The Application Timeline
The cycle runs from October preparation through September enrolment. The key error most applicants make: assuming the March 31 global deadline applies to them. In most countries it does not.
October – December: Prepare
Identify your target university and programme. Secure admission — AKF requires an official admission letter before you can apply. Gather financial documents. Begin drafting your personal statement.
January 1: Application window opens
The eligibility chatbot goes live on the AKDN website. 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.
January – March: Complete your application
Gather all documents. Finalize your personal statement. Secure your two recommendation letters. Allow at least two weeks for recommenders — do not request letters at the last minute.
Country internal deadline (varies — often February or early March)
Submit your completed application to your local office. This is not March 31 for most countries. If you contact your local office in late March expecting the global deadline to apply, you may already be too late.
March 31: Global application deadline
The official closing date. By this point your submission should already be in — the local country deadline precedes this for most applicants.
April – May: Local committee review and shortlisting
The local scholarship committee reviews all submitted applications. Shortlisted applicants are contacted for interview. Those not shortlisted typically receive no communication — silence is not a good sign.
April – June: In-person interviews
Shortlisted candidates attend interviews with the local scholarship committee. Interviews are held in person at the local AKF office. See the Interview Guide for preparation detail.
Late June / Early July: International selection panel
The Geneva-based international panel meets and makes final award decisions across all countries. This is the final stage — no further applicant involvement.
Shortly after: All applicants notified
Results are communicated to all applicants after the international panel meeting. Successful applicants receive offer letters. Unsuccessful applicants receive notification without detailed feedback.
September: Academic year begins
Programme commencement. Loan agreement signed, guarantor in place, first disbursements arranged.
Warning — Country Internal Deadlines
The global application deadline is March 31. But most countries have internal deadlines set by their local AKF offices that are weeks earlier — often in February or early March. These are not prominently listed on the main AKDN website.
If you contact your local office in March expecting the global deadline to apply, you may already be too late.
Contact your local AKF, AKES, or AKEB office in January to get the current year's country-specific deadline. This is the single most important practical step in the application process.
Where to Apply — Country by Country
There is no global online portal where all applicants apply. Applications go through local offices in each country. 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.
| Country | Office / Notes |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | AKF Afghanistan office |
| Bangladesh | AKF Bangladesh |
| Egypt | AKF Egypt |
| India | AKF India, New Delhi Physical Form Required |
| Kenya | AKES Kenya / AKF Kenya |
| Kyrgyz Republic | AKF Kyrgyz Republic |
| Madagascar | AKF Madagascar |
| Mozambique | AKF Mozambique |
| Pakistan | AKF Pakistan |
| Syria | Contact AKF directly for current process — operational arrangements may vary |
| Tajikistan | AKF Tajikistan |
| Tanzania | AKES Tanzania / AKF Tanzania |
| Uganda | AKF Uganda |
| Diaspora (Canada, USA, Portugal) | Contact the AKF office in your country of residence — process may differ from home-country applications |
The India Situation — Physical Forms
India is one of the highest-volume applicant countries for AKF. It is also the one that regularly surprises applicants with its process.
No online portal for Indian applicants
Unlike almost every other scholarship programme of this scale, there is no online application portal for AKF India. A physical application form must be obtained from the New Delhi office.
Office Address
AKF India
Sarojini House, 2nd Floor
6 Bhagwan Dass Road
New Delhi 110001
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The physical form becomes available in January each cycle. Contact the office from January to request or collect it.
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Applicants can visit the office in person or write and call to request the form by post.
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Completed applications must be submitted back to the same office — in person or by post.
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If you are not based in Delhi, allow sufficient time for postal delivery in both directions. Factor this into your planning from January — not February.
Required Documents
The list below is the baseline. Specific requirements vary by country office — treat this as your starting point and confirm the full list with your local office when you collect your application form.
Most documents require certified copies, not originals. Check with your office on certification requirements.
Completed application form
Obtained from your local AKF, AKES, or AKEB office. Not available for download on the main AKDN website.
Certified academic transcripts and certificates
All degrees from bachelor's level upwards. Certified copies, not originals. Include degree certificates and full transcript of grades.
Official admission letter from your postgraduate institution
This is 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.
Detailed CV / resume
Academic background, professional experience, community involvement, publications or research output if applicable.
Two recommendation letters
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.
Personal statement / statement of purpose
The most important written component of your application. See the Personal Statement guide for detailed guidance.
Proof of financial need — income tax returns
Last 2 years of income tax returns for yourself and your family (or equivalent financial declarations where tax returns are not applicable). This is co-equal in weight with your academic record.
Bank statements
Your own bank statements for the past 2 years, and ideally your family's as well. Supports the financial need assessment.
Family income statement or declaration
A formal declaration of total household income, assets, and financial position for your immediate family.
Proof of citizenship / passport copy
Valid passport, certified copy.
Proof of residence (diaspora applicants only)
Required if applying from Canada, USA, or Portugal rather than your home country.
Evidence of other funding secured or applied for
The 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.
Guarantor information
Details of the person who will co-sign the loan component. Typically required at or before offer acceptance. Confirm exact requirements with your local office. See the Funding page for more on the guarantor requirement.
After You Submit
The review process takes roughly three to four months. Here is what is happening during that time.
Local committee review
The local scholarship committee reviews all submitted applications from their country. They shortlist candidates for interview based on academic record, financial need, and development potential.
Shortlisting and interviews
Shortlisted candidates are contacted directly for in-person interviews (April to May typically). Candidates who are not shortlisted typically receive no communication until the final result notification. Prolonged silence after submission is a signal, not a technical issue.
National committee
Candidates who pass the local interview stage go to the national committee review. Not all countries have a distinct national committee layer — this varies by AKDN infrastructure.
International selection panel (Geneva)
The Geneva-based international panel meets in late June or early July. Final awards are made here. The panel considers all countries together — this is where cross-country comparison happens.
Result notification
All applicants are notified after the international panel meeting. No detailed feedback is provided to unsuccessful applicants — this is a consistent frustration, but it is the current reality. If you want to understand what to improve, connect with AKF alumni or advisors informally.
Re-Application
Not being selected does not close the door permanently.
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Re-applying in a future cycle is permitted. There is no published penalty or prejudice for re-applicants.
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The useful question is: what was weak in your previous application? Common areas to strengthen: academic record (if you were early in your career), financial documentation, development alignment narrative, evidence of other funding sources explored.
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If you were shortlisted but not selected (i.e., you reached the interview stage), your application was competitive. Focus on refining the elements that distinguish you from others at that level: specificity of development plan, strength of recommendation letters, evidence of community impact.
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If you were shortlisted, try to connect with AKF alumni or advisors for informal feedback. AKF will not provide formal feedback, but people who have been through the process can sometimes identify patterns.