Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship (AKF ISP)

About the Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship

The exact application window for the Aga Khan Foundation scholarship is not fixed to a single published date in this record, but the programme runs on an annual cycle and is confirmed for the 2026 application cycle. You should confirm the precise opening and closing dates on the official website before you prepare anything.

The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme (AKF ISP) supports outstanding students from developing countries who have no other means to fund postgraduate study. The award is offered on a 50 percent grant, 50 percent loan basis, which sets it apart from most fully-grant schemes. It targets young people with clear leadership potential and a genuine financial gap.

Who Runs the Programme

The Aga Khan Foundation administers the AKF ISP through its network of country and regional offices. The Foundation is part of the Aga Khan Development Network, which works on education, health, and economic development across Asia and Africa. Because applications are handled locally, you apply through the Foundation office in the country where you qualify, not through a single central portal.

Study Level and Eligible Fields

This is a postgraduate award. It supports master’s-level study, and in exceptional cases PhD study, at recognised institutions worldwide. The programme does not restrict applicants to a narrow list of subjects. However, study in the United Kingdom and Russia is not funded, so you must plan your destination accordingly.

How Many Awards Are Offered

The number of Aga Khan Foundation scholarship awards is not specified in the available information. Places are limited and allocated by each participating country office, so competition is high. Meeting the criteria does not guarantee an award.

Who Can Apply

The programme is open to students from a defined set of countries. Preference goes to young professionals under 30 years of age. You must be starting the first year of your postgraduate programme, not continuing one already underway.

Applications are accepted from residents of the following countries:

• Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic
• Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda
• Australia and New Zealand

In Canada, Portugal and the USA, applications are accepted only from people who are originally from one of the listed countries.

What the Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship Covers

The award is structured as 50 percent grant and 50 percent loan. In practice, half of the funding you receive must be repaid, while the other half does not. It contributes toward tuition and living costs, but it is not designed to cover every expense on its own. For that reason, you must show a funding plan that draws on several sources to cover all years of your study.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for the Aga Khan Foundation scholarship, you must meet each of these conditions:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent training and professional experience.
• Have an excellent academic record.
• Demonstrate genuine financial need.
• Present a thoughtful, reliable, multi-source funding plan covering all years of study.
• Be admitted to a reputable postgraduate institution.
• Be starting the first year of the programme.
• Show strong leadership potential, professional experience, and extracurricular, entrepreneurial or volunteer achievements.

Preference is given to applicants under 30. Study in the United Kingdom and Russia is excluded.

Application Process for the AKF ISP

You apply for the 2026 application cycle through the Aga Khan Foundation office in your country of eligibility, because the programme is run locally rather than centrally. Since no single global deadline is published here, check your local office’s dates well ahead of time; missing the local closing date means waiting for the next annual round.

General steps to follow:

1. Confirm that your country and profile match the eligibility list above.
2. Secure admission, or an admission plan, at a reputable postgraduate institution.
3. Build a multi-source funding plan showing how all years will be paid for.
4. Contact the Aga Khan Foundation office in your country for the local application form and exact deadline.
5. Submit your application with the required supporting documents.

Applicants are typically asked to provide the following, though your local office confirms the final list:

• Proof of academic records and your Bachelor’s degree.
• Evidence of admission to your chosen institution.
• Documentation of your financial need and funding plan.
• A record of leadership, professional and volunteer activities.

The available information does not list a single direct email or phone contact, so use the contact details published for your country office on the official website.

Official Website

You can read the full details and reach your local application channel here: Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme.