Baku: The first intake under the "Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant" program was carried out during the 2024-2025 academic year. Under the program, 100 grants are allocated to foreign students annually.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the State Agency for Science and Higher Education stated that a total of 200 foreign students have acquired the right to study at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels at various higher education institutions in Azerbaijan over the last two academic years.

The "Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant" was established by an Order of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated July 8, 2023. It is a state program aimed at facilitating higher education for foreign citizens in Azerbaijan.

The program is designed to enable citizens of member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as Small Island Developing States and countries where peoples and national minorities with ethnic, historical, and cultural links with the Azerbaijani people live, to study at Azerbaijani higher educational institutions for a period of five years.

According to the terms of the program, 100 educational grants are provided annually, with a total target of 500 foreign citizens to be supported. The grant covers tuition fees, visa and registration expenses, accommodation, daily meals, books, transportation (excluding taxis), utilities, medical assistance, and one annual return trip to the student's home country.