Fulbright Scholarship Program

The Fulbright Master’s and PhD Program funds graduate study in the United States. Funded by the United States Department of State, these grants cover tuition, required textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, and health insurance. USEFP also assists with the visa process.

For the Master’s degree program, eligible candidates will have either a four-year Bachelor’s degree or a Bachelor’s and Master’s combination totaling 16 years of formal education from an accredited university. Recent graduates are strongly encouraged to apply, except for MBA and Public Policy/Administration applicants, who require 2 years of work experience.

For the PhD degree program, eligible applicants will have a Master’s, M.Phil, or comparable degree (a minimum of 18 years of formal education) from an accredited university. Candidates should have work experience in teaching, research, or the public sector in Pakistan.

For both the Master’s and PhD programs, all academic disciplines are eligible, except clinical medicine. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE General) is required for all applicants. Under the new scoring system, a minimum score of 145 is required on each section of the GRE examination, with a higher score on the section most applicable to your field of study.

Applicants must also possess a high level of fluency in spoken and written English. The Duolingo Test of English will be required from all the shortlisted candidates.

All successful candidates are required to sign a contract with USEFP and, for successful Ph.D. candidates, a bond with the HEC that binds them to return to Pakistan immediately after their program in the U.S. and serve the country for the number of years equivalent to the length of their scholarship program. This contract is redeemable on a year-for-year basis minimum of two years; as long as a person fulfills the service requirement, he or she will pay nothing.

Scholarship Details

• Host country: USA
• Scholarship coverage: Fully Funded
• Type of degree: PhD & master’s degree
• Eligible country(s): Pakistani citizens
• Commitment: Full time
• Duration: 1-3 years
• Age: not specified
• Gender: Male and Female
• Deadline: 2 February 2024

Scholarship coverage

Tuition Fees, Textbooks, Airfare, A living, stipend Health Insurance, Visa Fees, and A Computer and Settling-in allowance Source.

Eligible criteria

• Pakistani citizens with strong academic histories, residing (throughout the process) in Pakistan and committed to returning and serving Pakistan are welcome to apply.
• All disciplines are eligible except clinical medicine. People in the fields of energy, water, agriculture, health, education, environment, and climate change disciplines are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Eligible Master’s applicants will have a four-year bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s and Master’s combination (16 years of formal education) and Ph.D. applicants will have Master’s, M.Phil., or a comparable degree (18 years of formal education) from an accredited university.
• Applicants should be prepared to complete grants without accompanying dependents if need be.

Selection Criteria

Within the ICP Connect framework, scholars are seen as potential agents of change that may contribute to societal change in their home country (or region) after completing their studies. Scholars are selected following an objective evaluation of their scholarship applications based on the following criteria:

• Motivation: Candidates’ motivation and professional goals must reflect their competence in transferring knowledge/skills or setting up extension activities and highlighting themes relevant to sustainable development and pertinent to the study program. Not only are academic results important, but so are – especially – the potential and commitment of the candidates to become an ‘agent of change’ after completing their studies.
• Professional Experience: Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate a greater chance of implementing and/or transferring newly gained knowledge/skills upon completion in a sustainable development context, such as in the higher education sector, government, civil society, or the private sector, thereby contributing to positive societal change.
• Gender balance: A balance between male and female candidates awarded ICP Connect scholarships is targeted. VLIR-UOS strongly encourages female candidates to apply. Read more about our gender policy here.
• Regional balance: A reasonable cross-section of scholars from different countries and regions is targeted, provided there are sufficient qualified candidates.
• Leave No One Behind (LNOB): In the case of equally qualified candidates, preference will be given to candidates from vulnerable groups.
• Previously awarded scholarship: Preference will be given to candidates who have never received a scholarship to study in a higher-income country (bachelor’s or master’s).

How to apply

A complete application package includes:

• An application form.
• Three reference letters
• GRE score report
• Scanned transcripts, including an explanation of the grading scale of the university issuing the degree should be uploaded. Please note that HEC-attested documents are preferable with the application but degree and transcripts attested by the issuing authority will be acceptable at the time of application.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. An application with references and required supporting documents must be submitted online. Please note that paper applications will not be accepted.

Official Website