Most scholarship guides on this site start with good news for Pakistani students. This one starts with a warning. The IsDB-ISFD Scholarship Program is run by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) together with the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), and it is open only to citizens of IsDB's Least Developed Member Countries. Pakistan is not on that list. India is not on it either. Bangladesh is.
So why write a full guide? Because the name causes confusion. Students search for "IsDB scholarship", land on this program, and spend days preparing an application they cannot submit. If you are Pakistani, read the first few sections and then move on to the broader IsDB Scholarship Program, which is a separate scheme. If you hold a passport from one of the eligible countries, the rest of this guide walks you through how the program works. You can also see the full scholarship details on our scholarship page.
A loan dressed as a scholarship
The single most misunderstood thing about this program is the money. It is structured as an interest-free loan, known as Qard-Hasan. You do not pay interest, but you are expected to repay the funding once you start working after graduation.
That changes the whole decision. A grant is free money. A Qard-Hasan loan is a debt you carry into your first job. It is a fair and generous kind of debt, since there is no interest and repayment waits until you are earning, but you should plan for it the way you would plan for any repayment. Before you accept an award, think about what your likely salary will be at home, how long repayment might take, and whether your family can support you in the early working years while part of your income goes back to the fund.
The program is listed as fully funded in the sense that it pays for your study. Just keep in mind that "fully funded" here means fully financed, not free.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), with the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) |
| Funding | Fully funded, structured as an interest-free loan (Qard-Hasan) repayable after you start working |
| Levels | Bachelor's, TVET diploma, and a separate two-year Master's track |
| Fields | Scientific and social disciplines (Bachelor's); science and technology (Master's) |
| Who is eligible | Nationals of IsDB's 21 Least Developed Member Countries (includes Bangladesh, not Pakistan or India) |
| Deadline | Annual cycle, check isdb.org/scholarships for current dates |
| Official site | isdb.org |
Why Pakistan falls outside the Least Developed list
The eligibility gate is your nationality, and it is a hard gate. The program serves nationals of IsDB's 21 Least Developed Member Countries. Pakistan and India are not classified as Least Developed Member Countries under this program, so their citizens cannot apply. There is no exception for strong grades, low family income or a good research proposal.
The second requirement is demonstrated financial need. This is a needs-based scheme aimed at the poorest member states and, within them, at applicants who genuinely cannot fund their studies otherwise.
Two practical points follow from this. First, the country list can change, so the first step for any applicant is to confirm that their country is on the current Least Developed Member Countries list on the IsDB website. Second, if you are a Pakistani student with family roots in an eligible country, what matters is the nationality on your passport, so check carefully what the official rules say about your situation before you invest time.
The three study tracks
The program funds three kinds of study:
- Bachelor's degrees in scientific and social disciplines
- TVET (technical and vocational education and training) diplomas
- A separate two-year Master's track in science and technology
The TVET option is unusual. Most international scholarships ignore vocational study entirely, so for a student who wants a practical technical qualification, this program fills a real gap. The Master's track is narrower in subject. If your planned Master's is in a field outside science and technology, check with IsDB whether it qualifies before you apply.
What the funding covers, and what is still unclear
Tuition is covered. Beyond that, the available information says only that a stipend and housing are likely, under the same loan-based repayment model. That word "likely" matters. Do not build your budget on a monthly allowance figure until you see it in writing in your award letter or on the official portal.
When you get an offer, look for answers to these questions:
- Is there a living allowance, and how much is it?
- Is accommodation paid directly or included in the allowance?
- Which parts of the package count towards the amount you must repay?
- When does repayment begin, and over what period?
Paperwork to prepare
The document list is short:
- Passport
- Transcripts
- Financial-need documentation
- Recommendation letters
The financial-need documentation is where applications are won or lost in a needs-based scheme. Vague statements about hardship carry little weight. Official proof of household income, and anything else that shows your family's real financial position, will make a stronger case. For transcripts and recommendation letters, our international scholarship documents checklist has general advice on getting them in order, much of which applies to students from any country.
Ask your referees early. A recommendation letter written in a rush the night before a deadline usually reads like one.
Applying through the IsDB portal
The process itself is simple on paper:
- Confirm that your country is on the current Least Developed Member Countries list.
- Apply through the IsDB scholarship portal at isdb.org/scholarships.
The program runs on an annual cycle. Exact opening and closing dates are not fixed in advance in the information we have, so check the official portal for the current cycle and confirm the exact deadline there. Set yourself a personal deadline a few weeks before the official one. Gathering financial-need documents in particular can take longer than you expect.
Who should apply and who should skip it
This program suits a student from an eligible Least Developed Member Country who has real financial need, wants a Bachelor's, TVET or science and technology Master's qualification, and is comfortable taking on an interest-free debt to get it. For that student, Qard-Hasan funding can be the difference between studying and not studying.
It does not suit:
- Pakistani and Indian students, who are not eligible at all
- Students who need a pure grant and cannot take on repayment later
- Master's applicants outside science and technology
The most common mistake is the one this guide opened with: Pakistani students confusing this program with the broader IsDB Scholarship Program. The second is treating the award as a gift. Read the repayment terms before you sign anything. If you are Pakistani and want a wider view of what you can apply for, our scholarships guide for Pakistani students is a better starting point.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for the IsDB-ISFD Scholarship Program?
No. The program is restricted to IsDB's Least Developed Member Countries, and Pakistan is not classified as one under this program. Pakistani students should look at the broader IsDB Scholarship Program instead.
Is this a grant or a loan?
It is an interest-free loan called Qard-Hasan. You are expected to repay the funding once you begin working after graduation.
Can Bangladeshi students apply?
Yes. Bangladesh is one of the Least Developed Member Countries covered by the program. Applicants must still show financial need and should confirm the current country list on the IsDB website.
Does it pay a monthly stipend?
Tuition is covered. A stipend and housing are likely but not confirmed in the information available, so check the official portal and your award letter for the exact package.
What subjects can I study?
Bachelor's study is open to scientific and social disciplines, and TVET diplomas are also funded. The two-year Master's track is limited to science and technology.
When is the deadline?
The program runs on an annual cycle. Check isdb.org/scholarships for the current dates.
Before you start an application, check the current country list and cycle dates on the official IsDB website, and keep the IsDB-ISFD scholarship page bookmarked for the key details.