OFID Scholarships for Master's Programs

The OFID (OPEC Fund for International Development) Scholarship Program sponsors outstanding young students from developing countries through graduate studies in a development-related discipline. Tuition fees are paid by OFID directly to the academic institution.
OFID aims to help highly motivated and driven individuals to overcome the challenge of raising funds for graduate studies.

Scholarship Overview

Qualified applicants who have obtained, or are on the verge of completing their undergraduate degree, and who wish to study for a Master’s degree are welcome to apply for the OFID Scholarship 2018/19.
Through its scholarship scheme, OFID helps highly motivated individuals to overcome a challenge that many students in developing countries face – the cost of graduate studies.
OFID scholarships will be awarded to students or candidates for master’s degree studies. Applicants must be from a developing country (except OFID Member Countries), and he/she must first obtain admission to pursue a Master’s degree in a relevant field of development, from any recognized university/college in the world.

Host School(s)

Field(s) of Study

What does the scholarship cover?

The winners of the OFID Scholarship Award will receive a scholarship of up to US$50,000. The funds will go towards the completion of a Master’s degree, or its equivalent, at an accredited educational institution, starting in the autumn of the academic year 2018/2019
The scholarship funds are spread over a maximum of one year, toward the completion of a Master’s degree (or its equivalent) at a recognized educational institution.
This scholarship award covers:
- The full cost of tuition fees, including any additional fees required by the academic institution.
- A round trip flight from the recipient’s home country to the university and back.
- Health Insurance
- A relocation grant to help cover any extra costs of moving.
- A monthly allowance for one year.

How many scholarships are given?

Which countries are targeted?

Any developing country (except OPEC member countries)
Angola, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Antigua & Barbuda, Albania, Argentina
Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Belize, Barbados, Brazil, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Central African Republic, Comoros, DR Congo,
The Republic of Congo, Cote d’lvoire, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic
Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, El Salvador
Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Grenada, Guyana, Guatemala, Georgia
Haiti, Honduras
India
Jordan, Jamaica
Kenya, Kiribati, Korea D P R, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo
Laos, Lesotho, Lebanon, Liberia
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Maldives, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Macedonia
Namibia, Niger, Nepal, Nicaragua
Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Paraguay, Peru, Panama
Rwanda
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, São Tomé & Principe, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Syria, St. Christopher, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname
Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan
Uganda, Uzbekistan, Uruguay
Vietnam
Yemen,
Zambia, Zimbabwe

Am I Eligible to Apply?

You must be between the ages of 23-32 at the time of submitting your application.
You must have obtained or be on the verge of completing your undergraduate degree with a Baccalaureate from an accredited college/university, or its equivalent.
You must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 rating system or its equivalent.
You must be matriculated at an accredited university for the upcoming academic year starting August/September 2018 and must maintain full-time status for the duration of the Master’s Degree.
You must be a national of a developing country (any developing country that is not an OFID member country)
You must select a subject of study that pertains to OFID’s core mission, such as economics of development (poverty reduction, energy, and sustainable development), environment (desertification), or other related science and technology fields.

How do I Apply – Next Steps

OFID Graduate Scholarships Application Guidelines

STEP 1: Ensure that you fulfill the OFID Scholarship Award Eligibility Criteria.
STEP 2: Register within the OFID Scholarship Portal by using your email address. Please note you can log onto the portal as many times as required before finally submitting the application.
STEP 3: Fill out the application form. Make sure to save data each time you update your application. Once you are logged in, if the page remains inactive for more than two hours, your session will time-out, and you may lose unsaved data. Do not submit your application until you have completed the entire application process!
STEP 4: Upload necessary documents – CV, two recommendation letters, Bachelor’s certificate/transcript, acceptance letter into postgraduate program and essay and passport copy (scanned). Proof of meeting prerequisites like language proficiency should be included.
STEP 5: When your application is complete, and all additional documents are uploaded, your application is ready to be submitted. Once your application is submitted, you can no longer make any changes or upload any more documents.

Documents required include:

A completed online application form
A scanned copy of the applicant’s passport
A scanned copy of the latest university degree and/or certificate
A scanned letter of acceptance from the selected educational institution, confirming admission, the subject of study and duration of the program. (The study program must not exceed one year.)
Proof of meeting prerequisites, including language proficiency
A short essay of about 500 words (in English) giving reasons for applying for this scholarship. This essay must also outline your educational goals and describe how you will use the experience and knowledge from your Master’s degree to aid development in your home country.
Two letters of recommendation from professors and/or lecturers at your present university, or from your present employer.
A curriculum vitae (CV)

Closing Date

Applications open on March 20, 2018, and close on May 4, 2018.
Please do not call or email OFID to see if your application has been received or to inquire about your status. You will receive an automated confirmation once your application has been submitted. Winners will be notified by June 6, 2018, via the OFID website.

How do I get more information?