The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) - OFID Scholarship Program

OPEC Fund Scholarship Award

You will receive a fully funded master's degree for one year at any accredited university worldwide. The scholarship covers all tuition fees, a monthly allowance, health insurance for the entire year, a return economy-class flight between your home country and your place of study, and a one-off settlement allowance. The scholarship is awarded by the OPEC Fund for International Development, which supports students from lower-income countries who plan to work in the field of development cooperation in their home countries. Please note: The programme is currently being restructured and is not accepting applications at present. A date for the reopening of the application window has not yet been announced.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You would like to start a full-time Master’s degree programme, not a Bachelor’s or PhD programme.
• Where you study: Any recognised higher education institution worldwide, provided that your course begins in August or September of the year in which you are applying.
• Enrolment: You have already been admitted or enrolled, or your application for the Master’s programme is still being processed.
• Subject: Your degree programme must be related to development, for example to poverty reduction, clean and sustainable energy, environmental protection – such as combating desertification – or to a related scientific or technological field.
• Nationality: You are a national of a developing country. Nationals of OPEC Fund member states are not eligible to apply: Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.
• Age: At the time of application, you must be between 23 and 32 years old; no exceptions will be made.
• Grades: You hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or an equivalent qualification, or are due to graduate shortly.
• English: Your English is good. The exact test results will depend on the entry requirements set by the university you have chosen.

How realistic are your chances?

At present, no one can apply, as the programme has been suspended whilst restructuring takes place. When it resumes, the eligibility criteria are quite strict: you must come from a specific group of developing countries, be aged between 23 and 32, and be studying a subject related to development policy with good grades. As only a small group is selected each year, a compelling, focused application that clearly demonstrates the link between your studies and development work in your home country will stand out.