IsDB Scholarship Programmes 2027–2028

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Scholarship Programmes are the education awards of the Islamic Development Bank, a multilateral development bank based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with 57 member countries. The programmes fund Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD and postdoctoral study for students from the Bank’s member countries and for Muslim communities in non-member countries.

Overview

The Islamic Development Bank has run scholarship programmes since 1983, when it launched the Scholarship Program for Muslim Communities (SPMC) for undergraduate study. It added the Merit Scholarship Program (MSP) in 1992 for PhD study and postdoctoral research in applied sciences and high technology, the Master of Science Scholarship Program (M.Sc.) in 1998 for students from the least developed member countries, and the IsDB-ISFD Scholarship Program in 2019 for Bachelor’s and technical diploma study in those countries. The four programmes together cover Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD and postdoctoral levels. The Bank’s programme page is now titled Scholarship Programs 2027–2028, and the programmes are the Bank’s flagship education awards.

Scholarship Benefits

What the programmes cover depends on the track, and the funding structure differs between tracks, so read this section carefully:

• Tuition: full tuition fees are paid directly to the institution.
• Monthly stipend: a monthly living allowance set to the cost of living in the country of study. No fixed cash figure is published — the amount depends on where the scholar studies.
• Medical care: medical treatment at the university or state hospital.
• Books and clothing: an annual allowance equal to three months’ stipend, once a year (undergraduate tracks).
• Research support: thesis preparation and conference allowances for postgraduate researchers.
• Travel: return economy airfare and an installation allowance where the scholar studies abroad.

Grant or loan — an important distinction. The M.Sc. and MSP tracks are full grants: the funding does not have to be repaid. The SPMC and IsDB-ISFD tracks are interest-free loans (Qard Hasan): the funding is repayable after the scholar finds employment. Scholars on every track sign a surety bond committing to return to their home country on completion and to serve their communities and countries. There is no application fee at any stage.

What it does NOT cover: the programmes do not publish a separate housing allowance, and the stipend is set for a single scholar. Costs beyond the benefits above are the scholar’s own.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility depends on the track, and each track has its own country list, age limit and grade requirement. The country lists change each academic year, so always check the current programme booklet for the track you want:

• SPMC (Bachelor’s): Muslim students who are citizens of a listed non-member country, applying through the local Counterpart Organization in their country. Applicants must show financial need. Maximum age 24 at the closing date. Senior secondary education (about 12 years) with good grades in major subjects, and medical fitness.
• IsDB-ISFD (Bachelor’s / technical diploma): financially disadvantaged students from the 20 least developed member countries. Maximum age 24 at the closing date.
• M.Sc. (Master’s): graduates from the 20 least developed member countries, nominated by a scientific, academic or research institution in their country. Maximum age 30 at the closing date. Study is at a university in a member country ranked within the global top 1,000.
• MSP (PhD / postdoctoral research): academic staff from any of the 57 member countries, nominated by their employing institution, for research in applied sciences and high technology. Maximum age 35 for PhD and 40 for postdoctoral research at the closing date, with a “Very Good” academic standing.

On every track, applicants must be medically fit and must meet the admission requirements of the university or institution where they will study.

Available Fields

The programmes focus on science, technology and development-related fields. The MSP funds PhD and postdoctoral research in applied sciences and high technology. The M.Sc. funds Master’s study in science and technology. The undergraduate tracks fund a broad range of Bachelor’s and technical diploma subjects at recognised institutions, normally in the student’s own country. The exact field lists are set out in each programme’s booklet for the current cycle — check the booklet for your track before applying, because the lists change each year.

Required Documents

Each programme has its own booklet, and the document list in the current booklet is the one that applies. Across the tracks, applicants should expect to provide:

• Valid passport or national ID.
• Academic certificates and transcripts, with certified English or French translations where the originals are in another language.
• Language proficiency certificate (for example IELTS or TOEFL), depending on the language of study.
• Medical fitness declaration, with a medical examination after selection.
• For SPMC: proof of Muslim identity and documents showing financial need.
• For IsDB-ISFD: documents showing financial need and endorsement from the local partner organisation.
• For M.Sc.: nomination from a scientific, academic or research institution in the applicant’s country.
• For MSP: a nomination letter from the employer, a research proposal endorsed by that institution, work-experience letters and a publications list.
• A signed surety bond on acceptance, committing to return home on completion and to serve the home community and country.

Application Process

1. Identify your one eligible track from the four programmes above, and confirm that your country is listed for it in the current programme booklet on the official IsDB scholarships page.
2. For SPMC and IsDB-ISFD, contact the local Counterpart Organization in your country, which announces the call and carries out preselection.
3. For M.Sc. and MSP, secure nomination from your scientific, academic or research institution or employer; the shortlist is endorsed by the IsDB Governor’s office in your country.
4. Register on the official application portal (isdbscholarships.smartsimple.com), select your programme type, and complete the online application.
5. Upload all documents before the closing date stated in the call. There is no application fee at any stage.
6. Questions about the call go to the IsDB scholarship team at scholar@isdb.org.

Important Dates

Event	Date
2027–28 call — opening and closing dates	Not published yet
Last published call (2026–27)	Closed by mid-February 2026

Applications for the 2027–28 round: the programme page is now titled Scholarship Programs 2027–2028, but no opening or closing date was stated in the page content checked on 11 November 2026. Dates have not been published yet — check the official page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the IsDB Scholarship a grant or a loan?

It depends on the track. The M.Sc. and MSP tracks are full grants with no repayment. The SPMC and IsDB-ISFD tracks are interest-free loans (Qard Hasan), repayable after the scholar finds employment.

Who can apply?

Citizens of the Bank’s 57 member countries (for the MSP), citizens of the 20 least developed member countries (for the IsDB-ISFD and M.Sc. tracks), and Muslim students from the listed non-member countries (for the SPMC). Each track has its own country list, age limit and grade requirement, set out in its programme booklet.

How much is the monthly stipend?

No fixed cash figure is published. The stipend is set to the cost of living in the country where the scholar studies.

Where do I apply?

Through the official portal, isdbscholarships.smartsimple.com, after confirming your track and country in the current programme booklet. For the SPMC and IsDB-ISFD tracks, apply through the local Counterpart Organization in your country.

Is there an application fee?

No. The Islamic Development Bank charges no fee at any stage of the application or selection process.

Official source: Islamic Development Bank — Scholarship Programs