IsDB Master of Science Scholarship Programme for Least Developed Member Countries

Who can apply

Citizen of one of 20 IsDB Least Developed Member Countries: Afghanistan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Maldives, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Palestine, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Togo, Uganda, and Yemen
Under 30 years old at the closing date of the round applied to
Hold a B.Sc. or equivalent in science or technology
Secure admission at a university in an IsDB member country ranked in the Times Higher Education top 1000; priority given to admission in Malaysia, Morocco, Türkiye, or at Makerere University in Uganda
Cannot apply directly: must be nominated by a scientific, academic or research institution in your home country, with the endorsement of your country's IsDB Governor's office
Awardees sign a surety bond committing them to return home and work there for at least twice the length of the scholarship

A deliberate feeder programme, built to bridge a gap the flagship PhD scheme couldn’t reach

This scholarship exists specifically as a bridge. IsDB’s flagship Merit Scholarship Program, launched in 1992 for PhD studies and post-doctoral research, was out of reach for candidates from its poorest member countries, so in 1998 the Bank created this Master of Science programme as a feeder for 20 named Least Developed Member Countries, funding a two-year master’s in science, engineering, technology or medicine so those candidates have a realistic path toward the PhD programme afterward. It sits alongside an even older undergraduate scheme, the Scholarship Program for Muslim Communities, which IsDB launched in 1983 for Muslim communities in non-member countries; the three programmes together form a deliberate ladder rather than three unrelated offerings.

The award covers real costs, but not visas or residence permits

The award itself is substantial: tuition paid directly to the university, a monthly stipend, medical treatment, a thesis preparation allowance, a return air ticket, and a one-off installation allowance to help you get settled. It does not stretch to visa costs or the residence permit fee, so budget for those separately.

You cannot apply on your own

The critical detail that trips people up is that you cannot apply on your own. IsDB’s own programme booklet is explicit that applicants must be nominated by a scientific, academic or research institution in their home country, with your country’s IsDB Governor’s office responsible for endorsing shortlisted applications. Find your national nominating body before you do anything else. You also need to secure admission yourself at a university in an IsDB member country ranked in the Times Higher Education top 1000, with priority given to admission in Malaysia, Morocco, Türkiye, or specifically at Makerere University in Uganda. In exchange for the scholarship, awardees sign a surety bond committing them to return home and work there for at least twice the length of the funded study.

IsDB’s own page is still genuinely confusing about current dates

As for when to apply: IsDB’s own scholarships page is genuinely confusing right now. It’s headed “Scholarship Programs 2026 - 2027,” but the text underneath says the application period for the “2024 - 2025” academic year has officially closed, with no explanation of the gap and no dates for the programme this heading actually names. This isn’t a stale cache, it’s what the live page still said on this repeat check, meaning the contradiction has persisted rather than being a one-off glitch. No current application window is published anywhere on IsDB’s site for this programme, so contact your national nominating body directly to find out when the next round realistically opens.