Islamic Development Bank Scholarships for Young Needy Muslim Students in Non-Member Countries

IDB Scholarship Programme for Muslim Communities in Non-Member Countries (SPMC)

Course(s) Offered: Several fields
Course Level: Undergraduate (bachelors)
Provider: Islamic Development Bank
Country to Study in: Any Country

Scholarship Description
Updated: See IDB Young Professional Program
The Islamic Development Bank offers the IDB Scholarship Programme for Muslim Communities in Non-Member Countries (SPMC) for Undergraduate studies.

The Scholarship Programme for Muslim Communities in Non-Member Countries was launched in 1404H (i.e. 1983) with the objective to improve the socio-economic conditions and to preserve the cultural and religious identities of Muslim Communities in Non-member Countries through developing their human capital resources.

The IDB Scholarship Programme provides scholarship to academically meritorious but financially needy young Muslim students to pursue undergraduate or first-degree study in professional courses. The Programme is for students with strong desire to engage in social services and community development.

Eligibility
To be eligible for this scholarship, the student/applicant must be able to meet the following basic criteria:

• Age not over 24 years.
• Completed senior secondary / pre-university education with good grades in major science subjects and language of instruction.
• Secured admission in one of the disciplines covered under the Programme at a recognized college or university in their own countries (for in-country study).
• Not in receipt of any other scholarship.
• Committed and needy Muslim.
• Recommended by the Counterpart Organization.

Selection procedures:
Each year, the Programme follows the following selection procedures:

• The Counterpart Organization announces the Programme in the country and invites applications from potential candidates who fulfill the criteria of the Programme.
• The Scholarship Selection Committee (SSC) conducts the interviews of eligible candidates and recommends them through the Counterpart Organization to the IDB.
• The IDB makes the final selection and informs the Counterpart Organizations.

Eligible groups
Citizens of Developing Countries.
(Visit the official website for the complete List of beneficiary countries.)

Participating Institution(s)
Universities (or other higher institutions) in ANY non-IDB member country (see the IDB member countries).

Consistent with the concept of the Programme, students must get admission or be in the first year in their own countries. On exceptional basis and where admissions in professional courses are not possible or not available in any particular country, the IDB assists to place students from these countries in IDB member countries, which have been generous enough to provide places for the IDB students in their universities.

Fields of study
Currently, the Programme focuses on medicine, engineering, agriculture and other related fields such as dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary science, nursing, nutrition study, computer science, forestry and fishery.

Only for the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries with their special needs has the IDB approved the inclusion of additional areas of study such as administration, management, marketing, finance, banking and accountancy.

Sponsorship duration
Throughout the duration of study programme

Scholarship benefits
The Programme covers all relevant expenses during students' study period, including tuition fees, health and living costs as determined by the IDB. Specifically, it covers the following:

• tuition-fee and other related academic expenses, such as examination fees, laboratory fees, etc., payable to the universities directly;
• monthly stipend commensurate with the cost of living in the country of study;
• books/clothing allowance, the equivalent of three months monthly stipends, once a year;
• cost of medical treatment (either at the university or local state hospital); and
• cost of one pair of eye-glasses, once during the entire period of study(if needed).

For the students who are selected to study outside of their own countries, the IDB also provides them with economy class tickets to and from the countries of study (once at the beginning and at the end of study.

Method of Application
In countries, where the IDB Scholarship Programme is being implemented, inquiries can be made and application form obtained from Counterpart Organization in the country. Application Forms must be properly completed and submitted to the Counterpart Organizations in your country, accompanied by all the required documents, as follows: attested copies of birth certificate, diploma, transcript, and proof of admission. Please contact the Counterpart Organizations (pdf) in your country and NOT the IDB directly.

In a country, where the Programme has not yet been implemented, inquiries may be directed to the Scholarship Division, Department of Communities in Non-Member Countries, IDB (i.e. inquiries to the IDB directly). Please visit the official website (link to it is below) for current contact -- post, phone, fax and email.

DEADLINES:
The Programme is announced through the Counterpart Organizations in beneficiary countries and follows a 12-month cycle of academic and logistic activities every year. The schedule is drawn on the basis of academic calendars of universities and institutions where IDB students will study.

The timetable is as follows:

January:	Announcement
June-December:	Deadline for submission of applications to the IDB (for in-country studies)
May-July:	Deadline for submission to the IDB (for abroad studies)

PLEASE NOTE:
The objective of the Programme is to improve the socio-economic conditions and to preserve the cultural and religious identities of Muslim Communities in Non-member Countries through developing their human capital resources.

The concept of the Programme is to build a team of professional and committed Muslims as a tool for the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of their communities. Under this Programme, the scholarships are given as interest-free loan (qard hasana) to the students but grants to the communities to which they belong. After graduation and gainful employment, all graduates are obliged to repay their loan amount to the community (IDB Local Trusts) for recycling and awarding additional scholarships to the local needy students.

Application Deadline: Rolling (between May-Dec)
Open to International students: Yes

More Scholarship Information and Application

Related: List of Religious based Scholarships