IsDB Master of Science Scholarship Program for Least Developed Member Countries

Tuition paid directly to the university, a monthly stipend matched to the cost of living, medical treatment costs, a thesis preparation allowance, and a return air ticket plus installation allowance for study abroad, for up to two years.

Fields: Natural sciences, Engineering, technology, medicine

Citizens of 16 listed countries

Eligible country codes: BJ, BF, TD, KM, DJ, GM, GN, GW, ML, MR, MZ, NE, SL, SO, TG, UG

• Citizen of one of the 20 IsDB least developed member countries (16 in Africa, such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal is not on this list, Sierra Leone and Uganda)
• Aged 30 or younger at the closing date
• Bachelor's degree in science or technology with above-average results
• Nominated by a scientific, academic or research institution in your country
• Good command of the language of study; provisional or full admission is strongly encouraged

The portal is open for registration for the 2027-2028 academic year, but the closing date is not yet shown on the official pages. In recent cycles the call closed in late January. Confirm on isdb.org/scholarships.

Deadlines move a little every year and some close early. Confirm the date on the official page before you plan around it.

• Online application on the IsDB scholarship portal
• Nomination from your home institution
• Bachelor's certificate and transcripts
• Proof of language ability for the study programme
• Admission letter from an eligible university, if available

1. 1

   Step 1: Check your country

   Make sure your country is on the least developed member country list in the official M.Sc. booklet.
2. 2

   Step 2: Seek admission

   Apply to a university in an IsDB member country ranked in the THE top 1,000; universities in Malaysia, Morocco, Turkiye and Makerere University in Uganda get priority.
3. 3

   Step 3: Get nominated

   Ask your university or research institution to nominate you for the programme.
4. 4

   Step 4: Apply on the portal

   Register on isdbscholarships.smartsimple.com and submit your application before the closing date.

• Sign a surety bond to return home and serve for at least twice the length of the scholarship
• Study full time and report regularly to IsDB
• No other scholarship or paid work that interferes with study unless IsDB approves
• Visa costs, family support, research expenses and computers are not covered

• This programme is a feeder for the IsDB PhD Merit Scholarship, so a strong M.Sc. record can lead to later PhD funding
• Nigeria, Egypt and Morocco are IsDB members but not on this least developed list; their nationals should look at the Merit Scholarship instead
• IsDB also runs an undergraduate scholarship (IsDB-ISFD) for least developed member countries, mainly for study in your own country
• Never pay anyone to apply; IsDB says it charges no fees

Checked against these official pages on 16 Oct 2026.

• IsDB: Scholarship Programs (opens in a new tab)
• IsDB: M.Sc. booklet (opens in a new tab)
• IsDB: Scholarship application portal (opens in a new tab)