Master’s Civil Engineering Student Hasham from Pakistan Shares His Journey of Studying at University of Nebraska–Lincoln, United States

I am Hasham from Lahore, Pakistan. After graduating in 2023, I worked remotely for 1.5 years with an Australian civil engineering firm, which gave me valuable professional exposure in an international work environment. In 2025, I started my fully funded MSc in Civil Engineering at the University of Nebraska– Lincoln. Since the final year of my bachelor’s, I had already decided to pursue higher studies abroad because I wanted international exposure and access to advanced academic and professional opportunities.

Scholarship Details

I received a fully funded scholarship that covers tuition expenses, provides a living stipend, and includes health insurance.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

Turkey Burslari Scholarship (BOĞAZİÇİ UNIVERSITY) – Got Fully Funded Scholarship

MEXT scholarship (University of Tokyo) – Initially selected, but didn’t appear for the final interview

Educational Background

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, in 2023. The program gave me a solid foundation in the core fundamentals of civil engineering. Furthermore, I dedicated substantial effort to my final-year thesis and was able to publish my work, which distinguished me from many of my peers.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to University of Nebraska–lincoln?

I was clear from the beginning that I wanted to apply to universities in the United States. I made a list of universities that were ranked among the top 1000 in the QS rankings and then contacted professors whose research areas matched my own. My strategy was to focus more on professors and research alignment than on the university name itself.

How Did You Find Information About Scholarships and Institutions?

Internet

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I scored 316 on the GRE and 7.0 on the IELTS. I prepared for both exams independently, dedicating two months to GRE preparation and two weeks to IELTS preparation.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Scholarship?

First, I focused on publishing my thesis, as I believed it would strengthen my academic profile. After that, I took the GRE and IELTS. I was clear from the beginning that I wanted to pursue higher studies in the United States, so I started reaching out to professors whose research aligned with my interests. As a result, I was interviewed by two U.S. universities and was selected by both.

Moreover, the SOP and LOR are extremely important, as they connect your academic background, research experience, and career goals with the program you are applying to.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

believe the main factor that helped me stand out was publishing my bachelor’s thesis. As a result, I received research assistantship offers, including one for a master’s program and another for a PhD program. This experience showed me that even with a modest research background, it is possible to secure a PhD opportunity directly after a bachelor’s degree, provided you demonstrate strong research potential.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

plan to focus on publishing my research in higher-ranked journals, as this could strengthen my academic profile and improve my chances of gaining admission to higher-ranked universities.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

My advice would be to start preparing seriously during the final year of your bachelor’s degree. This is an important stage where you can still improve your GPA and strengthen your academic profile. At the same time, you should focus on your thesis and, if possible, try to publish your work, as research output can significantly strengthen your application.

To secure a similar scholarship, it is important to stand out in at least one major area. This could be graduating from a highly ranked university, having a strong GPA, or demonstrating research potential through a published paper. A combination of these factors makes an application even stronger.