Special Scholarship Program for Culture and Creative Industries Now Accepting Applications

The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan announces the acceptance of documents for funding studies abroad at the undergraduate and graduate levels through the Special Scholarship Program for Culture and Creative Industries.

Citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan over the age of 15 who wish to develop their creative potential and engage in various CCI and cultural activities, who have been accepted to foreign higher education institutions or are studying at their own expense, may apply for the scholarship program to finance their education.

Funding for education abroad is provided in the following areas of specialization, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels:

1. Audiovisual (music, cinema (including animation), videography, and photography)
2. Fashion Arts
3. Design
4. Curation
5. Architecture
6. Event Organization
7. Cultural and creative management
8. Organization of work with publishers
9. Game industry
10. Theater, Comedy and Performance
11. Creative Technologies

The admission process for the scholarship program consists of two stages: the document acceptance stage and the interview stage.

Documents Required:

For undergraduate studies abroad:

- A certificate or a copy of a state document on full secondary or specialized secondary education, proving that the applicant is enrolled in the graduating class of general education institutions in the current academic year (11th grade or its equivalent for study abroad);

- A copy of the document confirming the candidate's enrollment or study in a foreign higher education institution (translation of documents from languages other than English, Russian, and Turkish into Azerbaijani, certified by a public notary);

- A copy of the international language certificate proving the candidate's proficiency in the language of instruction of the foreign institution of higher education to be attended, or a copy of the document proving the candidate's previous education in that foreign language;

- A copy of the transcript from the appropriate educational institution confirming that the candidate's scores fall within the required minimum and maximum limits for international education programs;

- The health certificate of the candidate, form AZS086/1;

- Photos and videos related to CCI products created by the candidate (if any) and business activities including any start-ups, TIN and start-up certificates, if any, and other supporting materials may be attached to the above documents;

For graduate studies abroad:

- A certificate confirming the candidate's enrollment in the final academic year of the higher education institution during the current academic year or a copy of the state-issued bachelor's degree document;

- A copy of the document confirming that the candidate has been admitted to or has studied in a foreign higher education institution (translations into Azerbaijani of documents in languages other than English, Russian and Turkish certified by a public notary);

- A copy of the certificate of recognition of the foreign higher education qualification at the bachelor's level (in case of higher education abroad);

- A letter of recommendation from at least two members of the teaching staff of the higher education or scientific institution expressing their opinion on the candidate's ability to study abroad (alternatively, if the candidate is employed, one of the recommendations may come from the employer), either in the original or as a copy;

- A copy of the international language certificate showing the candidate's proficiency in the language of instruction of the foreign institution of higher education to be attended, or a copy of the document verifying the candidate's previous education in the foreign language;

- A copy of the candidate's transcript (showing GPA);

- The candidate's health certificate, form AZS086/1;

- Photos and videos related to CCI products created by the candidate (if any) and business activities including any start-ups, TIN and start-up certificates, if any, and other supporting materials may be attached to the specified documents;

Documents are accepted online via the platform "edu.creative.az."

You can check the list of preferred institutions of higher education abroad and their specializations or programs by accessing the relevant sections of the application form.

If the institution where the candidate wishes to study under the scholarship program is not listed, the Commission may consider funding by evaluating the country's indicators and the institution's achievements and potential in training personnel in specialized fields.

Persons who have studied more than half of the standard period of education at the bachelor's or master's level in higher educational institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan under state order or at state expense, as well as those who have completed their bachelor's or master's education in foreign institutions within the framework of state programs and international agreements (interstate scholarship programs) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, are not eligible to apply as candidates for the same level of education.

As already reported, the Ministry of Culture has been designated as the main implementing body for the creation of certificate programs and special scholarship programs for study abroad in accordance with the requirements of the CCI sectors under the activity "Ensuring the dynamic development of cultural and creative industries (CCI) and strengthening their export potential" outlined in the Action Plan of the "Socioeconomic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026."

The Collegium of the Ministry of Culture has approved the "Criteria and Rules for Selection of Candidates for Education and Procedures for Financing Education" within the framework of the "Special Scholarship Program for Culture and Creative Industries".

Acceptance of documents will continue from August 15, 2024, to September 15, 2024.

For more information about the scholarship program, please call 012 525 11 28 (extension: 102 or 103) from August 16.