IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo (or SAT / GRE where required), request official transcripts, brief two or three referees, and prepare passport and identity documents at high resolution.
4
Draft your essays and statements
Write a 500–1,000-word personal statement and any additional essays the sponsor specifies. Anchor each essay in concrete examples and tie your goals back to the sponsor's mission.
5
Complete the online application
Create an account on https://www.scholars4dev.com/2467/aga-khan-international-scholarships-for-developing-countrie/, fill in every field, and upload the required documents in the formats specified (PDF, max file size, single-file vs multi-file). Save progress frequently — most portals time out after 30–60 minutes.
6
Submit at least one week before the deadline
Sponsor portals routinely slow or fail in the final 24 hours. Submit early, download the confirmation receipt, and screenshot the submission timestamp. Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.
7
Prepare for shortlist interviews
If shortlisted, Scholars4Dev (Africa) will contact you within 4–12 weeks. Re-read your essays, rehearse 3–5 likely questions out loud, and confirm your time zone for any video interview.

Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme deadline & application timeline

The sponsor has not published a fixed deadline yet. Use the milestones below as a generic 12-month plan; substitute dates once the intake window opens.

12 months out
Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.
6 months out
Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.
3 months out
Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.
1 month out
Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
Application deadline
Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme?+

Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the Masters level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by Scholars4Dev (Africa), and be able to relocate to the host country for the duration of the programme.

Is the Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme fully funded?+

Funding model: Fully Funded. Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.

When is the application deadline?+

The application deadline is varies by intake — see the official site. Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

What documents do I need to apply?+

At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.

How can I improve my chance of winning?+

Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.

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