Islamic Development Bank Scholarship Programme for African Students

Three separate programs, three sets of rules

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) does not run a single scholarship. It runs three distinct programs, each with its own eligibility rules and application route, so check which one applies to you before you start.

How the three programs compare

Scholarship Program for Muslim Communities (SPMC)

Launched in 1983, the SPMC funds undergraduate study for students from Muslim communities living in countries that are not IsDB members. In Africa, this includes students in countries such as Kenya and Tanzania, where the government itself is not an IsDB member but a sizeable Muslim community exists. Eligibility generally requires completed senior secondary education with strong grades, an age limit around 24, proof of financial need, and proficiency in English, French, or Arabic depending on the host university's language of instruction.

Determining whether your country counts as a member or non-member matters more than your personal circumstances, since it decides which of the three programs you are even eligible to apply to. Check the IsDB member country list directly if you are unsure, since membership occasionally changes.

Merit Scholarship Program (MSP)

Established in 1992, the MSP funds PhD and postdoctoral research in applied sciences, engineering, and technology for students and researchers from IsDB member countries. It targets applicants who already hold a strong academic record and a clear research proposal in a priority technical field, rather than first-time postgraduate students.

MSc Scholarship Program for Least Developed Member Countries

Introduced in 1998, this program funds master's study specifically for students from IsDB Least Developed Member Countries (LDMCs), a group that includes several African states. It is more accessible to students without a strong research portfolio than the MSP, since it targets taught master's programs rather than research degrees.

How eligibility is checked

Across all three programs, IsDB works with a National Selection Committee (NSC) in each participating country, usually hosted inside the ministry of education or a designated national scholarship agency. The NSC pre-screens applications, verifies documents, and forwards a shortlist to IsDB for final selection. You cannot skip your national process by applying to IsDB directly. Contact your ministry of education or the relevant national scholarship office to confirm who administers the NSC in your country.

Common documents across the three programs include your academic transcripts, a letter of admission or acceptance from an approved university where required, proof of financial need for SPMC, a research proposal for MSP, language test scores where applicable, and a commitment to return and serve your country or community after your studies.

What the scholarships typically cover

Across the three programs, IsDB scholarships typically fund tuition, a monthly stipend for living costs, and return travel between your home country and the host university, though the exact amount differs by program and by host country cost of living. MSP and MSc awardees who study outside their home country also usually get a settling-in allowance for their first term.

Preparing a strong application

Start with your national process, not the IsDB website, since your first hurdle is passing your country's National Selection Committee shortlist before IsDB even reviews your file. Keep certified copies of your transcripts and identity documents ready throughout the year, since the review window between a call opening and its deadline is often short. For MSP, spend real time on your research proposal, since a vague or overly broad topic is one of the most common reasons strong candidates get rejected at this stage.

Renewal and reporting requirements

IsDB scholarships generally renew year on year rather than paying the full program cost upfront, tied to satisfactory academic progress confirmed by your university each year. PhD and postdoctoral awardees under MSP often need to submit a progress report on their research to the National Selection Committee or IsDB at set intervals, not only at graduation.

Because the commitment to serve your country or community after graduation is a formal condition of the award, some National Selection Committees ask you to sign a bond or undertaking before your scholarship is confirmed. Read this document carefully, since the consequences of not returning vary by country and are usually spelled out in the bond itself rather than in the general scholarship brochure, so ask the National Selection Committee to explain any clause you do not fully understand before you sign.

How to apply

Application windows are announced on the IsDB scholarship page for each academic year and typically stay open for only a few weeks. Watch the IsDB website and your country's National Selection Committee for the opening of the next cycle, and prepare your documents in advance since the review window between opening and closing dates tends to be short.