State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic Scholarship Programme - State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic Scholarship Programme

What the SOCAR scholarship covers

You will receive a full scholarship to study abroad in a field related to the oil and gas industry, funded by SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil company. The scholarship covers your tuition fees as well as all associated costs: visa fees, health insurance, accommodation, transport and the formalities for enrolment at a foreign university. The amount of the monthly scholarship is not specified in the available sources. You may receive funding for a Bachelor’s degree and subsequently for a Master’s degree as well. Partner universities are located in the USA, the Netherlands, Romania, Germany, Sweden, Russia, the UK, Canada, Turkey, France and Norway. In return, you undertake to work for a company selected by SOCAR for at least 5 years after graduating.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a citizen of Azerbaijan and speak Azerbaijani fluently.
• Degree level: You are starting a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Doctoral programmes are not eligible for funding.
• Age: to 25 for a bachelor’s degree, up to 35 for a master’s degree.
• Field of study: You are studying a subject within the oil and gas sector. This includes engineering disciplines such as geology and geophysics, petroleum engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering and process engineering, as well as computer science and IT. It also includes economics-related disciplines such as accounting and auditing or risk management. Human resources is also included if you already have at least 1 years’ professional experience in this field.
• Admission: You have been offered a place at one of SOCAR’s recognised partner universities abroad (or are in a position to secure one).
• Grades: Your grades in core and specialist subjects must be at least a ‘C’ (or equivalent). Applicants for a Master’s programme may qualify instead if they have received a SOCAR scholarship for domestic students at least once during their last 2 academic years.
• Language proof: You meet the minimum language requirements set by your chosen university, as demonstrated by a recognised test such as TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, SAT or DSH.
• Financial security: You may provide proof of property ownership or a bank guarantee covering the cost of your studies.

How to apply

You should send most of the documents by email to SOCAR’s Human Resources department. These include an application form, school reports, your language certificate, your admission certificate and two short essays in Azerbaijani. Medical certificates and proof of ownership must be submitted in person to the HR office in Baku. If you are already studying at a partner university abroad, you may apply from your first semester onwards.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship scheme is very restrictive. You must be an Azerbaijani citizen, be studying a specific subject in the oil and gas sector abroad, and be able to provide proof of property ownership or a bank guarantee covering the full cost of your studies. This rules out many applicants. If you meet these conditions and agree to a 5-year work commitment, the pool of eligible applicants is small and your prospects are good. Please note that the details published here are taken from an archived 2014 version of the programme; you should therefore check with SOCAR for the current conditions before relying on this information.