How to Apply for the AKF Scholarship 2027: Steps, Forms and Deadlines

The Application Timeline for 2027

AKDN says the next cycle will open in early 2027; official dates are not yet published, so do not treat 31 March 2027 as an official deadline. Local offices may set earlier internal deadlines — verify on the official AKDN scholarship page. The stages below follow the pattern of past cycles.

1. 1
   October – December 2026

   Prepare

   Identify your target university and programme. Secure admission — AKF requires an official admission letter before you can apply. Gather financial documents and begin drafting your personal statement.

2. 2
   Early 2027

   Next cycle expected to open

   The eligibility tool on the AKDN website points you to your local contact. Contact your local AKF, AKES or AKEB office immediately to obtain the application form and confirm this year's internal country deadline. Do not wait.

3. 3
   January – March 2027

   Complete your application

   Gather all documents, finalise your personal statement and secure your two recommendation letters. Give recommenders at least two weeks — do not request letters at the last minute.

4. 4
   Varies by country — often March

   Country internal deadline

   Submit your completed application to your local office. This is not a single global date for most countries. If you contact your local office in late March expecting a global deadline, you may already be too late.

5. 5
   By 31 March (historical)

   Historical global close — not a confirmed 2027 date

   The 2022, 2024 and 2025 cycles closed on 31 March; the 2023 deadline was 17 March. By that point your submission should already be in; the local deadline precedes it for most applicants.

6. 6
   April – May

   Local committee review and shortlisting

   The local scholarship committee reviews all applications and contacts shortlisted applicants for interview. Those not shortlisted typically hear nothing — silence is not a good sign.

7. 7
   April – June

   Interviews

   AKDN says local scholarship committees may interview applicants. Ask your office whether interviews are in person or online. See the interview guide for preparation.

8. 8
   Late June / July

   International selection panel

   The international selection panel meets and makes final award decisions across all countries (AKDN says final decisions are made in July). No further applicant involvement.

9. 9
   Shortly after

   Applicants notified

   Successful applicants receive offer letters. Unsuccessful applicants are notified without detailed feedback.

10. 10
    September 2027

    Academic year begins

    Programme starts. Loan agreement signed, guarantor in place, first disbursements arranged.

Warning: Country Internal Deadlines

Where to Apply, Country by Country

There is no global online portal. AKDN says applications are handled by contacts in each country where the ISP is available, and its eligibility tool tells you how to reach your local team. The local office may be AKF (Aga Khan Foundation), AKES (Aga Khan Education Services), AKEB (Aga Khan Education Board) or a designated national committee, depending on the country's AKDN infrastructure. Completed applications go back to the office that issued the form; late or incomplete applications are not accepted.

The India Situation: Office-Issued Forms

India is one of the highest-volume applicant countries for AKF, and the one that most often surprises applicants with its process. AKDN publishes no online application portal for India: the form comes from the India office. In 2022 that office set a deadline for distributing forms (14 March) a week before its submission deadline (21 March).

• AKDN cycles have opened in January. Contact the office from January to request the form.
• Ask whether the form is sent by email or post, or must be collected in person.
• Completed applications go back to the same office, as AKDN requires for every country.
• If you are not based in Delhi and the office uses post, allow time for delivery in both directions. Plan from January — not February.

Required Documents

The list below is the baseline. Requirements vary by country office, so treat this as your starting point and confirm the full list with your local office when you collect your form. Most documents require certified copies, not originals — check your office's certification rules.

1. 1
   Completed application form

   Obtained from your local AKF, AKES or AKEB office. Not available for download on the main AKDN website.

2. 2
   Certified academic transcripts and certificates

   All degrees from bachelor's level upwards. Certified copies, not originals. Include degree certificates and full transcripts of grades.

3. 3
   Official admission letter

   Mandatory before applying: you cannot apply to AKF before you have been admitted to a programme. Conditional offers may be acceptable — confirm with your local office.

4. 4
   Detailed CV / resume

   Academic background, professional experience, community involvement, and publications or research output if applicable.

5. 5
   Two recommendation letters

   Two is the usual number; confirm locally. Typically from professors or direct supervisors who know the quality of your work. Not character references — the committee is assessing your capability and development potential.

6. 6
   Personal statement / statement of purpose

   The most important written component of your application. See the Personal Statement guide.

7. 7
   Proof of financial need: income tax returns

   Recent income tax returns for yourself and your family, often the last 2 years (or equivalent financial declarations where tax returns do not apply). AKDN lists genuine financial need as a core criterion.

8. 8
   Bank statements

   Your own bank statements for the past 2 years, and ideally your family's as well.

9. 9
   Family income statement or declaration

   A formal declaration of total household income, assets and financial position for your immediate family.

10. 10
    Proof of citizenship / passport copy

    Valid passport, certified copy.

11. 11
    Proof of residence (diaspora applicants only)

    Required if applying from Canada, the USA or Portugal rather than your home country.

12. 12
    Evidence of other funding secured or applied for

    Your multi-source funding plan: letters confirming fellowships, other scholarship outcomes, university fee waivers, or written confirmation that you applied and were unsuccessful. This directly supports the “last resort” principle.

13. 13
    Guarantor information

    Details of the person who will co-sign the loan component, typically required at or before offer acceptance. Confirm exact requirements locally. See the Funding page.

After You Submit

The review takes roughly three to four months. Here is what is happening during that time.

Local committee review

The local scholarship committee reviews all applications from its country and shortlists candidates for interview based on academic record, financial need and development potential. Local committees may interview applicants about their financial situation, academic performance, extracurricular achievements and career plans.

Shortlisting and interviews

Shortlisted candidates are contacted directly for interviews, typically April to May. Candidates who are not shortlisted usually receive no communication until the final result. Prolonged silence after submission is a signal, not a technical issue.

National committee

Candidates who pass the local interview stage go to national committee review. Not all countries have a distinct national layer — this varies with AKDN infrastructure.

International selection panel

The international selection panel meets in late June or July and makes the final awards. It considers all countries together — this is where cross-country comparison happens.

Result notification

Applicants in the final round are notified after the international panel meeting. No detailed feedback is given to unsuccessful applicants — a consistent frustration, but the current reality. To understand what to improve, connect with AKF alumni or advisors informally.

Re-Application

Not being selected does not close the door permanently.

• Re-applying in a future cycle is permitted. There is no published penalty or prejudice for re-applicants.
• Ask what was weak last time. Common areas to strengthen: academic record (if you were early in your career), financial documentation, development alignment narrative, and evidence of other funding sources explored.
• If you were shortlisted but not selected (you reached the interview stage), your application was competitive. Refine what distinguishes candidates at that level: specificity of your development plan, strength of recommendation letters, evidence of community impact.
• If you were shortlisted, try to get informal feedback from AKF alumni or advisors. AKF will not provide formal feedback, but people who have been through the process can often spot patterns.

Next: Selection criteria.