ISDB Scholarship: Islamic Development Bank Scholarship

IsDB Scholarship Programme

Happy New Year 2020. We hope, you have high motivation and hope to apply for scholarship in 2020. As most scholarships are open for application in the, we hope you have written down applying and be granted scholarship as one of your new year’s resolutions.

We will provide you with some scholarships programme application currently opening . In this article, we will provide insightful information for Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) scholarship grants. We will provide you some steps to fill the IsDB 2020-2021 scholarship programme. Please make sure you read until the end.     

As one of renowned scholarships, IsDB has now open for 2020-2021 application. For some historical background, IsDB is under Islamic Development Bank (IDB) initiatives. IDB is one of the largest and a multilateral development bank founded in 1973. IsDB scholarships programme is not only an effort to improve the quality of Muslim students’ life of higher learning. But it also to spread their presence and recognition across the world. 

The IsDB has been offering students, whose families are ordinarily very poor, access to outstanding education with scholarship to study outside their respective country. IsDB would ensure them quality education without burdening them with debt. The IsDB scholarship programmes are part of developmental initiatives to encourage technology and knowledge sharing among its member countries and Muslim communities in non-member countries. 

These programmes are designed to attract talented students from member countries. The programmes also aim to build the best competencies to empower communities. In the long run, these programmes develop national and global development plans in parallel to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The IsDB 2020-2021 scholarship opens for Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD and Post-doctoral Research, and Vocational Education & Training (VET) and Bachelor studies for 21 least developed member countries (LDMC). Current members IsDB consists  of 57 countries. The complete members of IsDB can be seen here. 

The IsDB scholarships have established partnership with reputable universities worldwide. The IsDB partnership programme has been carried out with Cambridge University, Oxford University, Queen Mary University of London in the United Kingdom. There are also Copenhagen University, and McGill University in Canada. These partnering universities would provide significant roles and services for students like, mentoring, guidance and counselling to for their academic success. Postgraduate and doctoral degrees would also receive financial support in the form of research grants. 

The field of studies of this scholarships varied according to respective degree. Some of the field of studies for Undergraduate degree are; ICT for developments, Education, Agriculture, and many others. For Master and Post-doctoral degrees, the field of studies are: Islamic Banking and Finance, ICT for Development, Energy, Health, and many others.  

IsDB students will also receive free or subsidized fees. It is based on collaborative program of IsDB with the Malaysian Ministry of Education, Council Turkey Higher Education, Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), and National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent University of Information Technologies.

The IsDB scholarship is open for academically proficient students. They should also demonstrate strong desire to empower and engage in social services and community development after graduation. 

Mark your calendar, the IsDB scholarship application will close on February 28th, 2020. To confirm your eligibility, candidates must refer to the following requirements:

ISDB Scholarship Levels of Degree

Undergraduate Degree

The Programme aims at providing educational opportunities to academically meritorious young students from Member Countries and Muslim communities. They will do the study in non-member countries public or government universities to complete undergraduate or first-degree study. They will receive training in specific fields of study in order to empower communities for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Presidency 5-Year Plan (P5P). The eligibility criteria for the IsDB Undergraduate degrees candidate are as follows:

• Citizens of any of the IsDB member countries or Muslim communities in non-member countries;
• Be medically fit and willing to undergo medical tests after selection
• Completed high school with minimum good grades in major subjects or currently studying in first year at one of the top public/government universities or schools in their own countries or in member countries having agreement with the IsDB (Malaysia, Morocco and Turkey).

Master Degree

The Programme aims at assisting IsDB member countries and Muslim communities in non-member countries for the enhancement of human capitals in primary areas of development. Candidates are to pursue Master degree in specific fields to empower communities particularly in “Sustainability Science”. Therefore, they will support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Presidency 5-Year Plan (P5P). The eligibility criteria for the IsDB Master degrees candidate are as follows:

• Citizens of any of the IsDB member countries or Muslim communities in non-member countries;
• Be medically fit and willing to undergo medical tests after selection
• Not in receipt of any other scholarship; and
• Be medically fit and willing to undergo medical tests after selection.
• Be a graduate with a grade above “Good” in his/her bachelor studies.
• Not in receipt of any other scholarship; and

PhD and Research Doctoral Degree

The programme aims at creating technically qualified human resources in the IsDB member countries and Muslim Communities in non-member countries. This programme provides scholarships to talented and outstanding scholars and researchers to pursue PhD studies and Post-Doctoral. They will undertake research in development related fields with a special focus on “Sustainability Science” and to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Presidency 5-Year Plan (P5P). The eligibility criteria for the IsDB Doctoral degrees candidate are as follows:

• Citizens of any of the IsDB member countries or Muslim communities in non-member countries;
• Be medically fit and willing to undergo medical tests after selection
• Preferably have work and/or research experience.
• Have a research proposal in one of the fields of study of the programme stating its scientific and development relevance to the community or country.

While for PhD by research degree the eligibility criteria for the candidate are as follows:

• Citizens of any of the IsDB member countries or Muslim communities in non-member countries;
• Be medically fit and willing to undergo medical tests after selectionHave not less than two (2) years of experience in the field of research.
• Must have a record of publications/research in the same field.

Vocational Education Training (VET)

The programme grants educational opportunities to academically talented young students from the 21 LDMCs to pursue VET at a public or government institution or vocational training center. These institutions or training centers will provide candidates with the knowledge, skills and competences required in particular occupations and on the labour market. They would also enable candidates to make a significant contribution to the development of their countries. The eligibility criteria for the IsDB VET training candidate are as follows:

• Completed high school with minimum good grades in major subjects;
• Not in receipt of any other scholarship; and
• Citizens of any of the IsDB member countries or Muslim communities in non-member countries;
• Be medically fit and willing to undergo medical tests after selection

Bachelor Degree

The Programme aims at providing opportunities to academically talented and poverty-stricken young men and women from 21 LDMCs. They will to pursue the Bachelor degree at a public or government university. They will receive training in specific fields and will enable them to make significant a contribution to the development of their countries. The eligibility criteria for the IsDB Bachelor degrees candidate are as follows:

• Citizens of any of the 21 IsDB LDMCs mentioned above.
• Completed high school with minimum good grades in major subjects;
• Not in receipt of any other scholarship; and
• Be medically fit and willing to undergo medical tests after selection.

To ensure proactive students’ active participation and well being in host universities, IsDB also provide some scholarship components. The IsDB scholarship programme covers the following components:

1. Monthly stipend for the cost of living of the country of study accordingly;
2. University tuition fees, if any, subject to IsDB’s approval;
3. Medical treatment cost at university or government hospital;
4. Economy class return air tickets (once at the time of joining and on completion of study) and 
5. Installation and equipment allowance for the students selected to study abroad at partnered universities or countries.
6. Thesis (Master) or scientific papers preparation allowance (PhD).

Application Process

Here are some tips in completing your IsDB 2020-2021 scholarship application. Please make sure you read all the questions and answer accordingly. You can save your application draft in the future. But remember the due date of IsDB scholarship for 2020-2021.

• STEP ONE: Register for the application form

For the first step you should register for an account using your email address. Do provide with your current and updated email. The temporary password will be sent with notification email. You can apply here.

• STEP TWO: Fill in eligibility questions

Before starting your application, you will be asked a few questions. These questions are in the form of Yes/No. Please provide your answers accordingly.

• STEP THREE: Answer the application question sections

In this step, there are standards section as most scholarship. For example, in the Master degree application you will be asked about your Academic and Professional Background, Master Degree Proposal, and Documents Attachments. 

• STEP FOUR: Review all the sections

Before you click the Submit button, do review your application. Any incomplete or insufficient information will be unnecessary. Make sure your proposal or statement letter are good enough. Please refer to our site on how to make the best of letter of statement.

And for your information as IsDB mentions, receiving admission does not necessarily mean a requirement for application. The final decision on place of study of the candidate is made by the selection committee.

Good luck in applying.