| Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme |
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Description:
The Aga Khan Foundation provides a limited number of scholarships
each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from developing
countries who have no other means of financing their studies. Scholarships
are awarded on a 50% grant : 50% loan basis through a competitive application
process once a year in June or July. The Foundation gives priority to
requests for Master's level courses but is also willing to consider applications
for PhD programmes, when doctoral degrees are necessary for the career
objectives of the student. Requests will also be considered for travel
and study awards for PhD students doing their research in Third World
countries on topics judged to be of interest to the Aga Khan Development
Network. Applications for short-term courses are not considered; neither
are applications from students who have already started their course of
study. The Foundation accepts applications from countries where it has
branches, affiliates or other AKDN agencies which can help with processing
applications and interviewing applicants. At present, these are Bangladesh,
India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Syria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda,
Mozambique, Madagascar, France, Portugal, UK, USA and Canada.
Selection Criteria: The main criteria for selecting award winners
are: l) excellent academic records, 2) genuine financial need, 3) admission
to a reputable institution of higher learning and 4) thoughtful and coherent
educational and career plans. Candidates are also evaluated on their extra-curricular
interests and achievements, potential to achieve their goals and likelihood
to succeed in a foreign academic environment. Applicants are expected
to have some years of work experience in their field of interest.
Age Limit: Preference is given to students under 30 years of age.
Financial Assistance: The Foundation assists students with tuition
fees and living expenses only. The cost of travel is not included in AKF
scholarships. Applicants are requested to make every effort to obtain
funding from other sources as well, so that the amount requested from
the Foundation can be reduced to a minimum. Preference is given to those
who have been able to secure some funding from alternative sources.
Loan Conditions: Half of the scholarship amount is considered
as a loan, which must be reimbursed with an annual service charge of 5%.
A guarantor is required to co-sign the loan agreement. The payback period
is five years, starting six months after the study period funded by the
Aga Khan Foundation.
Application Procedures: The application procedures of AKF's International
Scholarship Programme are decentralised. Students may obtain application
forms as of January 1st each year from AKF offices or Aga Khan Education
Services / Boards in their countries of current residence. Completed applications
should be returned to the agency from which the form was obtained, or
to the address indicated on the front of the form. They should not be
sent to Geneva. The deadline for submission of applications is March 31.
Applicants should be prepared to be interviewed by local Scholarship Committees
about their financial situation, their academic performance, extra-curricular
achievements and career plans. Interview reports are sent with the applications
to Geneva for the final selection. The annual Scholarship Selection Meeting
takes place in late June or early July and the Aga Khan Foundation notifies
all students of the outcome of their application shortly thereafter. For
details
click here |
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Contact: Aga Khan Foundation
Branch Office:Aga Khan Foundation (India) Sarojini House, 2nd floor 6, Bhagwan
Dass Road New Delhi 110001 Tel: (011) 23782173 Fax: (011) 23782174
Email: general@akfindia.org |
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Source: The Aga Khan Development
Network (AKDN) |
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