One Portal — All Programs
All IsDB applications go through a single online system
The IsDB scholarship portal is hosted on SmartSimple, a third-party grant management platform. The URL is isdbscholarships.smartsimple.com. All four programs (SPMC, IsDB-ISFD, M.Sc., and MSP) are managed through this same portal — you select your program type during registration.
Use a personal email address that you check regularly. All status updates, shortlisting notices, and scholarship offers are sent to this email. If you miss a time-sensitive email, your application can lapse.
The Application Process
7 Steps from Start to Enrolled
Download the current program booklet
Before touching the portal, download the booklet for your specific program from the official IsDB website. Booklets are updated each academic cycle. The one from two years ago may have different country lists, age limits, or document requirements. Read it fully before proceeding.
Create your account on the portal
Register at isdbscholarships.smartsimple.com with a valid email. Use your personal email — not a university email that could expire. Fill in your personal profile accurately. Errors in your profile at this stage cause delays later because all downstream documents must match.
Gather your documents before starting the form
Do not start filling in the application form until you have every document ready to upload. The portal session can time out and you risk losing progress. Have everything scanned and in PDF format first.
Core documents required across all programs:
- ● Valid passport or national ID (clear scan, all pages)
- ● All academic transcripts and degree certificates (certified English or French translations if originals are in another language)
- ● Language proficiency certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, DALF, or equivalent — depending on study language)
- ● Medical fitness certificate (issued by a licensed physician)
- ● CV or resume
- ● Motivation letter / personal statement
- ● Two recommendation letters (from academic supervisors or professional references)
Additional by program:
- ● SPMC only: Proof of Muslim identity, financial need documentation (family income statements)
- ● IsDB-ISFD only: Financial need documentation, NGO endorsement letter (some countries)
- ● MSP only: Institutional nomination letter from employer, research proposal, work experience letters, publications list (Postdoc)
- ● M.Sc. only: Institutional nomination from current/previous institution
Complete and submit the application form
Fill in the online form within the portal, attach all documents in PDF format (most sections have file size limits — usually 2–5 MB per document), and submit before the deadline. After submission, you will receive a confirmation email. Save this confirmation.
Wait for shortlisting (May–June)
IsDB reviews applications between February and May. Shortlisted applicants are notified by email, usually between May and June. If you are not shortlisted, you will not receive a rejection email. No correspondence means your application did not advance. This is IsDB's standard practice — it is frustrating, but it is the norm. Do not interpret silence as a system error; it means you were not shortlisted.
Receive scholarship offer and secure university admission
Successful applicants receive an offer letter from IsDB, typically in June–July. After receiving the offer, you have 60 days to submit proof of university admission to the intended study program. If you cannot secure admission within that window, the offer lapses.
Sign the surety bond and complete pre-departure steps
Before your scholarship is activated, you sign a legal surety bond committing to: complete your studies, return to your home country after graduation, and serve in a field-related capacity for a period equal to twice your scholarship duration. Read this document carefully. It is a legal commitment. Only then does the scholarship formally begin and payments commence.
Planning Ahead
Application Timeline for September 2027 Entry
| When | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Aug–Sep 2026 | Download the 2027-28 program booklet when released. Confirm your country is listed and your field is eligible. Take or improve your IELTS/TOEFL if needed — processing and re-sitting takes time. |
| Oct–Nov 2026 | Collect all documents. Request recommendation letters early — give referees at least 6–8 weeks. Get academic transcripts officially certified and translated if needed. Obtain medical certificate. |
| Dec 2026 | Application window opens. Register on the portal and complete your profile. Begin filling in the application form. Apply to universities in parallel — do not wait for an IsDB offer first. |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Application deadline (global — verify your specific program). Submit complete application with all documents before midnight on the deadline date. |
| Feb–Apr 2027 | IsDB internal review. Continue university application process. Do not stop pursuing admission just because you've applied to IsDB. |
| May–Jun 2027 | Shortlisting notifications sent. If selected, receive scholarship offer. Begin 60-day clock to confirm university admission. |
| Jun–Jul 2027 | Submit university admission letter to IsDB within 60 days of offer. Sign surety bond. Apply for student visa. |
| Sep 2027 | Scholarship year begins. Arrive at study destination. Allow 2–4 weeks for bank account setup before first stipend payment. |
What Goes Wrong
Four Mistakes That End Applications Early
Untranslated or uncertified transcripts
Transcripts in Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, or any language other than English or French must be accompanied by a certified official translation. A Google Translate print-out is not accepted. Get certified translations from a recognized translation service or your academic institution.
Applying for a disqualifying field
Applications for business, law, economics, journalism, or arts are screened out during initial processing. If your bachelor's is in a non-approved field and you want to switch to an approved field for your master's, this may or may not be accepted — clarify with IsDB before applying.
Missing the 60-day admission window
Applicants who receive a scholarship offer and then take more than 60 days to secure university admission lose the scholarship. Start the university admission process before your IsDB application is submitted, not after you receive an offer.
MSP applications without institutional nomination
Every year, people submit MSP applications as individuals, without an employer nomination letter. These are not reviewed — the portal requires an institutional nomination as a prerequisite. Without it, the application cannot be submitted or will be immediately rejected.