Fully Funded Azerbaijan Government Scholarship (Heydar Aliyev Grant) 2026
Organization: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of Science and Education, Republic of Azerbaijan
Host country: Azerbaijan
Degree level: Undergraduate, Masters, Doctoral
Funding: Fully Funded
Deadline: May 15, 2026
Eligible countries: Member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Fields of study: All academic disciplines, Engineering, Medicine, Economics, International Relations, Public Administration, Business, Humanities
The Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant Program is a prestigious, fully funded scholarship established by the Government of Azerbaijan to foster global educational ties. It offers 100 annual scholarships to international students from OIC, NAM, and SIDS member countries to study at over 20 participating Azerbaijani universities. The scholarship covers the entire duration of study—including language preparatory courses if necessary—across bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and medical programs. By removing all financial barriers, including tuition, international travel, accommodation, and medical insurance, the program empowers talented global youth to gain world-class expertise in a dynamic country situated at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
Benefits
- 100% full tuition fee waiver for the chosen degree and language preparatory courses
- Monthly stipend of 800 AZN (approx. $470 USD) to cover accommodation, daily expenses, and study materials
- One round-trip international economy class flight ticket per year
- Annual medical insurance allowance of 200 AZN
- Complete coverage of visa and local registration costs
Eligibility
- Must be a citizen of an eligible OIC, NAM, or SIDS member country
- Undergraduate and General Medicine applicants must be younger than 35 years old as of September 15
- Graduate and Medical Residency applicants must be younger than 40 years old as of September 15
- Doctoral applicants must be younger than 45 years old as of September 15
- Must possess a strong academic record with a minimum GPA of 70% (or equivalent)
- Must not hold Azerbaijani citizenship or have had it revoked
Requirements
- Official nomination from the applicant's home country government authority (e.g., Ministry of Education) or relevant diplomatic mission
- Comprehensive medical certificate confirming the applicant is free of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B/C
- Proof of language proficiency (IELTS 5.0 / TOEFL 40 for Undergraduate; IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL 50 for Postgraduate) if applying for English-taught programs
- All submitted documents must be notarized and translated into Azerbaijani, English, Turkish, or Russian
Required Documents
- Completed official Nomination Form
- Valid Passport copy (bio-data page)
- Notarized academic diplomas and official transcripts
- Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
- Motivation Letter detailing academic goals and future plans
- Official medical health certificate (including HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B/C test results)
- Language proficiency certificates (if applicable)
Programs of Study
Preparatory Courses
Bachelor's Degree Programs
Master's Degree Programs
Doctoral (PhD) Programs
General Medicine / Residency Programs
Application Process
- Stage 1: Submit your application and all required documents to the relevant state entity (Ministry of Education, Embassy, etc.) in your home country between March 15 and May 15 for official nomination
- Stage 2: If successfully nominated by your government, you will be invited to register on the SIACAS (Study in Azerbaijan Centralized Admission Service) platform
- Create an account on portal.edu.az and select the 'Heydar Aliyev - International Education Grant' admission channel
- Choose up to three degree programs at different participating Azerbaijani higher education institutions
- Upload all finalized, translated, and notarized documents before the June 15 online deadline
How to Apply
- Do not apply directly on the university portals; direct, non-nominated applications are strictly rejected
- Contact your country's Ministry of Education or Foreign Affairs immediately to learn their specific internal deadlines and nomination procedures
- Ensure your medical certificate is recent (dated no more than 3 months before submission) and explicitly states you are fit to travel and study
- Frequently check your email during July for invitations to mandatory online Skype/Zoom interviews with the selection committee
Selection Process
- Stage 1: Initial review and nomination by the applicant's home government authorities
- Stage 2: Document verification by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Science and Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Stage 3: Online interviews conducted by the respective Azerbaijani universities to assess academic readiness and motivation
- Final merit-based selection and placement announcements by the end of July