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Grant vs Qard Hasan: The Difference That Matters Most
Qard Hasan (SPMC & IsDB-ISFD)
An interest-free Islamic loan. You receive full funding during your studies, but after you gain employment, you repay the principal (no interest, no penalties) to a local IsDB Education Trust. That money is then recycled to fund the next student from your community. Think of it as a revolving community fund — you're not just a recipient, you're a steward.
Full Grant (M.Sc. & MSP)
No repayment of the funding itself. You receive tuition, stipend, and allowances as a grant. You still have a return-to-home obligation and a service commitment, but you don't pay back the scholarship funds. This is what most people mean when they say "fully funded scholarship."
Since 1983 • Loan-based
SPMC — Scholarship Program for Muslim Communities in Non-Member Countries
The SPMC was the first IsDB scholarship program. Its original purpose was to support Muslim minority communities in countries where the national government is not an IsDB member — places like India, the Philippines, Thailand, or South Africa, where Muslim students often face economic barriers to higher education but lack access to the bilateral scholarship programs that Muslim-majority countries typically provide.
The list of eligible non-member countries changes every academic year. A country present in the 2024-25 cycle may not appear in 2025-26. This is not random — IsDB reviews which communities need support and rotates the list accordingly. Always check the current year's official booklet before assuming your country qualifies.
Requirements
- ✓ Must be Muslim (religion verification required)
- ✓ Citizen of a non-member country on the current eligible list
- ✓ Maximum age: 24 years at time of application
- ✓ Minimum 70% in high school / secondary leaving certificate
- ✓ Financial need (income documentation required)
- ✓ Science subjects preferred in secondary school record
What It Covers
- ✓ Full tuition fees (paid to institution)
- ✓ Monthly living stipend (locally calibrated)
- ✓ Annual book and clothing allowance
- ✓ Medical coverage (university/state hospital)
- ⚠ All amounts are loans — repaid after employment
- ✗ No airfare (study is in home country)
Approved Fields of Study
Arts, business, law, and social sciences are not included. Applications in unapproved fields are typically screened out before review.
Study location: In your own home country, at a top-10 nationally ranked public university. You do not study abroad on this program — this is a domestic education scholarship, not an international mobility grant.
Since 2019 • Loan-based
IsDB-ISFD — Scholarship for Least Developed Member Countries
This program specifically targets students from the 21 Least Developed Member Countries (LDMCs). It was introduced in 2019 as a partnership between IsDB and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), a separate fund within the IsDB Group focused on poverty reduction and human development.
Unlike the SPMC (which keeps students in their home country), IsDB-ISFD gives students the option to study at partner institutions in Malaysia, Morocco, or Turkey — though many still study domestically. The TVET track is significant here: this is one of the only major international scholarship programs that funds technical diplomas and vocational qualifications alongside conventional bachelor's degrees.
Requirements
- ✓ Citizen of one of the 21 LDMCs
- ✓ Max age 24
- ✓ Min 70% (Bachelor's track) or 50% (TVET track)
- ✓ Financial need demonstrated
- ✓ NGO endorsement required in some countries
The 21 LDMC Countries
TVET Track — 40+ Technical Diplomas
This is unique among major international scholarships. The TVET track funds technical and vocational qualifications — not just university degrees. If you want a technical diploma in any of the following areas, the lower 50% minimum grade threshold applies:
Since 1998 • Full Grant
M.Sc. Scholarship Program
The M.Sc. program is a true full grant — no repayment. It targets students from the same 21 LDMCs who have already completed their bachelor's degree and want to pursue a Master's in science, engineering, or technology. Think of it as the next step up from the IsDB-ISFD program, but with stricter academic requirements and a requirement to study at a genuinely competitive university.
The University Ranking Requirement
M.Sc. scholars must study at institutions ranked within the top 1,000 universities globally according to Times Higher Education (THE). This is a frequently missed requirement — and it creates a practical challenge: many of the 21 LDMC home countries don't have universities in the top 1,000. This means most M.Sc. scholars end up studying at the IsDB partner universities in Malaysia, Morocco, or Turkey, which do meet the ranking threshold.
Requirements
- ✓ Citizen of one of the 21 LDMCs
- ✓ Bachelor's in a science/engineering/technology field
- ✓ "Very Good" / B+ or above academic standing
- ✓ Max age 30 at time of application
- ✓ Institutional nomination (from your current or previous employer/university)
- ✓ Acceptance at a THE top-1,000 university program
What It Covers (Grant — No Repayment)
- ✓ Full tuition
- ✓ Monthly stipend (country-specific rate)
- ✓ Book and clothing allowance
- ✓ Medical coverage
- ✓ Economy return airfare
- ✓ Settlement allowance (one-time, on arrival)
Fields Covered
STEM only — no social sciences, no business, no law, no humanities. The M.Sc. is specifically oriented toward technical capacity building in the development context.
Since 1992 • Full Grant
MSP — Merit Scholarship for High Technology
The MSP is not a student scholarship in the conventional sense. It is a capacity-building program for working academics and researchers — people already employed at universities, research institutes, or government science bodies. If you're a lecturer, research assistant, or STEM faculty member in any of the 57 member countries and want to pursue a PhD or Postdoctoral placement in a high-technology field, this is the program for you.
The Biggest Misconception About MSP
You cannot apply to the MSP as an individual. Your employing institution must formally nominate you. The application goes from your institution to IsDB — not from you directly. If you are a student who has just finished your bachelor's or master's but aren't employed by a research institution, this program is not accessible to you yet. Come back when you have a faculty or research staff position.
PhD Track Requirements
- ✓ Citizen of any of the 57 IsDB member countries
- ✓ Employed at a research/academic institution in home country
- ✓ Minimum 2 years work experience after Master's
- ✓ M.Sc. degree in a relevant high-tech field
- ✓ Maximum age 35
- ✓ "Very Good" academic record
- ⚠ Institutional nomination letter (mandatory)
Postdoctoral Track Requirements
- ✓ PhD in a relevant high-tech field
- ✓ Minimum 5 years work experience after PhD
- ✓ Maximum age 40
- ✓ Published research record
- ✓ 6–12 month placement at a center of excellence
- ⚠ Institutional nomination letter (mandatory)
The 17 Approved High-Technology Fields
Joint Program • For Established Researchers
IsDB-TWAS Programme
This is a joint program between IsDB and the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). It is not a student scholarship — it is aimed at established scientists who want to conduct sustainability-focused research in collaboration with another team from a different member country.
Research Grants
Up to USD 50,000 per research group (USD 100,000 total per joint project). Two groups from different member countries must collaborate. At least one must be from an LDMC. Focus: UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Postdoctoral Fellowships
25 fellowships per cycle for scientists from the 21 LDMCs. 6-month placements at centers of excellence in other developing countries. Focused on Sustainability Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Found your program? Read the eligibility details.
Now that you know which program applies to you, the next step is confirming you meet all the requirements — including the country list, age limits, GPA, and the religion question that the official pages don't address directly.
Go to Eligibility Details →