Policy Scholarship Program

The 2026 ISF Scholarship Application is now open!

Apply Here

Public Policy · Government · Political Science

Since 2009, ISF has awarded 747 scholarships to scholars studying and working in fields with the greatest impact on public opinion and policy, including political science, government, public policy, international relations, and public administration. Policy-related scholarships range from $3,000-5,000. Our goal: to improve negative portrayals of Muslims in the news, increase Muslim representation in policymaking, and invest in the creation of positive and engaging stories about American Muslims.

ISF is hosting two webinars in 2026 for scholarship applicants! Save the dates below to hear from application judges and gain invaluable insight into what elements they look for in a successful application.

Eligibility

  • Active member of the Muslim community
  • Enrolled full-time at an accredited university in the U.S. by August; OR employed full-time in an ISF Supported Field and a part-time student at an accredited university in the U.S
  • An undergraduate (junior or senior) or of graduate standing (master's, PhD, or law degree)
  • Studying an ISF-supported major
  • Maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • A U.S. citizen, DACA recipient, or permanent U.S. resident

Supported Majors

  • International Relations
  • International Affairs
  • Political Science
  • Public Policy (Social Justice & Civil Rights)
  • Public Administration (Government)
  • Anthropology (PhD only)
  • Sociology (PhD only)

Requirements

  • Application form

  • Resume

  • Video introduction

  • Essay questions

  • College transcripts

  • Work samples

  • Two letters of recommendation by a professor, mentor, religious leader, and/or employer

Past Awarded Scholarships

For the last 16 years, ISF has awarded

0

Scholarships
Granted

$0

Million
In 2024, ISF awarded

$0

Dollars

Scholarships ranged from

$3,000 - $10,000

Program Timeline

  • December to March - Accepting Applications

    ISF starts accepting applications in December. The deadline to submit a complete application is in March.

  • April to May - Application Reviews

    The Selection Committee will review the applications from April to May.

  • May to June - Video Interviews

    Finalists will move to the next round and complete video interviews in May to late June.

  • July - Scholarship Awarded

    Final decision will be made in July and scholarships will be awarded shortly after.

FAQs