Top 10 International University Scholarships for Pakistani Students

Studying abroad in a prestigious and leading higher education institute has always been a dream of every Pakistani student. And most of the students think that it requires a lot of money to fulfil a study abroad dream but that is not true! However, financial restrictions can make it challenging to study in a private international university but it is not same for the international public universities. Numerous international universities offer fully funded scholarships that are designed to support talented and deserving students from Pakistan. Here we will explore the top 10 international university scholarshipsfor Pakistani students and their details about eligibility, their benefits and application processes have been given on this page for your convenience. 

Fulbright Scholarship

The Fulbright Scholarship is one of the most prestigious fully funded programs. It provides Pakistani students the chance and funding for master's and PhD programs in the leading public universities in United States of America. This Fulbright Scholarship covers all the expenses of Pakistani students including their tuition fee. If you are interested in this scholarship you can get an overview of it from below:

• Benefits of Scholarship: this scholarship covers tuition, ticket price, living stipend, health insurance and research allowances.
• Eligibility: Applicants must have a strong academic record, GRE scores and provide assurance of returning to Pakistan after completing their studies. Also a minimum score of 79-80 in the Internet-based TOEFL test or a score of 0 to 6.5 IELTS score is also required.
• Application Process: Applications are submitted by Pakistani applicants through the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP).

Chevening Scholarship

The Chevening Scholarship is a UK government funded scholarship available for one-year master's programs at top UK universities. It offers full financial support to the Pakistani students, including tuition, travel and a monthly stipend expenses. Students don’t require IELTS score or any other English proficiency test scores to apply for this Chevening Scholarship but it may be required by your admitting university at later stage. Apply for this respected scholarship and fulfil your dream of studying at international UK universities.

• Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have 2 years of work experience, a strong academic background and leadership qualities.
• Partner Universities:University of Bradford, Bournemouth University, University of Birmingham, University of Bath and Abertay University are some examples of Chevening partner universities
• Applying Process: Applications are submitted online through the Chevening website, students are also required to select their preferred programs at the time of application.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees

This Erasmus Mundus Scholarship provides Pakistani students funding to study master's programs in several European countries. This scholarship covers tuition, travel and a living allowance too. Pakistani students who have ever dreamt of studying in Europe, now is your chance. 

• Eligibility Criteria: For Pakistani students a bachelor’s degree with passing grade equivalent to 180 credits or 180 ECTS from a recognized university or college is required. A minimum English language qualification of English B/ English 6 or equivalent scores of TOEFL and IELTS may be required.
• Process to Apply: To avail this scholarship applicants are required to have an admission offer from their applying university and are also required to fill the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship

Australia Awards Scholarship

Offered by the Australian government, this Australia Awards scholarship covers complete tuition fee, travel costs, living expenses and health insurance for master's and PhD program students. Pakistani applicants must meet the academic and professional criteria too specific to their field. Candidates are also required to have minimum 5 year work experience in their relevant field. Candidate must have completed a 16 years of education and also not be more than 45 years of age at the time of the application.

• English Requirement: Applicants from Pakistan must have achieved an IELTS score of 5 or higher with no individual band score of less than 6.0.
• Application Process: Applications are made online through the Australia Awards Pakistan

DAAD Scholarship

Are you a Pakistani student facing financial difficulties but still passionate about studying abroad? Here's an excellent scholarship opportunity to help you with the financial barriers to your education. Pakistani students are encouraged to apply for the DAAD Scholarshipsin Germany. This scholarship offers a great chance for students who want to complete their studies in Germany. Whether you are planning to enroll in a Master's or PhD program, the DAAD Scholarship is available for different levels of education. It is a fully funded scholarship in Germany which covers all expenses for Pakistani students during their complete study period.

• Requirements: Applicants applying for a masters program must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, relevant work experience and proficiency in English or German.
• Language Proficiency: English taught programs require band 6 IELTS score and overall 80 score for IBT TOEFL. For German taught programs, Level C1 is usually required but it can vary depending upon the degree
• Application Procedure: Apply by creating your profile at the DAAD scholarship portal for specific scholarship programs and then apply directly for them.

Türkiye Burslari Scholarship

Türkiye Scholarships is a fully funded program offered by the Republic of Türkiye to invite international students to pursuing higher education in the country. This program help creating equal opportunities for talented international students, by helping them achieve their educational goals. For many years, Türkiye has provided scholarships to international students and researchers from various countries, making it a trusted choice for quality education. Here is what the Türkiye Scholarship offers:

• Monthly Stipend: 1,700 TL for undergraduate students and 2,400 TL for master’s students and 3,000 TL for PhD students.
• Free Accommodation: Living arrangements will provided.
• University Placement: Assistance with securing admission to top Turkey universities.
• Health Insurance: Coverage for medical expenses.
• One-Time Flight Ticket: Ticket fee for international students.
• Turkish Language Course: A one-year Turkish language course for international students.
• Tuition Fee: Fully paid tuition fee under the scholarship.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarships (Canada)

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation offers scholarships for international PhD students studying in fields like humanities, social sciences, public health, law and business. To apply for Canada Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, your research should focus on one or more of the foundation's main themes, such as:

• People and the environment
• Human rights and dignity
• Responsible citizenship
• Canada’s role in the world

Benefits of the Scholarship: 

• A yearly stipend of up to 40,000 CAD
• Research and travel allowance of up to 20,000 CAD per year
• Support & allowances will be provided for over three years.

Chinese Government Scholarship CSC

Start your international educational journey with the respected CSC Scholarship in China! This fully funded China CSC Scholarship is available to Pakistani students for undergraduate, masters and PhD programs at over 280 top Chinese universities. This Chinese CSC Scholarship covers free accommodation, basic health insurance, monthly allowance (up to 3,500 Yuan).

How to Apply:

• Submit an online application through the CSC portal.
• Apply to your selected university and send the required documents, including the CSC scholarship application form, to the university.

Age Requirements:

• Undergraduate programs: Applicants must be under 25 years old.
• Master’s programs: Applicants must be under 35 years old.
• PhD programs: Applicants must be under 40 years old.

Language Requirements:

• For Chinese-taught programs: Bachelor's degree; HSK3 or higher is required and for Master’s/PhD; HSK4 or higher is required.
• For English-taught programs: IELTS; Minimum score of 6.0 and for TOEFL iBT; Minimum score of 80 is essential.

Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship

If you’re a Pakistani student and interested in studying in Japan, the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship is an excellent opportunity for you. The Japan MEXT Scholarship is fully funded and available for undergraduate, masters, PhD and training programs. The Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) provides this scholarship for international students wishful to study at Japanese universities for undergraduate or research programs. Get the overview of this MEXT Scholarship Japan from below:

What Does the MEXT Scholarship Cover?

• Monthly Stipend: 143,000 yen to 145,000 yen with additional adjustments for cost of living will be covered.
• Tuition Fees: Full coverage for tuition and exams fee is included.
• Travel Expenses: Round-trip airfare from your home country to Japan at the start and end of your studies.
• Accommodation: living/ hostel arrangement till the completion of degree.

Program Duration:

• Undergraduate Programs:  4 to 5 years
• Master’s Programs:  2 to 3 years
• PhD Programs:  3 to 4 years

Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship is offered by the government of France and it is designed to attract international students to study Master's and PhD programs in France. This Eiffel Scholarship is ideal for Pakistani students interested in engineering or doctoral programs and it is also available for other selected fields of study. While this scholarship does not cover tuition fees of students but it provides financial support for other expenses, such as monthly living allowances and local travel costs. 

• Benefits: Monthly stipend of €1,181 to €1,700 and expenses for local travel will also be provided.
• Age Requirements: For Master's degree applicants must be no older than 25 years old on the date of application submission and for the PhD degree applicants must be less than or equivalent to 30 years old at the time of submitting application.
• Eligibility: These scholarships will be awarded completely on merit basis to each candidate and minimum qualification requirements may vary depending upon Master's and PhD programs.
• Language Proficiency: Applying candidates are required to have either English or French language proficiency scores. These scores may vary depending upon the degree.

How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Scholarship?

1. Start Early: Start researching about the scholarships well in advance to meet deadlines.
2. Meet Requirements: Make sure you meet all academic and language proficiency requirements to create a strong scholarship application.
3. Craft a Strong Personal Statement: Highlight your goals, achievements and motivation in the personal statement letter.
4. Secure Recommendations: Obtain letters of recommendation from reliable academic or professional mentors or teacher in Pakistan.
5. Prepare for Interviews: Practice answering potential interview questions to show your skills and passion for the scholarship.

Benefits of International Scholarships 

For Pakistani students, these international scholarships provide an incredible opportunity to study at leading Universities worldwide. By exploring the options and preparing thoroughly, you can turn your dream of studying abroad into reality. With financial support and access to quality education, these scholarships assure you the academic excellence and a brighter future. Following are some benefits of international scholarship:

• Access to world class education.
• Networking opportunities with professionals with different backgrounds.
• Development in understanding the International education practices.
• Contribution to Pakistan’s development upon applicant’s return.