We received over 4,300 applications for scholarships to attend IAS 2025. We awarded scholarships to 247 people (mainly first-time scholarship recipients), 226 of whom attended in person and 21 virtually.
The 2025 cohort reflected the diversity of the global HIV response.
- Regarding professions: 44% of recipients were healthcare workers or social service providers (in particular physicians), 22% were researchers, 11% were students, and 10% were activists or advocates.
- Our recipients spanned a wide range of ages: 45% were 26-35 years, 30% were 36-45, 14% were 46-55, 9% were 18-25, and 2% were 56+.
- We also had a mix of genders: 57% were female, 40% were male, 3% were non-binary or gender non-conforming, and 4% had a different gender at birth.
- Our scholarships reached people across the globe: 62% were awarded to people from central, eastern, southern and western Africa (Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa were the top three countries), 11% to people from South and Southeast Asia, 8% to people from Latin America, 7% to people from North America, and 4% from people from western and central Europe.
Types of financial support
IAS – the International AIDS Society – has awarded both in-person and virtual scholarships for IAS 2025. Applicants could select their preferred attendance type, as well as the types of financial support they required to participate. Note that given the high demand, we were not able to grant full scholarships to all selected candidates.
Support for in-person attendance includes:
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In-person plus virtual registration, including:
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In-person access to all conference sessions, satellite sessions, pre-conferences, the poster exhibition and the exhibition
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Online access to all conference, satellite and pre-conference sessions streamed live, and e-posters, available on-demand throughout the conference and after
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Travel support (pre-paid economy class return ticket from the nearest international airport in your country of residence) for the dates of the conference and pre-conferences
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Accommodation (single room in a budget hotel) for the duration of the conference and pre-conferences
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Daily living allowance for each day of the conference and pre-conferences
Support for virtual attendance, including:
- Online access to all conference, satellite and pre-conference sessions streamed live, and e-posters, available on-demand throughout the conference and after
All scholarship recipients will also receive paid IAS membership for two years after the conference.
AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference, will also feature a scholarship programme. We will share information on scholarships for AIDS 2026 closer to the opening date for applications: 20 November 2025.