Azerbaijan's State Program provides scholarships for eligible Azerbaijani citizens pursuing bachelor's, master's, and doctoral studies at qualifying universities abroad. Primarily financed by the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), the program supports Azerbaijani students studying in priority fields at approved international institutions.
This guide explains the Azerbaijan State Program, including eligibility and funding, and highlights ApplyBoard partner universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada. ApplyBoard partnership does not guarantee State Program eligibility; applicants must confirm that their university and specific program meet the current State Program requirements.
Find State Program Eligible Programs
Discover top-ranked partner universities in the US, UK, Ireland, and Canada aligned with Azerbaijan's priority study fields and scholarship criteria.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Scholarship eligibility, funding arrangements, quotas, eligible institutions, program requirements, and application deadlines are determined under the State Program of the Republic of Azerbaijan and may change between competition cycles. Always confirm current requirements and eligible institutions through official state platforms before applying.
What Is the State Program for Education Abroad?
The State Program for the education of young people at prestigious higher education institutions of foreign countries operates to prepare top-tier national personnel by funding study at leading foreign universities. The program supports open scholarship competitions that award full grants to Azerbaijani citizens pursuing bachelor's, master's, and doctoral (PhD) degrees abroad, accepting around 500 students each year.
The program allocates quotas split across three major academic degree levels:
- Bachelor's degree programs
- Master's degree programs
- Doctoral (PhD) programs
What the Scholarship Covers
The State Program is a fully funded scholarship. Depending on the applicable financing rules, scholarship funding may cover tuition and approved costs such as visa/registration, travel, health insurance, living expenses, food, local transportation and study materials.
General Eligibility Criteria
Requirements can shift slightly from one competition cycle to the next, but open competitions have generally required candidates to meet the following standards:
Important State Program Rules to Keep in Mind:
- Citizenship: Open only to citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
- Age and Academic Background: Candidates must meet specific academic milestones and age brackets corresponding to bachelor's, master's, or PhD application tiers.
- Language proficiency: Applicants must satisfy the applicable foreign-language requirements for their study level and program. Accepted certificates and minimum scores/levels are determined by the State Program's current rules.
- Letter of Acceptance: Applicants generally need a current official admission/acceptance letter from an eligible foreign institution.
- Priority fields of study: For the 2026–2027 academic year, the program identifies 15 priority specialization areas, including information technology, engineering, statistics and data analysis, fundamental and applied sciences, public health, education, environmental studies, aviation and space, public administration, transportation and logistics, energy, economics, finance, architecture and design, and agriculture.
Why Program-Recognized Institutions Matter
Because scholarship funding is tied to specific offers at prestigious foreign institutions, candidates should confirm that their target university and program are recognized under the State Program framework before accepting an offer or finalizing their application.
Note: ApplyBoard supports program searches and school applications. The State Program governing bodies, not ApplyBoard, determine scholarship eligibility, quotas, and qualifying institutions. Always verify your specific situation with official authorities and your ApplyBoard counsellor before finalizing a decision.
Who ApplyBoard Is & How We Help
ApplyBoard is a global study-abroad platform that has helped more than 1.5 million students from over 180 countries apply to more than 1,500 partner institutions across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, and beyond. For Azerbaijani students exploring study abroad financing, ApplyBoard helps in four specific ways:
Finding Eligible Programs
Search across ApplyBoard's partner network to identify programs at institutions abroad that fit the priority fields and degree levels funded by the State Program.
Streamlining Applications
Submit a single profile and apply to multiple partner institutions, with document checks along the way to help you secure a Letter of Acceptance efficiently.
Navigating Eligibility Questions
An ApplyBoard counsellor can help you understand program requirements at our partner institutions as you prepare your study plans.
Visa Application Guidance
Your ApplyBoard counsellor will provide you with information on how you can submit the strongest possible study visa application to government authorities once you have your offer and funding in place.
One Profile, Multiple Universities
Save time by submitting one profile to apply to several partner universities in the US, UK, Ireland, and Canada simultaneously.
Accredited ApplyBoard Partner Schools
The lists below reflect ApplyBoard's partner institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada that are relevant for Azerbaijani applicants targeting these destinations.
Ireland
United Kingdom
United States
Next Steps & Call to Action
If you are an Azerbaijani student considering the State Program Scholarship for study abroad, here is how to move forward:
- Check current competition windows and quotas directly on official state scholarship platforms before applying, since intake windows are strictly timed.
- Secure a Letter of Acceptance early. Register with ApplyBoard to search eligible programs at partner universities and submit a single profile across multiple institutions, ensuring you have an offer in hand.
- Confirm English proficiency and academic requirements for your specific program and degree level before you apply.
Start Your Study Abroad Journey Today
Beat tight scholarship deadlines. Create a single profile to apply to multiple qualifying partner institutions and secure your acceptance letter.