The Republic of Azerbaijan, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Science and Education, is offering the fully funded Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant Program for the 2025–2026 academic year. A total of 100 scholarships are awarded annually for a five-year period to outstanding international students.

What’s Offered?
This scholarship allows international students to study at some of Azerbaijan’s top universities. It covers various levels of education, including:

• Preparatory courses
• Undergraduate (Bachelor’s): 4–5 years
• General Medicine: 5–6 years
• Master’s: 1.5–2 years
• Medical Residency: 2–5 years
• PhD/Doctoral programs: 3 years

Who Can Apply?
Applicants must be citizens of one of the following:

• Member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
• Members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
• Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
• Countries with close cultural, ethnic, or historical ties to Azerbaijan

Age Requirements (as of September 15, 2025):

• Bachelor’s/General Medicine: under 35
• Master’s/Residency: under 40
• Doctorate: under 45

Language Requirements:

• Bachelor’s: IELTS 5 or TOEFL 40
• Postgraduate: IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 50
  Language of prior education must be English, or proof of proficiency in Azerbaijani, Turkish, or Russian is required.

Benefits of the Scholarship:

• Full tuition coverage
• Annual round-trip airfare
• Monthly stipend of 800 AZN (~$470 USD) (except July–August)
• Yearly medical insurance: 200 AZN (~$117 USD)
• Visa and residence permit support

Top Eligible Universities in Azerbaijan Include:

• ADA University
• Baku State University
• Khazar University
• Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University
• Baku Engineering University
• Azerbaijan State University of Economics
• National Aviation Academy, and others

Application Timeline:

• Apply between: March 15 – May 15, 2025 (by 6 PM Baku time)
• Notification of selection: July 16–31, 2025
• Academic year starts: September 15, 2025
• Last date to arrive in Azerbaijan: September 30, 2025

Required Documents:

• Nomination form
• Academic transcripts (GPA must be 70% or above)
• Passport copy
• Medical certificate (including HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B/C)
• CV/Resume
• Language certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or Turkish/Russian proficiency)
• Motivation letter
• Awards or recognitions
  Note: All documents must be submitted in PDF format by July 1 (6 PM GMT, Baku time).

Fields of Study Include:

• Agriculture, Business, Economics, IT, Engineering, Design, Ecology, Public Administration
• PhD areas like Public Finance, Econometrics, Economic Theory, Physics, and Food Technology

official list of study programs for 2025-26.

How do I Apply for the Azerbaijan Government Scholarship?

• Submit required documents to state entities by May 15, 2025, 6 PM Baku time for official nomination.
• If nominated, proceed to the second stage via the Study in Azerbaijan Centralized Admission Service (SIACAS) website from June 1 to June 15, 2025.
• Choose the “Heydar Aliyev – International Education Grant” program.
• Select 3 specialties at different Azerbaijani institutions.
• Track application status and receive notifications via SIACAS.
• The website will be open for applications from June 1 to June 15, 2025 at 6 PM Baku time.
• Only one application is allowed for candidates with multiple nationalities based on eligible nations.
• Applications nominated by respective countries proceed to Scholarship program evaluation.
• Email [email protected] for technical issues with relevant screenshots.

Application Portal 

List of Attachments:

• Nomination form (for the first stage of the application process)
• List of diplomatic missions of the Republic of Azerbaijan
• List of participating higher educational institutions
• List of programs

Learn more about the Azerbaijan Government Scholarship on its official link.