IIslamic Development Bank (IsDB)
Fully funded
IsDB Merit Scholarship Program for High Technology (MSP) – PhD at Queen Mary University of London
Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), United Kingdom
Scholarship overview
The Islamic Development Bank's Merit Scholarship Program for High Technology (MSP), launched in 1992, funds PhD study and post-doctoral research in applied science and high technology for scholars from IsDB member countries. Its purpose is to build technically qualified people and strengthen the scientific, technological and research capacity of institutions in member countries.
For the PhD, priority goes to applicants admitted to universities that have a cooperation agreement with IsDB. The University of Queen Mary in the United Kingdom is named as one of these partners, alongside institutions in Malaysia, Turkey and Makerere University in Uganda. The PhD lasts three years (36 months); post-doctoral research (6-12 months) is held at centres of excellence in member countries.
Awards are made at institutional level: candidates are nominated by their home institution and endorsed by the office of the IsDB Governor in their country. Scholars must return home and serve their country's scientific and technological development.
Fields of study
- Laser and Fiber Optics; Conductors/Semiconductors; Polymer Science; Genetic Engineering/Biotechnology; Nuclear Science/Engineering
- Electronics/Micro Electronics/Telecommunication; Computer Science (including CAD/CAM); Renewable Energy/Fuel Technology; Hydrology/Water Resources; Metallurgy
- Chemical Engineering/Material Sciences; Medicine/Pharmaceutical; Agriculture/Food Technology; System Engineering; Space Science/Technology; Environmental Preservation Technology
- Technology Management and Innovation (post-doctoral research only)
The chosen field must be justified by a lack of expertise, emerging science, problem-solving or science management needs in your country.
Award Information
- Be a national of an IsDB member country: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen.
- Be attached to an educational, scientific or technological institution or research centre in your home country and actively working in its scientific and technological development; you must be nominated by that institution.
- Be aged up to 35 for PhD study.
- Hold an M.Sc. in a science/technology field listed under the programme.
- Have above-average ("Very Good") academic results.
- Have a good command of the language of the host institution and the ability to do scientific work in it.
- Have at least two years of work and/or research experience in the related field.
- Have a record of publications/research in the same field.
- Propose a field of study in one of the approved fields, with its scientific and development relevance shown in a research proposal endorsed by your nominating institution.
- Not be IsDB staff, an Executive Director or alternate, or staff of any appointment type in the IsDB Group, or a close relative of one.
- Tuition fees, paid directly to the university.
- Monthly stipend in line with the cost of living in the country of study, on a single-status basis.
- Medical insurance under the university health scheme.
- Thesis/scientific paper preparation allowance.
- Conference allowance for PhD scholars.
- Return air ticket and installation allowance for scholars studying overseas.
Not covered
- Visa application costs and residence permit fees.
- Costs of bringing or supporting family members.
- Additional travel; research expenses, supplementary materials, field trips, workshops, seminars, exchange programmes, conferences or internships beyond the allowances; equipment such as computers.
The scholarship only supplements, and does not duplicate, other funding, which must be declared to IsDB.
- Secure nomination from your home institution, which helps prepare documents and obtains endorsements from local authorities.
- Prepare a research proposal in an approved field, endorsed by your nominating institution.
- Seek admission to a PhD at an IsDB partner university such as Queen Mary in the UK.
- Apply through the IsDB scholarships portal (isdbscholarships.smartsimple.com).
- The office of the IsDB Governor in your country endorses shortlisted applications in the fields most needed for national development.
- Do not change your employment situation until IsDB confirms the award; admission or applying does not mean you have been selected.
Official links
How selection works
- Candidates are nominated by their institutions and accepted by the offices of IsDB Governors according to their country's developmental and scientific needs.
- Priority for PhD awards goes to applicants with admission at universities that have a cooperation agreement with IsDB.
- Awardees sign a surety bond committing them to complete their studies, return home and serve their country's science, technology and development for at least twice the length of their scholarship.
- Scholars study full time, report regularly to IsDB and may not take other scholarships or paid work without written IsDB approval.
