Suppose you’re a Pakistani student looking for financial aid to pursue your studies abroad. In that case, you can explore the many different international scholarships available to pursue your studies in locations like the UK, the US, and Canada.
Graana.com has compiled and discussed some of the best scholarships in Pakistan below, along with their eligibility criteria, application process and more.
USAID-Funded Merit And Needs-Based Scholarship Program
USAID has demonstrated its dedication to supporting a scholarship program for Pakistani students who wish to pursue higher education but are unable to do so owing to a lack of funding.
Through the USAID-funded Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship Program (MNBSP) Phase-I, it has offered scholarships for deserving students since 2004.
Scholarships for undergraduates and graduates are now available in Pakistan through USAID. Additionally, 31 partner universities offer applications for this program in a variety of subjects.
Eligibility Criteria
The requirements for the USAID-funded Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship Program are as follows:
- Proof of financial necessity
- The candidate must be able to get admission to the degree program of their choice based on merit
- The applicant must have completed 12 years of formal education to be eligible for the bachelor’s program
- The applicant must have completed at least 16 years of formal education to be eligible for the master’s program
How to Apply
- The HEC (Higher Education Commission) Online Application System is where students must submit their applications: http://scholarship.hec.gov.pk
- Submit a printout of the application form, together with any supporting paperwork, to the university’s office of student financial aid.
- Do not mail HEC a physical copy of your application.
- You can contact the university’s financial aid offices for more information.
Coverage
The following expenses are covered by the USAID scholarship program:
- Textbooks
- Tuition fees
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Miscellaneous Costs
Scotland Pakistan Scholarships
This initiative, which is funded by the Scottish government and managed by the British Council, provides Pakistan with scholarships for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Students pursuing the following fields of study may be eligible for awards from the Scotland Pakistan Scholarships for Young Women and Girls:
- Sustainable Energy
- Agriculture and Food Security
- Education
- Health Sciences
Eligibility Criteria
You must fulfill the following qualifications in order to be eligible to apply for Scottish scholarships in Pakistan.
- For the undergraduate scholarship program, the applicant must have completed 12 years of formal education. For the master’s scholarship program, they must have completed 16 years of formal education.
- Pakistani women who are nationals and lawful permanent residents may apply.
- The undergraduate degree program of choice cannot last more than four years.
- The student must have been granted admission on a merit basis by a public university that is recognised by the HEC.
How to Apply
1st Step: Submit an application to the undergraduate program of your choice at a public university recognised by HEC.
2nd Step: Once you have been admitted, complete the online application on the British Council’s official website.
3rd Step: Attach these documents with your application form:
- Tuition fee form
- Scanned copy of transcripts
- Proof of enrollment and/or admission
- Scanned copy of CNIC
4th Step: You can apply either online or by downloading the form and sending it via courier to the British Council office in Islamabad.
Coverage
Scotland Pakistan scholarship program covers the following expenses:
- University hostel cost
- Tuition fee
- Travel expenses for students staying on-campus
HEC Need-Based Scholarships
The HEC Need-Based Scholarships in Pakistan are designed for deserving students who are unable to complete their higher education because of a lack of financial means. They offer financial aid in order to enable students to complete their degrees in all subjects at as many as 94 campuses of selected public sector Pakistani institutions.
They also provide partial scholarships to students who are currently enrolled at particular universities or institutions. On the official HEC website, you can download the list of participating universities.
Eligibility Criteria
The requirements for the HEC Need-Based Scholarships Program are as follows:
- Students enrolled in Medicine, Pharm-D, and other five-year programs are also eligible to apply because it also provides scholarships for medical students in Pakistan.
- The student must be able to obtain admission based on merit.
- The applicants must be accepted to the chosen college or university for a four-year undergraduate program.
- A candidate from the waiting list will take a recipient’s place if they leave the university before finishing their degree.
- The student must be in a position where they cannot afford the costs of the undergraduate degree. An applicant may be considered ineligible for the program if the Institutional Scholarship Grant Committee does not feel they deserve the award after considering their financial situation.
How to Apply
- 1st Step: You can submit an application for this scholarship program in Pakistan by obtaining the HEC Scholarship Application Form from the Financial Aid Office at the participating university, or by downloading it from the official HEC website.
- 2nd Step: Before sending the form to the financial aid office, make sure to carefully fill it out and attach all necessary paperwork.
- 3rd Step: Enrol on the basis of merit in one of the authorised disciplines at a partner university.
- 4th Step: The HEC will transfer the necessary money to the participating university if your scholarship application is accepted.
Coverage
The following expenses are covered by the HEC need-based scholarships program:
- Tuition fee
- Transportation
- Textbooks
- Accommodation allowance (if needed)
- Monthly stipend of PKR 6,000
- Miscellaneous costs
Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Program
This is probably one of the most well-known undergraduate scholarships in Pakistan. The Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Program was established by the government of Pakistan as part of its flagship Ehsaas Social Safety Net Program and has a PKR 6 billion annual budget. It aims to assist students who cannot afford to complete their bachelor’s degrees in all key fields.
Additionally, the scholarship program has set aside 2% of its quota for students with physical disabilities and 50% of its quota for female students.
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates are ineligible to apply for this scholarship in Pakistan if they have received any other financial honours, grants, or scholarships.
- Applicants must be under the university’s age restriction.
- The students must have met the requirements for admission to their particular university and been accepted on the basis of merit.
- The Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Program is not open to students who have been accepted into evening programs on a self-finance basis.
- This scholarship is not available to students enrolled in distance learning programs.
How to Apply
If you meet the requirements listed above, you can submit an application for the Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Program using the online application system that was launched by HEC.
Supporting Documents
- Applicant’s CNIC/B-form copy
- A copy of each parent or guardian’s CNIC
- Income statement (of parents/guardians)
- A copy of the lease in the case of rented housing
- Copies of the applicant’s and siblings’ most recent fee receipts (if applicable)
- Copies of financial and medical documentation (if applicable)
- One picture of the applicant’s house from outside
- One passport-size photograph of the applicant
- If the father works as a labourer for a daily wage, owns a business, or has a private job, an income certificate undertaking (on at least Rs. 50 worth of stamp paper) is also a requirement.
Coverage
Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Program covers the following expenses:
- Annual stipend
- Tuition fees
OGDCL Need-Based Scholarships Program
The HEC and the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) have teamed up to provide engineering scholarships in Pakistan to deserving students. The OGDCL offers fully financed scholarships in disciplines, which are critical to the nation’s economic development, to students who meet academic requirements.
The following disciplines are eligible for the program’s undergraduate and graduate scholarships:
- Animal Sciences
- Archaeology
- Biochemistry
- Business Administration
- Defence and Strategic Studies
- Electronics
- Engineering
- Gender Studies
- History
- Information Technology
- Law
- Maths
- Microbiology
- Pakistan Studies
- Sociology
Only 9 particular universities in Pakistan are offering OGDCL scholarships. The list is available on the official HEC website.
Eligibility Criteria
- The family’s financial situation must attest that the student is qualified for these need-based scholarships in Pakistan.
- This scholarship is only open to students who have started the first semester of their chosen courses.
- A 3 to 4-year undergraduate program or a 2-year graduate program is required of all students.
- The applicant must be admitted on a merit basis to one of the participating universities’ approved disciplines.
- Scholarships for engineers are only available for holders of a bachelor’s degree.
- At International Islamic University in Islamabad, only those applying for bachelor’s degree programs are eligible for scholarships.
- Quaid-e-Azam University only offers scholarships for two-year master’s degree programs.
- The applicant must be a Pakistani national who resides in an Oil & Gas Development Company Limited operational or concessional district.
How to Apply
1st Step: Download the OGDCL Need-Based Scholarships online application form through HEC.
2nd Step: Submit the completed online application form before downloading and printing.
3rd Step: Submit your printed scholarship application to the financial aid office of the university.
Coverage
OGDCL need-based scholarships program covers the following expense:
- Tuition Fee
- Accommodation (if applicable)
Pakistan Bait-Ul-Mal Scholarship
The government of Pakistan established a semi-autonomous welfare organisation through an act in 1992 that provides funding for disadvantaged students enrolling in public sector colleges and universities. Students can earn their degrees for free through the initiative.
Scholarships are given to deserving students in Pakistan on a semester-by-semester and annual basis by the Bait-ul-Mal Scholarship for Deserving Students. If a student passes their exams, their scholarship will still be valid for the following academic year. However, the student will not be qualified to receive the scholarship if they receive a failing grade in any course.
Eligibility Criteria
- Students who have been accepted to any government-run institution of higher learning are entitled to apply.
- Applications will be accepted on behalf of the committee’s chair at the school, where the applicant is enrolled.
- The application must include a valid photocopy of a CNIC and should have a signature in the name of MD Pakistan Baitulmal.
- If a student is under the age of 18, they must provide a B-form or a parent’s CNIC.
- A student must obtain a completed Bonafide Certificate from their institution of higher learning.
- Any type of cutting or overwriting is unacceptable on a bona fide certificate.
- A student must also submit a detailed fee slip from the institute, as well as an attested educational certificate.
Required Documents
- Application on a paper
- Student’s CNIC/B-form
- University ID card copy/admit card
- Degree/Certificate/Mark Sheet from matric onwards
- Bank Challan
- Result card of last semester
How to Apply
1st Step: From the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal website, download the free Scholarship Application form.
2nd Step: Complete the application form and affix the necessary paperwork listed above.
3rd Step: Write a request for financial help written to MD Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal. Make sure to include your own name, address, and phone number.
4th Step: Step 4: Submit all supporting documentation and the application to the college’s financial aid office.
Coverage
Pakistan Bait-Ul-Mal Scholarship program covers the following expense:
- Tuition fees
For more information about scholarships in Canada, visit Graana.com.
