Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant Program (Azerbaijan Government Scholarship)

Introduction

The Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant Program is a fully funded scholarship offered by the Government of Azerbaijan to international students. It is implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science and Education to strengthen global education cooperation and attract talented students to Azerbaijani universities.

The program supports students from many countries, including members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Non-Aligned Movement countries, offering opportunities to study at leading universities in Azerbaijan.

Who Was Heydar Aliyev?

Heydar Aliyev was a prominent political leader and statesman of Azerbaijan and is widely regarded as the founder of modern Azerbaijan. He served as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2003 and played a crucial role in stabilizing the country after independence from the Soviet Union.

Before becoming president, Heydar Aliyev held several key leadership positions, including:

Leader of Soviet Azerbaijan
Member of the Soviet Union’s top political body
Head of Azerbaijan during critical political and economic transitions

His leadership is credited with:

Strengthening Azerbaijan’s state institutions
Promoting national development
Expanding international cooperation
Prioritizing education as a foundation for national progress

Why Is the Scholarship Named After Heydar Aliyev?

The Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant Program is named in his honor to reflect his long-term vision for education, youth development, and global cooperation.

The Government of Azerbaijan established this scholarship to:

Support talented international students
Promote educational diplomacy
Strengthen ties with friendly and partner countries
Share Azerbaijan’s academic and cultural values worldwide

By naming the program after Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan recognizes his belief that education is a key driver of national strength and international understanding.

Scholarship Levels Available

Students can apply for:

Bachelor’s degree
Master’s degree
PhD degree
Medical residency
Preparatory language programs (if required)

Scholarship Benefits (Fully Funded Coverage)

The grant typically covers:

Full tuition fee
Preparatory language course (if needed)
Annual round-trip international airfare
Monthly stipend (about 800 AZN) (Nearly 55-5700 BDT)
Medical insurance allowance
Visa and residence permit support

This makes it a true fully funded opportunity for students from developing countries.

Eligibility Criteria (General)

Typical requirements include:

Age Limits

Bachelor / General Medicine: under 35
Master / Residency: under 40
PhD: under 45

Academic Requirement

Usually minimum ~70% GPA or equivalent

Language Requirement

English (IELTS / TOEFL) or
Azerbaijani / Russian depending on program

Participating Universities (Official List)

For recent academic years, the scholarship includes around 10 major higher education institutions in Azerbaijan.

Main Universities in the Program

Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University
Khazar University
Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC)
Baku Engineering University
Baku Higher Oil School
Karabakh University
ADA University
Baku State University
National Aviation Academy
Nakhchivan State University

Students can usually choose multiple study programs across different universities depending on availability.

Study Fields Available

Fields vary by year and university but often include:

Engineering & Technology
Oil & Gas Engineering
Business & Economics
Computer Science & IT
Social Sciences
Public Administration
Natural Sciences

Why This Scholarship is Good for Bangladeshi Students

Fully funded study abroad opportunity
International degree from European-Asian education hub
Access to modern universities
Cultural exposure and career networking