Scholarships for Pakistani Students:
Universities around the world cater to thousands of international students every year. In 2023, the international student population was documented at approximately 6.4 million. However, students from third-world and developing countries may find it more difficult to finance themselves completely, as currency exchange rates and local economic conditions cannot keep up with the international standards set by countries in Europe, the UK, the USA, etc. During the 2023-2024 academic period, international students across 868 undergraduate schools in the US were awarded an average scholarship of just under $24,000. Most countries are quite generous in offering extensive financial support to international students, especially from Pakistan. So, here are the best fully funded scholarships for Pakistani Students in 2025.
United States of America:
Fulbright Foreign Student Program (FFSP):
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is tailor-made specifically to cater to international students hoping to study in the US without having to worry about financial constraints. It operates in more than 160 countries around the world, and over 4,000 international students receive fully funded scholarships annually. The FFSP benefits include Access to J-1 visa Sponsorships, Medical Benefits, Personal Enhancement Activities, and most importantly, funding support. To be eligible for these scholarships, students must reside in an area of nomination (a country where the FFSP operates) at the time of the program start date, have a United States equivalent bachelor’s degree, and have a credible academic record. Candidates should be fluent in English with a score of minimum 550 on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and 6.5 on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). This scholarship is distributed by binational Fulbright Commissions/Foundations or United States Embassies. This scholarship is awarded to students looking to pursue Master’s or Doctorate Degrees in the United States. The award benefits include: tuition, textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, health insurance, visa fees, a computer, and a settling-in allowance. Fulbright awards enable grantees to live at the same standard as most American graduate students.
United Kingdom
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is now open for applications for the 2025-2026 academic year. There are approximately 250 Gates Scholarship students studying at Cambridge at any one point. There are also around 1700 Gates Alumni around the world. The scholarship covers the full tuition cost, visa costs, airfare, and a maintenance allowance for the students, as well as the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge. It also covers other discretionary expenses and applies to almost all postgraduate courses offered at Cambridge, with some exceptions. To be eligible for the Gates Scholarship, students must be residents of a country other than the UK and must be applying for either a PhD, MLitt (Master of Letters), or a 1-year post-graduate program. The scholarship is awarded to students with outstanding intellectual ability, a commitment to serve others, and leadership potential. According to Stanford University, an excellent GPA is required to be accepted into the Gates Cambridge Program, i.e., 3.8. The scholarship is awarded for around 1-3 years of study, and candidates, on average, receive $32,000 annually. This scholarship does not cover Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees, additionally, it is not offered to students looking to further their education in a Doctorate of Business (BusD). The scholarship, while monetarily accounting for most components, does not cover bench fees or the costs of scientific equipment or similar academic resources.
Australia
Australia Awards Scholarships:
The Australia Awards Scholarships are awards offered by the Australian Government, specifically the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The scholarship covers full tuition costs of all participating Australian Universities, with airfare and visa cost coverage as well as an allowance for living expenses and health insurance. Moreover, the award benefits include Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE), which is a contribution to rudimentary living expenses paid at a specific percentage. It also covers the expenses of any obligatory fieldwork. Applicants must be applying for a master’s degree. They must have an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher, or an equivalent TOEFL or PTE score. They must also be a Pakistani citizen residing in Pakistan and have completed 16 years of education. Applicants must also submit a Development Impact and Linkages Plan, outlining objectives and motivations to contribute to Pakistan. Applicants must keep in mind that they are required to return to Pakistan after completing their studies. Candidates must also sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia agreeing to the stipulations set out by the Award and, in doing so, may be eligible to accept it. Scholars are obliged to leave Australia for 2 years straight after the end of their scholarship tenure. Failure to comply with this clause would result in students having to repay the entire cost of the scholarship they received initially. A few notable universities participating in the Award are: the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, Adelaide University, Bond University, and many more.
Internationally, a variety of countries are aware of the fact that many students are not too financially fortunate to be able to afford the type of education that can sometimes cost an arm and a leg. But as we can see, there exist a number of channels through which students from all around the world, not just Pakistan, are able to have a chance at quality education without having their economic background hold them back. The best part about the scholarships mentioned is the fact that they cover all expenses, from your plane ticket to the food on your table, thus the provisional costs are cut back to the bare minimum. So what are you waiting for? Apply Now!