Moroccan Government Scholarship (AMCI): Eligibility, Stipend, French Year and How to Apply

The Moroccan Government Scholarship is run by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), which sits under Morocco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It pays for Bachelor's, Master's and PhD study at Moroccan public universities and is listed as fully funded: tuition, a monthly stipend, a housing allowance, health insurance and airfare. You can see the full scholarship details on the scholarship page. This guide is about how the program actually works and whether it makes sense for you.

Two things set AMCI apart from most scholarships Pakistani students look at. First, you do not apply through a single online portal. You apply through the Moroccan embassy or consulate in your home country, which nominates you to AMCI. Second, most teaching at Moroccan public universities is in French. If neither of those puts you off, this is one of the few fully funded programs in North Africa that is open to applicants of all nationalities, which includes Pakistan.

The scholarship in one table

Who this scholarship suits, and who should skip it

AMCI is a good fit if you want a full degree paid for, you are open to learning French, and you would value a low-cost country with links to Europe, Africa and the Arab world. Historically most recipients have come from Sub-Saharan Africa and the wider Arab world, because the program grew out of Morocco's cooperation agreements with those regions. That does not exclude Pakistani applicants, since the program is open to all nationalities, but it does mean you should not expect a large Pakistani cohort or a well-trodden path with lots of seniors to ask.

It is a weaker fit if you need an English-taught degree and are not willing to spend a year on French. Some specialized or English-taught programs exist, but French is the default expectation across most disciplines and universities. If your plan is to finish quickly and move on to a job market that only cares about English, think carefully before committing to a degree that may run a year longer because of language preparation.

What the 1,750 dirham stipend really means

The money side has several parts. Here is what the scholarship covers:

• A 100% tuition fee waiver at Moroccan public universities.
• A monthly living stipend of approximately 1,750 Moroccan dirhams (MAD), roughly USD 190.
• An additional monthly housing allowance of approximately 500 MAD.
• Full health insurance coverage.
• Airfare support: typically a one-way ticket at the start of the program and a return ticket on completion.
• A French-language preparatory year for students who need it.

Note the words "approximately" and "roughly" on the stipend and housing figures. Treat them as a guide and confirm the current amounts with the embassy or AMCI when you get your offer. Around USD 190 a month is modest, and it works because Morocco has relatively low living costs. It is not money you will be sending home or saving from. Plan to live simply, and arrive with some personal funds for the first weeks, since stipends anywhere rarely land on day one.

The airfare structure also matters. You are covered for a ticket out at the start and a ticket home at the end. Trips home in between are on you.

Why the French preparatory year changes your timeline

This is the part applicants underestimate. Students whose French is not yet strong are usually enrolled in a preparatory linguistic year before they start their main degree. In practice that means a Bachelor's student from Pakistan with no French background should mentally add a year to the degree.

The upside is that the language year is part of the scholarship, so you are supported while you learn. The downside is time, and the fact that you will then be taking lectures and exams in a language you only started recently. The sensible move is to begin basic French before you even apply. It helps your application, because eligibility asks for French proficiency or a willingness to do the preparatory year, and it makes your first months far less stressful.

Eligibility for Pakistani students

The program is open to all nationalities, so Pakistani students can apply. The general requirements are:

• A valid secondary school certificate for a Bachelor's, or a relevant prior degree for a Master's or PhD.
• Strong academic transcripts.
• Nomination or endorsement through the Moroccan embassy or consulate in your home country.
• French language proficiency, or willingness to complete a preparatory linguistic year.
• A medical fitness certificate.

Age limits and specific academic prerequisites vary by program and host university. There is no single published age cutoff, so ask the embassy directly rather than assuming you are inside or outside the limit.

Paperwork the embassy will ask for

The document list is short compared with many government scholarships, but each item has to be in order:

1. The AMCI application form, obtained through the embassy.
2. Certified copies of your academic diplomas and transcripts.
3. A valid passport.
4. Passport-sized photographs.
5. A medical certificate.
6. A motivation letter.
7. Your birth certificate, translated and legalized where required.

For Pakistani students, "certified" and "legalized" usually means getting your educational documents attested before you go anywhere near the embassy. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide covers that process. Since the program runs mainly in French, also ask the embassy whether translations are needed and in which language they want them. Do this early. Translation and legalization are the steps that eat weeks.

How the embassy nomination route works

Because there is no central online application, the process looks like this:

1. Contact the Moroccan embassy or consulate in your home country to confirm the current cycle's requirements and deadline.
2. Submit the AMCI application form with your academic documents, passport copy and medical certificate through the embassy.
3. The embassy forwards your nomination file to AMCI in Rabat for review.
4. AMCI coordinates placement at a suitable Moroccan public university based on your chosen field and academic record.
5. If successful, you receive an official acceptance and scholarship notification, then move on to visa and travel arrangements.
6. On arrival, if your French is not sufficient, you start with the preparatory linguistic year.

Notice that placement is coordinated by AMCI, and the final admission decision is made by the host university. You can state a preference, but you are not choosing a university the way you would with a direct application. Research which Moroccan universities are strong in your field before you request a placement, so your preference is an informed one rather than a guess.

Working back from the 22 July deadline

The typical cycle runs like this:

• March/April: applications open through embassies.
• 22 July: indicative application deadline (confirm with the embassy).
• August-September: AMCI review and placement.
• September/October: the academic year begins, and the preparatory linguistic year starts at the same point for students who need French support.

The 22 July date varies slightly by country and embassy and can shift a little from year to year, so treat it as a planning marker, not a promise. If you are reading this after July, the realistic move is to prepare for the next cycle: start French, get your documents attested, and contact the embassy in early spring when applications usually open.

The gap between the review in August-September and a start in September/October is tight. Have your passport valid and your finances in order before results come out so the visa step does not hold you back. Our guide to common student visa rejection reasons is worth a read at that stage.

Mistakes that sink AMCI applications

The most common one is treating AMCI like a website application. People search for an online form, find nothing obvious, and assume the scholarship is closed. The process runs through the embassy, so the embassy is your first call, not your last.

The second is leaving translation and legalization to the end. Your birth certificate and academic papers may need both, and that is not something you can rush in the final week before an embassy deadline.

The third is ignoring the language question. Writing "willing to do the preparatory year" on a form is easy. Actually studying engineering or medicine in French a year later is hard. Show in your motivation letter that you have started learning French and understand what the program expects. It reads as commitment, and it is true preparation.

Finally, do not rely on any single date you read online, including this one. Timelines and documents vary slightly by country. Check AMCI's own published guidance on the official AMCI portal and confirm the details for your country with the embassy. The Study in Morocco site can also help you find Moroccan embassies.

If you are comparing options in the country, see all Morocco scholarships in one place.

Frequently asked questions

Can Pakistani students apply for the AMCI scholarship?

Yes. The program is open to students of all nationalities. Most recipients historically come from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab world, but that is a pattern, not a restriction. You apply through the Moroccan embassy or consulate in Pakistan.

Is it fully funded?

It is listed as fully funded. It covers tuition at public universities, a monthly stipend of approximately 1,750 MAD, a housing allowance of approximately 500 MAD, health insurance, and airfare at the start and end of the program. The stipend is modest, so budget carefully.

Do I need to speak French before applying?

Not necessarily. You need French proficiency or a willingness to complete a preparatory linguistic year. Most programs are taught in French, so students without enough French do that year before their main degree.

Can I choose my university?

You can state a preference, but AMCI coordinates placement based on your field and academic record, and the host university makes the final admission decision. Research universities strong in your field before stating a preference.

Is there an age limit?

Age limits and academic prerequisites vary by program and host university. Ask the embassy for the limits that apply to your level and field.

When is the deadline?

The indicative deadline is 22 July, with applications usually opening in March/April. It varies slightly by country and embassy, so confirm the exact date with the Moroccan mission in Pakistan.

For current requirements, check the AMCI official website and confirm with the Moroccan embassy, and keep the full scholarship page handy as you prepare.