Studying in Pakistan is a global opportunity since students all over the world come to study in this populous multiethnic country. Choose from over 150 private and public institutions, where 16 universities are in the rankings of the Times Higher Education World University. It’s one of the best places in honing your skills to prepare you for the global market with its many English-curriculum institutions for international studies. Here are the top scholarships in Pakistan for international students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees in Pakistan.

Best Scholarships in Pakistan

1. Shahid Hussain Foundation Scholarship

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: full-tuition waiver
  • Eligible Degree: undergraduate, graduate levels

The Shahid Hussain Foundation Scholarship was founded in 2017 to support outstanding students from SAARC member countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Shahid Hussain Foundation Scholarship is the best scholarship in Pakistan for international students. It grants 15 scholarships, a total of PKR 5 million budget per year, that covers a full-tuition scholarship at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

To apply for the scholarship, you’ll need to apply through the LUMS admission application online and fill out the application form. Moreover, be prepared to submit relevant documents such as diplomas, transcripts of records, etc.

2. Asian Development Bank – Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP)

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: full-tuition waiver, living allowance, housing allowance, books and supplies allowance, health insurance, travel allowance
  • Eligible Degree: postgraduate

The Asian Development Bank – Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) is only offered by the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Pakistan. It provides financial assistance to ADB’s developing countries list by offering a full-tuition scholarship, a monthly allowance for living expenses, a housing allowance, a books and supplies allowance, health insurance coverage, and airfare expenses. The scholarship is given to applicants who are applying for major fields of study including Science and Technology; Economics, Business and Management; Development Studies; and Law and Public Policy.

To be eligible for this Pakistan scholarship, you should not be over 25 years old, must first be admitted at LUMS, hold a bachelor’s degree, and have 2 years of work experience. If you wish to apply, send your application to LUMS, along with your required documents and ADB-JSP information sheet. Afterwards, LUMS will send a list of the shortlisted candidates to ADB, and ADB decided the final awardees.

3. HEC Scholarship for OIC Least Developed Countries

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: tuition fee waiver, stipend for living expenses, accommodation allowance, book supplies allowance, travel allowance
  • Eligible Degree: bachelor’s, master’s, PhD

The HEC Scholarship for OIC Least Developed Countries is a government scholarship awarded to international students from least developed countries including Afghanistan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Comoros, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Gambia, Togo, and Uganda.​ Eligible applicants must pass the IELTS or TOEFL English exam, and have completed 12 years of education for a bachelor’s application or have completed a bachelor’s degree for a master’s application.

If awarded the scholarship, the scholar will be awarded a tuition fee waiver of PKR 150,000 per year, an annual stipend of PKR 120,000 (bachelor’s) or PKR 144,000 (master’s) or PKR 240,000 (PhD), an annual hostel allowance of PKR 78,000 (bachelor’s) or PKR 96,000 (master’s and PhD), an annual book allowance of PKR 10,000 (bachelor’s) or PKR 20,000 (master’s and PhD), and roundtrip tickets up to PKR 150,000.

To apply for the scholarship, the applicant must apply through an OIC General Secretariat or Embassies and state the top three desired Pakistani universities and program of choice, which will then be sent to the HEC for deliberation. Afterwards, the applicant should complete the required documents for this scholarship in Pakistan. If selected, a NOC will be given by the HEC.

4. HEC Allama Iqbal Scholarship for Afghan and Sri Lankan Nationals

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: full tuition fee waiver, accommodation allowance, books allowance, study allowance, roundtrip tickets
  • Eligible Degree: bachelor’s, master’s, PhD

Allama Iqbal Scholarship for Afghan and Sri Lankan Nationals is covered by the Pak-Sri Lanka HEC Programme that is awarded to 1,000 Sri Lankans seeking to apply for bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs. Eligible applicants must meet the following required marks: Medicine and Engineering require GCE A’ levels or equivalent to 65% marks in examination, Bachelor’s degree requires GCE A’ levels or equivalent to 60% marks, Master’s degree requires 16 years of study with 60% marks, and Doctoral degree requires 18 years of study with a CGPA of 3.00 out of 4.00 at Master’s degree.

To apply for the scholarship, complete the online application form, take a scholarship test under the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo and Sri Lankan Ministry of Higher Education, and take an interview if shortlisted. If granted this scholarship in Pakistan, you are offered a full-tuition waiver, a housing allowance, a book supplies allowance, a study allowance, and airfare tickets.

5. GC University Lahore Scholarships

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: 50%, 85% or 100% tuition waiver
  • Eligible Degree: bachelor’s, master’s, PhD

The GC University Lahore offers scholarships for international students pursuing BA, BSc (Hons), MS, MPhil, and PhD. The three types of this Pakistan scholarships are Iqbal Scholarship, Salam Scholarship, and GCU Scholarship. Each scholarship has different eligibility requirements and preferences of nationality.

For BA, BSc (Hons) scholarship applicants, the Iqbal Scholarship includes a full tuition fee waiver for applicants with 80% marks and 12 years of study, with a given preference to students from Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, Iran, Kosovo, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, etc. The Salam Scholarship offers an 85% tuition waiver and 50% for the GCU Scholarship, which is decided by the Scholarship Committee. Moreover, female applicants, minority communities, and those from war-torn countries are given priority in these two scholarships.

Applicants pursuing MS, MPhil, and PhD have Iqbal Research Scholarship, Salam Research Scholarship, and GCU Research Scholarship. Similarly, the Iqbal Research Scholarship grants a full-tuition waiver for students with excellent publications, research proposals, and references.

Moreover, preferred students are those from Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, Iran, Kosovo, Palestine, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, female applicants, etc. Finally, those with outstanding academic standing, publications, and research proposals can avail of the Salam Research Scholarship that offers an 85% tuition waiver, and 50% for the GCU Research Scholarship. Female applicants, those from minority communities, and war-torn countries are given preference in these two scholarships.

 

We hope that this article on the best scholarships in Pakistan for international students was helpful. If you’re interested in studying abroad, make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

Share this article via

Leave A Comment