State Scholarships Foundation (IKY) was founded in 1951 with the aim to offer young scientists grants for post-graduate studies, initially only abroad and later in Greece too, in order to broaden their horizons, utilize their skills and offer better services to our society.
Regarding pre graduate studies, IKY implements circles of scholarship programmes aiming at strengthening and supporting the prompt completion of the studies of diligent low-income students and at ensuring equal access to University education of people with disabilities and of individuals belonging to vulnerable social groups. In the past, one-time scholarships were offered to students having achieved the best scores in a) The Entry Exams to Higher education Institutions and b) The exams conducted at the end of each academic semester.
As far as post graduate studies are concerned, in 2014, the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY) established the innovative “2+2” Scholarships Programme in collaboration with the National Bank of Greece. In particular, it provides scholars, in parallel to their post-graduate studies, with in-service traineeship for two years maximum and, subsequently, full-time employment jobs for two more years.
In terms of research, IKY invests in research and innovation activities, awarding scholarships for doctoral dissertation and postdoctoral research in Greece, through the Operational Programme «Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning 2014- 2020».
The Foundation also collaborates with European Associations (ACA, DAAD, ESA, EUI, CERN, and HCHN) for the common development of programmes enhancing research mobility as well as policies in the field of international co-operation.
Due to its prestige, IKY was honored with the offer of great legacies in order to manage the proceeds of their bequests, offering scholarships for studies in Greece and abroad.