IsDB-ISFD Scholarship Program 2025-26

Scholarships
@Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)

Job Detail

Level Bachelor
Gender Male Female
Eligible Region/Countries Development Countires
Funding Type Fully Funded

Job Description

The IsDB-ISFD Scholarship Program 2025-26 is now open for academically talented yet financially disadvantaged students from Least Developed Member Countries (LDMCs) who wish to pursue a Bachelor’s degree or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). This is a great opportunity for students aiming to contribute to the development of their home countries by gaining quality education in key fields of study.

Launched in 2019 by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) with the support of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), the program goes beyond just offering financial support. It focuses on human development by not only funding students’ education but also encouraging them to give back to their communities. What makes this program unique is its sustainability model—recipients are expected to repay the interest-free loan after securing employment, and these funds are reinvested into new scholarships for future students in their home countries.

Key Details:

Application Deadline: To be confirmed
Funding Type: Interest-free loan and grant
Organizers: Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD)
Eligible Countries: 21 LDMCs — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Yemen
Eligible Gender: Male and Female
Target Group: Academically talented yet financially needy students
Study Level: Bachelor’s Degree and Technical Diploma (TVET)
Degree Required: Completion of senior secondary school (12 years of education)
Program Language: English or the language of the host university
Host Countries: Home country, or selected IsDB member countries like Malaysia, Morocco, and Türkiye

Fields of Study:

The scholarship program supports both Bachelor’s degrees and TVET diplomas in fields vital for socioeconomic progress.

Bachelor’s Degree Programs:

Medicine
Engineering
Agriculture
Dentistry
Pharmacy
Veterinary Science
Nursing
Nutrition
Computer Science
Forestry
Fishery

Technical Diploma (TVET) Programs:

Mechanical Manufacturing Methods
Mechatronics
Air Conditioning
Arts and Crafts
Automation and Industrial Instrumentation
Automotive Maintenance and Repair
Biomedical Equipment Maintenance
Buildings and Public Works
Business and IT
Business Management
Civil Engineering Technician
Clothing Industries Production
Design and Innovation in the Apparel Industry
Design and Manufacture of Moulds and Tools
Design Techniques for the Electronic Industry
Development of Smart and Informative Industrial Systems
Diagnostics and Embedded Electronics
Digital Infrastructure Development
Early Childhood Educator
Electricity and Electronics
Electromechanics of Automated Systems
Food Industry
Furniture Study and Design
General Mechanics
Hygiene and Quality
Industrial Maintenance
Infrastructure and Networks
International Trade
Leather and Footwear
Logistics Operations
Maintenance of Equipment for the Plastics Industry
Marketing and Multimedia
Mechanism and Industrial Media
Mechatronics Maintenance
Media and Communication
Metal Construction
Miscellaneous Services and Industries
Office Design
Plastic Industry
Production Technologies for the Electronic Industry
Quality Control in the Food Industry
Quality in the Garment Industry
Topographical Survey Technician
Textiles and Clothing
Tourism and Hospitality
Transport Operations
Vehicle Transport and Maintenance

Benefits and Financial Aid:

The IsDB-ISFD Scholarship offers a comprehensive financial package that includes:

Full tuition fees (paid directly to the university)
Monthly stipend (based on the cost of living in the study country)
Books and clothing allowance (equivalent to three months’ stipend, provided annually)
Medical treatment cost (at the university or local state hospital)
Return economy-class airfare (for students studying abroad — one trip at the start and one at the end of studies)
Installation allowance (for those studying outside their home country)

The scholarship does NOT cover:

Visa application fees
Family support expenses
Extracurricular training courses
Language training not included in the study program
Additional travel during the study period
Research and fieldwork costs
Computers and educational equipment
Residence permit fees

Eligibility Criteria:

To qualify for the IsDB-ISFD Scholarship Program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Be a citizen of one of the 21 LDMCs listed above
Be academically outstanding but financially disadvantaged
Be under 24 years old at the time of application
Have completed senior secondary education (12 years of schooling) with good grades in science subjects
Choose a field of study from the approved disciplines
Provide evidence of language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent) if the university’s medium of instruction is in English or French
Have prior admission to a recognized university (preferred but not mandatory)
Not be a staff member of IsDB, an Executive Director, or their close relatives
Not be living outside their home country
Be medically fit and willing to undergo a health examination
Commit to returning to their home country after graduation to contribute to its development
Be endorsed by a local NGO through the IsDB selection process
Not hold any other scholarship during the application or study period

Important Notes:

Admission to a university does not guarantee a scholarship—students must wait for official IsDB confirmation before making any commitments.
Scholarship recipients are expected to repay the interest-free loan after securing employment, and these funds will be used to support future scholars in their home country.