• Verifiable Iranian heritage
• US citizenship OR legal permanent residency with a valid permanent resident card
• Enrollment as a full-time Undergraduate (Freshmen not eligible) or Graduate (PhDs not eligible) student in a degree-seeking program at an accredited institution in the U.S.
• Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA
• Demonstrated need for financial assistance [must apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)]
• Demonstrated commitment to community service
• One of the scholarships will be awarded to a full-time Undergraduate, Graduate or PhD applicant in the field of Iranian Studies at an accredited institution in the U.S. (all other eligibility requirements apply – such as Iranian heritage, citizenship/residency, GPA, financial need, community service)
• Scholarship applicants are limited to receiving two years of undergraduate scholarship and/or one year of graduate scholarship

Two sets of a completed IASF Standard Recommendation Form (download) and a Letter of Recommendation (on departmental/organizational letterhead) must be included in your Application Packet at time of submission.  Please Note: At least one set of the two recommendations must be from an academic instructor relevant to your major and familiar with your academic work on departmental letterhead, basing their recommendation on your current year or prior year academic work.  If you choose to include a work or community service recommendation (rather than a second academic instructor) to fulfill the second recommendation requirement, the recommender must be a direct supervisor basing their recommendation on your current year or prior year work/community service activities.  Each of the two recommenders must place both the completed Standard Recommendation Form and Letter of Recommendation in a sealed envelope, signed on the seal. Letters sent separately from the Application Packet will not be considered, thus disqualifying the application.  Any Recommendation Form and Letter of Recommendation NOT within a sealed and signed envelope, will not be reviewed and will not fulfill the Recommendation requirement.  Any Standard Recommendation Forms or Letters of Recommendation sent separately from the Application Packet submission will disqualify your application.

• 2025-26 IASF Scholarship Application
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Report
• Two Essays
• Two Letters of Recommendation and Two Standard Recommendation Forms
• Official Transcript
• GPA Certification Form For Non-GPA Schools (only required for applicants whose transcripts do not report or display a GPA on a 4.0 scale)

IASF requires all scholarship applicants to apply for federal financial aid and provide a copy of the FAFSA report as part of the Application Packet submission.  The FAFSA is made available free of charge by the U.S. Department of Education for the purpose of applying for federal and state student grants, work-study, and loans.  To obtain a FAFSA, please visit www.studentaid.gov.  Students must complete the FAFSA form every year and submit a fully completed, current year FAFSA report to IASF to be considered eligible for scholarships.  Eligibility does not carry over from one academic year to the next. 

Only an OFFICIAL transcript bearing an official seal or school stamp from the Office of Registrar will be accepted. The transcript will be considered invalid without such an official seal or school stamp.

The GPA Certification Form is only required for applicants whose transcripts do not report or display a GPA on a 4.00 scale. Your academic counselor or other school official must calculate, record and sign this form, verifying your GPA on a 4.00 scale.

The 2025–26 application packet has been revised. Read each section carefully and follow all directions. IASF does not accept online applications, only hardcopy applications postmarked by Monday, June 2, 2025 will be accepted. Handwritten applications are not permitted.

The standard recommendation form and GPA certification form (for non-GPA schools) are provided in Word format. After completing the applicant portion, submit them to the appropriate officials as instructed. These forms must be returned to you and included in your application packet.

Electronic signatures are not accepted on any forms. All printed forms and required documents must be included together in one complete application packet submitted to IASF.

Your complete application must be postmarked on or before Monday, June 2, 2025. Materials submitted separately will not be accepted. Only complete application packets will be reviewed, and it is your responsibility to ensure all required documentation is included. Submissions by fax, email, or any method other than U.S. mail will not be accepted.

Mail your application packet to:

6790 Top Gun Street, Suite 7
San Diego, CA 92121

Applicants are limited to two years of undergraduate funding and/or one year of graduate scholarship from IASF. Reusing essays or recommendations from a prior year will result in disqualification.

IASF is not responsible for lost or misplaced applications and cannot provide status updates or return correspondence. Applicants are encouraged to use certified mail to confirm delivery.

Only selected recipients will be contacted by August 30, 2025, and awardees will be posted on the website. If you are not contacted, please check the website for results. All scholarship decisions are final and not subject to review or appeal.