Maria Rosario Lazzati Niada Scholarship for Afghan Women 2027–2028

Geneva Graduate Institute

Scholarships
Switzerland
September 24, 2026

The Maria Rosario Lazzati Niada Scholarship for Afghan Women is a postgraduate scholarship for talented Afghan women who have a university degree and want to continue their education in international relations and development. Successful candidates will enrol in a two-year master’s programme at the Geneva Graduate Institute in Switzerland.

For the 2027–2028 academic year, the scholarship application deadline is 11:59 PM on October 26, 2026. The scholarship provides CHF 25,000 per year and is awarded for two years, subject to the renewal condition stated by the Institute.

Quick Details

Detail	Information
Scholarship	Maria Rosario Lazzati Niada Scholarship for Afghan Women
Academic year	2027–2028
Study level	Master’s
Duration	Two years
Host institution	Geneva Graduate Institute
Location	Geneva, Switzerland
Target applicants	Afghan women with a university degree
Main academic area	International relations and development
Scholarship amount	CHF 25,000 per year
Renewal	Possible for the second year after a first-year success report
Scholarship application deadline	October 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM
Scholarship application	Online application form
Institute admission	Required after selection by the scholarship Steering Committee
Institute application stage	English proficiency certificate and two academic references are requested
Institute admission deadline in scholarship flyer	January 15
Application fee	Not specified in the scholarship flyer; the Institute’s general admissions page currently lists CHF 100 for the January application round

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What Is the Maria Rosario Lazzati Niada Scholarship?

The scholarship was created in memory of Maria Rosario Lazzati Niada (1954–2022) to support talented Afghan women with university degrees who want to develop their knowledge in international relations and development.

The programme is connected to the work of the Comitato Arghosha Faraway Schools, an organisation that has supported education in Afghanistan. The Geneva Graduate Institute established the scholarship to expand Afghan women’s access to higher education abroad.

The current 2027–2028 call is specifically open again after the Institute previously announced that there would be no call for 2026–2027 because of limited funding.

Who Can Apply?

The current scholarship call is intended for Afghan women who have a university degree.

The scholarship flyer does not provide a separate detailed list of nationality, residence, age, work-experience or GPA conditions. Therefore, applicants should not assume that additional conditions apply unless they are stated in the scholarship call or the relevant Geneva Graduate Institute admission requirements.

For the master’s admission stage, the Institute generally requires applicants to hold, or receive before enrolment, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.

For disciplinary master’s programmes, the previous degree or a significant amount of previous coursework normally needs to be relevant to the intended programme. The Institute also has an interdisciplinary master’s programme that accepts applicants from a wider range of academic backgrounds.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

The current official 2027–2028 scholarship flyer states that the scholarship amount is:

CHF 25,000 per year

The scholarship is for two years. A scholarship recipient must prepare a report at the end of the first year showing their academic success. The scholarship is then renewed based on that report.

Important funding clarification

The official scholarship source confirms the CHF 25,000 annual amount, but it does not state in the current flyer that this amount separately covers airfare, visa costs, health insurance, accommodation, food, transportation or other individual expenses.

Therefore, applicants should not describe the scholarship as covering “all expenses” unless the Institute provides additional information confirming those expenses.

Is This a Fully Funded Scholarship?

The current official source does not use the exact term “fully funded” or provide a detailed breakdown showing that every study and living expense is covered.

The confirmed benefit is CHF 25,000 per year for two years, subject to the stated renewal condition.

Applicants should therefore consider the CHF 25,000 award as the confirmed scholarship amount and separately review the Geneva Graduate Institute’s tuition and living-cost information.

What Master’s Programme Can Scholarship Applicants Choose?

The scholarship is intended to help Afghan women improve their knowledge in international relations and development.

The current scholarship flyer says that the successful scholarship candidate must later apply to a Geneva Graduate Institute master’s programme. It does not provide a separate list of eligible master’s programmes in the flyer.

One relevant option at the Institute is the Master in International and Development Studies (MINT), an interdisciplinary programme covering international affairs and development studies.

Applicants should choose a programme that matches their academic background and career goals and verify the programme-specific admission requirements before applying.

English Language Requirement

English proficiency is relevant at the Geneva Graduate Institute admission stage.

The current scholarship flyer specifically states that an English proficiency certificate and two academic references are requested when the selected scholarship candidate applies to the Institute.

The Institute’s current admissions information states that applicants are expected to demonstrate English proficiency at approximately CEFR C1 or higher. It lists recognised options including IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT and Cambridge English qualifications.

The Institute also lists exemptions, including applicants who have completed at least one year of full-time university-level study entirely in English, subject to the Institute’s documentation requirements.

Therefore, applicants should not assume that IELTS or TOEFL is automatically waived. The appropriate evidence depends on the applicant’s educational background and the Institute’s current admission rules.

What Documents Are Required for the Scholarship Application?

The current 2027–2028 scholarship flyer lists these documents:

Motivation letter
Curriculum vitae (CV)
Copies of university diplomas and qualifications
Official academic transcripts

The motivation letter should explain:

Why you are applying for the Maria Rosario Lazzati Niada Scholarship
Which Geneva Graduate Institute master’s programme you want to apply to
Why you chose the Institute
Your financial needs
Your plans after graduation

These are the documents specified for the scholarship application itself.

The later Geneva Graduate Institute admission application has additional requirements, including an English proficiency certificate and academic references.

How to Apply for the Scholarship

The scholarship application and the Geneva Graduate Institute admission application are two stages.

Step 1: Apply for the Maria Rosario Lazzati Niada Scholarship

Submit the scholarship application through the online form provided by the Geneva Graduate Institute.

The scholarship deadline is:

October 26, 2026 at 11:59 PM

Prepare the motivation letter, CV, university diplomas and official transcripts before submitting the form.

Step 2: Apply to the Geneva Graduate Institute

The scholarship Steering Committee first evaluates the scholarship applications.

The selected candidate must then apply to the Geneva Graduate Institute for admission to a master’s programme.

The current scholarship flyer states that the selected candidate must submit the Institute application by January 15 and that the late-round deadline does not apply to the scholarship candidate.

The Institute’s general admissions page currently lists the January deadline as January 14, 2027 for the September 2027 intake. Because the scholarship-specific flyer states January 15 while the general admissions page lists January 14, applicants should check the live application portal when completing this second stage and follow the deadline displayed for their application.

Step 3: Complete the Institute Admission Requirements

At this stage, the scholarship flyer specifically identifies:

English proficiency certificate
Two academic references

The Institute’s general admission process also requires supporting academic documents and other application materials depending on the programme.

The scholarship award does not replace the Institute’s admission decision. The candidate must be admitted to the Geneva Graduate Institute.

How Are Applicants Selected?

The scholarship application is initially reviewed by the Steering Committee of the Maria Rosario Lazzati Niada Scholarship.

The current flyer states that the committee includes representatives from the Arghosha Association, the Geneva Graduate Institute and people of Afghan origin or with close ties to Afghanistan.

The committee reviews the scholarship applications and informs candidates of its decision.

The selected candidate then proceeds to the Geneva Graduate Institute admission process.

This means that winning the scholarship and being admitted to the master’s programme are separate stages. Scholarship selection does not by itself constitute final admission to the Institute.

What Happens After the First Year?

The scholarship is described as a two-year award.

At the end of the first year, the recipient must provide a report with evidence of academic success. The scholarship is then renewed based on that report.

Applicants should therefore understand that the second year is subject to the scholarship’s stated renewal condition.

Important Points for Applicants

1. Apply before the scholarship deadline

The scholarship application deadline is October 26, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Do not wait until the final hours to prepare your documents.

2. Do not confuse the two applications

There is first a scholarship application and later an admission application to the Geneva Graduate Institute.

Completing the scholarship application does not automatically complete the university admission process.

3. Prepare your English evidence early

The scholarship flyer specifically mentions an English proficiency certificate for the Institute admission stage.

Applicants who need an English test should check the Institute’s current accepted tests and validity rules early.

4. Choose the master’s programme carefully

Your chosen programme should be consistent with your previous academic background and your future goals.

The scholarship focuses on international relations and development, while the Institute offers several master’s programmes with different academic requirements.

5. Do not assume that CHF 25,000 covers every expense

CHF 25,000 per year is the confirmed scholarship amount. The current scholarship flyer does not provide a detailed list of every expense covered by this amount.

Review the Institute’s current tuition and living-cost information before making financial plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this scholarship for?

It is for talented Afghan women with a university degree who want to continue their education through a two-year master’s programme at the Geneva Graduate Institute.

What is the scholarship amount?

The current official 2027–2028 flyer states an amount of CHF 25,000 per year.

How long is the scholarship?

The scholarship is for two years. Renewal for the second year depends on the recipient providing a first-year success report.

What is the deadline?

The scholarship application deadline is October 26, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

Where is the programme located?

The study programme is at the Geneva Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland.

Do I need a bachelor’s degree?

Yes. The scholarship is intended for Afghan women with a university degree, and the Institute’s master’s admission rules require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent before enrolment.

Is IELTS required?

The scholarship flyer states that an English proficiency certificate is requested at the Institute admission stage. The Institute accepts several forms of English proficiency evidence and provides exemptions in certain circumstances.

Therefore, applicants should check their individual situation rather than assuming that IELTS is always required or always waived.

What documents are required for the scholarship application?

The current scholarship flyer lists a motivation letter, CV, copies of university diplomas and qualifications, and official academic transcripts.

Is the scholarship fully funded?

The official source confirms CHF 25,000 per year, but the current scholarship flyer does not state that all tuition, accommodation, travel, visa, insurance and living expenses are separately covered.

Do I apply directly to the Geneva Graduate Institute first?

No. The current scholarship procedure has two stages. First, submit the scholarship application. A selected candidate then applies to the Geneva Graduate Institute.

When does the master’s programme start?

The scholarship is for the 2027–2028 academic year. The Institute’s academic calendar lists the autumn 2027 semester as beginning in September 2027, with classes beginning on September 21, 2027.

Applicants should follow the final programme-specific enrolment information provided by the Institute.

Final Advice for Applicants

If you plan to apply, start with the scholarship application rather than waiting for the university admission stage.

Prepare your motivation letter carefully because the scholarship specifically asks applicants to explain their chosen master’s programme, reasons for choosing the Institute, financial needs and post-graduation plans.

Also prepare your academic transcripts and degree documents early, and check the Geneva Graduate Institute’s current admission requirements before the second stage.

The most important date to remember is:

October 26, 2026 at 11:59 PM — Maria Rosario Lazzati Niada Scholarship application deadline.

For the subsequent Institute admission stage, use the official application portal and verify the deadline shown there because the scholarship-specific flyer and the Institute’s general admissions page currently show a one-day difference for the January deadline.

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