The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) finances and administers the scholarship program as part of its broader endeavor to improve the human resources of its member nations as well as those of non-member Muslim populations.
Objectives
The Programs are major components of the Bank’s development efforts, which have been in place since 1983 and aim to promote technology and information transfer among its member nations and Muslim populations in non-member countries. They are intended to attract talented male and female students and to develop the necessary competencies, with a particular focus on sustainability sciences, in order to empower communities and assist them in achieving their national and global development plans, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The mission is to turn students/researchers into responsible citizens and skilled professionals (GCCPs).
The IsDB Scholarship Program is more than a standard scholarship program in the sense of providing direct financial help to exceptional and eligible students. It’s also a tool for improving the Member Countries’ and Muslim populations’ socioeconomic situations. Because the scholarship is granted as an interest-free loan (Qard Hasan) to the students and as a gift to their communities/countries, it is essentially a scholarship and a development initiative at the same time.
Following graduation and gainful employment, students must fulfill the duties outlined in each program. Additionally, students are expected to contribute to the growth of their communities/countries through their chosen professions. The repaid funds will be used to provide scholarships to other students from the same community/country, complementing the IsDB Program and ensuring its long-term sustainability, while the community development services provided by students and graduates will contribute to the community/overall country’s development.
Scholarship Program Studying Location
Admission is primarily the responsibility of the student, in keeping with the Program’s premise. Selected students must be accepted into one of their country’s top ten public or government institutions.
Check out the university rankings.
However, if any students are unable to achieve admission in their home countries owing to unforeseen circumstances, the IsDB may seek admission in member nations with whom the IsDB has an agreement. Under these agreements, the final decision on admission of any student is subject to acceptance by the relevant institutions in these countries.
IsDB Scholarship Program Activities Schedule
Every year in December, the Program is publicly publicized (through the IsDB Scholarship Platform) for the following September/October intake. The cycle for implementing the Programs’ findings is as follows:
| Programme Cycle | December | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September |
| Submission of Applications | ||||||||||
| In-house/External Review of Applications | ||||||||||
| Selection Committees’ Meetings | ||||||||||
| Announcement of Result | ||||||||||
| Placement of Students |
Procedures for Selection
Two independent international selection committees, comprising of academicians and led by the Senior Advisor to the IsDB President for Science, Technology, and Innovation, conduct the assessment and selection process. These committees evaluate candidates’ credentials and eligibility requirements, as well as the scientific and developmental significance of their proposed subjects of the study/research proposal. These Committees make recommendations for ultimate selection, and applicants are chosen by the IsDB administration, whose choice is final.
Note that admission to or registration at a university does not guarantee acceptance and is not a condition for application. The selection committees of the IsDB Scholarship Programs make the final choice on where to study.
IsDB Scholarship Program Benefits
The following topics are covered in the scholarship program:
- The monthly stipend in accordance with the cost of living in the study nation.
- If there are any tuition costs, they must be approved by the IsDB.
- Medical care in a university/government hospital is expensive.
- Students selected to study abroad at associated universities/countries will get economy class return plane tickets (once upon enrollment and once upon conclusion of studies) as well as installation and equipment allowance.
IsDB offers six different 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
For further information, please visit: www.isdb.org/scholarships
