Scholarships for Pakistani Students 2026-27: Fully Funded Options Compared by Country, Level and Deadline
Written by Muhammad Hammad, Founder & Lead Study Abroad Counsellor
Published · 8 min read
Pakistani students can choose from about a dozen major scholarships abroad, from the UK's Chevening to Hungary's Stipendium Hungaricum and Turkey's Türkiye Bursları. Each one pays differently and opens in a different month. This guide compares them side by side, then links to the full guide for each scholarship.
- Earliest deadline
- Chevening · 6 Oct 2026
- After FSc
- Hungary · Turkey
- Fixed Pakistan seats
- Stipendium Hungaricum
Which scholarships can Pakistani students apply for in 2026-27?
The main scholarships open to Pakistani students in 2026-27 are Chevening and GREAT in the UK, DAAD in Germany, Erasmus Mundus across Europe, Stipendium Hungaricum in Hungary, Türkiye Bursları in Turkey, HEC overseas scholarships and university merit awards. Five of these are fully funded.
| Scholarship | Funding | Level | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening (UK) | Fully funded | Master's | Closes 6 Oct 2026 |
| GREAT (UK) | £10,000 towards fees | Master's | Per university |
| DAAD EPOS (Germany) | €992 / month + extras | Master's | Aug – Oct |
| Erasmus Mundus (Europe) | Fully funded | Master's | Oct – Jan |
| Stipendium Hungaricum | Fully funded | Bachelor's to PhD | Mid-January |
| Türkiye Bursları | Fully funded | Bachelor's to PhD | 10 Jan – 20 Feb |
| HEC overseas | Fully funded, with bond | MS/MPhil, PhD | HEC calls |
| University merit awards | Partial | All levels | With admission |
Each row has its own guide. Start with the UK scholarships for Pakistani students page, the DAAD scholarship page and the Erasmus Mundus scholarship page. China funding is covered in the CSC scholarship for Pakistanis page.
Which scholarship fits your study level?
Students applying for a Bachelor's after FSc or A Levels should focus on Stipendium Hungaricum, Türkiye Bursları and university merit awards. Master's applicants have the widest choice, including Chevening, DAAD, Erasmus Mundus and GREAT. PhD applicants look at DAAD doctoral funding, HEC overseas calls and Türkiye Bursları.
Bachelor's after FSc
Hungary and Turkey are the two government routes open after FSc. The Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship page and the Türkiye Bursları scholarship page list grades and age limits.
Master's and PhD
Work experience shapes the Master's shortlist. Chevening and DAAD EPOS both expect about two years of experience, while Erasmus Mundus weighs academic fit and the motivation letter more heavily.
When do scholarship applications open and close?
Scholarship deadlines for Pakistani students run from early October to late February. Chevening closes first in early October, DAAD courses close between August and October, Erasmus Mundus programmes between October and January, Stipendium Hungaricum in mid-January and Türkiye Bursları on 20 February each year.
| Month | Scholarship | Action |
|---|---|---|
| August – October | DAAD EPOS | Submit to each course |
| Early October | Chevening | Online application closes |
| October – January | Erasmus Mundus | Apply to each consortium |
| November – January | Stipendium Hungaricum | Apply on HEC and Tempus portals |
| 10 January – 20 February | Türkiye Bursları | Submit on TBBS |
| Spring | GREAT and university awards | Apply after the offer |
Dates shift slightly each year. Every scholarship guide on this site notes the last confirmed date and the source to check before applying.
Which documents do most scholarships ask for?
Most scholarships ask Pakistani students for HEC-attested degrees and transcripts or IBCC equivalence, a passport, an English test score, a CV, two recommendation letters and a motivation letter or statement. Preparing these documents early lets students apply to several scholarships in the same season.
- HEC-attested degree and transcripts, or IBCC equivalence for school results.
- Valid passport with at least two years left.
- IELTS, TOEFL or PTE score where required.
- Europass or academic CV.
- Two recommendation letters from teachers or employers.
- Motivation letter or statement of purpose.
Document steps are explained in the HEC degree attestation page. Writing help sits in the motivation letter for scholarship page and the letter of recommendation for scholarship page.
How should Pakistani students choose between scholarships?
Pakistani students should choose scholarships by level first, then by eligibility rules such as work experience, age and grades, then by language and country fit. Applying to two or three scholarships with different deadlines spreads the risk, because acceptance rates for fully funded awards are low.
A student with a 3.2 CGPA and two years of work fits Chevening and DAAD. A fresh graduate with a strong academic record often fits Erasmus Mundus and Stipendium Hungaricum better.
Country guides help with the second filter. Read the study in Europe from Pakistan page and the study in Turkey from Pakistan page to compare living costs after the award.
Which scholarships are available in each country?
Pakistani students can target Chevening, GREAT and university awards in the UK, DAAD in Germany, Erasmus Mundus across several European countries, Stipendium Hungaricum in Hungary and Türkiye Bursları in Turkey. Sweden, France, Ireland and the Netherlands add national and university scholarships covering part or all of tuition.
| Country | Main scholarship | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Chevening, GREAT | UK scholarships guide |
| Germany | DAAD | DAAD scholarship guide |
| Several EU countries | Erasmus Mundus | Erasmus Mundus guide |
| Hungary | Stipendium Hungaricum | Stipendium Hungaricum guide |
| Turkey | Türkiye Bursları | Türkiye Bursları guide |
| Sweden, France, Ireland, Netherlands | National and university awards | Country guides |
Country guides list the smaller awards. Read the study in France from Pakistan page, the study in Netherlands from Pakistan page and the study in Ireland from Pakistan page for national options.
Fully funded awards attract the most applicants, so most Pakistani students apply to a mix. One or two fully funded scholarships sit beside several partial university awards that reduce tuition. This mix raises the chance of at least one offer.
University awards are often automatic. Many UK, Irish and Dutch universities assess every admitted student for merit discounts without a separate form. Reading the scholarship page of each university before applying shows which awards need an extra essay.
Keep one master document with your CV, grades, test scores and two short essays. Most scholarship forms ask similar questions, so a master file saves time and keeps facts consistent across every application you send. Update it after every new result, test score or award.
Living costs still matter after a partial award. The study in Germany from Pakistan page shows a full PKR budget for comparison.
Which mistakes cost Pakistani students their scholarship?
The mistakes that most often cost Pakistani students a scholarship are applying to awards they do not qualify for, sending one generic motivation letter everywhere, missing early deadlines such as Chevening in October, leaving attestation too late and paying agents who promise guaranteed scholarships.
- Applying for Chevening or DAAD EPOS without the required work experience.
- Copying one motivation letter for every scholarship.
- Missing the October and January deadlines.
- Starting HEC attestation a week before the deadline.
- Trusting agents who promise a guaranteed award.
A free scholarship check with Hammad Study Abroad shortlists the awards that fit your profile. Students who need an English test first can compare options in the PTE vs IELTS page.
Scholarships for Pakistani students, frequently asked questions
Which scholarship is easiest for Pakistani students?
No fully funded scholarship is easy. Stipendium Hungaricum has fixed HEC-nominated seats for Pakistan and accepts Bachelor's applicants after FSc, while Türkiye Bursları needs no IELTS for the application. Chevening, DAAD and Erasmus Mundus are more competitive and ask for stronger profiles.
Can I get a fully funded scholarship after FSc?
Yes, a few. Stipendium Hungaricum and Türkiye Bursları both offer Bachelor's places to Pakistani students after FSc or A Levels. UK and German government scholarships focus on Master's and PhD study, so undergraduates usually look at Hungary, Turkey or university merit awards.
Which scholarships do not need IELTS?
Türkiye Bursları does not ask for IELTS at application, and scholars study Turkish for a year. Some Stipendium Hungaricum programmes accept an English-medium certificate. Chevening, DAAD and Erasmus Mundus usually require IELTS, TOEFL or another accepted English test. Check each programme page before booking a test.
When should Pakistani students start applying for scholarships?
Start about twelve months before the intended start date. Chevening closes in early October, DAAD deadlines fall mostly between August and October, Erasmus Mundus between October and January, Stipendium Hungaricum in mid-January and Türkiye Bursları on 20 February. Early preparation of documents makes several applications possible.
Can I apply for more than one scholarship at the same time?
Yes. Pakistani students commonly apply for Stipendium Hungaricum, Türkiye Bursları and one or two Master's scholarships in the same year. Each scholarship has its own rules, so check whether one award must be declined after accepting another. Track every deadline in one calendar.
Does HEC offer scholarships to study abroad?
Yes. HEC runs overseas scholarship calls for MS/MPhil leading to PhD and nominates Pakistani candidates for government programmes such as Stipendium Hungaricum and the Chinese Government Scholarship. HEC overseas awards usually include a service bond in Pakistan after the degree.