Finding a scholarship is only the start. You also need to know whether applications are open, whether your degree fits, and how much money you would still have to arrange yourself. This guide brings together ten scholarship routes worth checking if you are a Pakistani student planning to study abroad. Some have confirmed application windows. Others need a programme-specific check or a new call before you can apply. Several provide substantial support while leaving particular expenses unpaid. Information checked: 20 October 2026. Dates below refer to the stated competition or intake. A university admission deadline, scholarship deadline and HEC nomination deadline can be different. For scholarship application videos, visit Learn With Ali Zubair on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@learnwithalizubair?si=q5vQmqucDjQ3tT6S. Use the official programme links below for the application rules and final submission. Which scholarships can you act on now? Swiss Government Excellence — Research and PhD Pakistan deadline: 31 October 2026 Open Doors, Russia — Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral competition tracks Registration closes 1 November 2026 JUSTCOOL, China — Direct PhD in selected sciences Closes 14 November 2026, Beijing time Shenzhen University — PhD, March 2027 intake Closes 30 November 2026 Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme — PhD, 2027/28 Initial application closes 1 December 2026 at noon, Hong Kong time France Excellence Eiffel — Master’s and PhD Institution nominations close 6 January 2027; host deadlines are earlier University of Padua Excellence — Eligible English-taught bachelor’s and master’s Degree applications underway; new scholarship call expected in November 2026 Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters — Master’s Each consortium sets its own application window Chinese Government Scholarship, CSC — Degree routes vary HEC’s displayed 2026–27 call is closed; check the next call and university routes separately US–Pakistan Knowledge Corridor — PhD in the United States A fresh open application deadline was not confirmed in the HEC information reviewed 1. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships The 2027–28 opportunity advertised by HEC for Pakistan covers a one-year research scholarship for doctoral candidates and a three-year PhD scholarship. It is a research route, so start by finding an appropriate Swiss academic supervisor and developing a credible proposal. The Pakistan application deadline is 31 October 2026. HEC directs applicants to the Swiss online application system; HEC is advertising the opportunity rather than providing the scholarship itself. The Swiss government lists a monthly scholarship of CHF 2,450, with specified insurance and additional allowances under its rules. However, tuition and semester fees are not covered. Confirm the financial position with the host institution before treating the award as enough to meet your whole study budget. A suitable supervisor’s support, a clear research question and the required academic qualifications matter more than a generic statement about wanting to study in Switzerland. Official Pakistan announcement and instructions: https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/HECAnnouncements/Pages/SGES.aspx · Swiss scholarship conditions: https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/en/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships-at-a-glance · Swiss application portal: https://www.go.eskas.ch/LoginServlet 2. Open Doors Scholarship Competition, Russia Open Doors offers competition tracks for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral study, alongside a separate postdoctoral track. Registration for the current competition closes on 1 November 2026. Expect a selection process rather than an award for simply submitting a form. The stages include a portfolio and assessments; doctoral applicants may also need to connect with a supervisor through the competition process. The official FAQ describes tuition support and a monthly stipend that varies by university. Students remain responsible for expenses including travel, accommodation, food, insurance and personal costs. Build those costs into your plan before choosing Russia. Your first task is to select the correct track and subject area, read its assessment requirements and prepare the portfolio carefully. Follow the registration deadline rather than assuming a later stage date is the last day to enter. Official Open Doors competition, schedule and FAQ: https://od.globaluni.ru/ 3. JUSTCOOL Direct PhD Programme, China JUSTCOOL is a direct PhD route involving Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Tongji University. The 2027 admissions notice covers mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. Applications run until 14 November 2026 at 24:00 Beijing time. The published requirements include non-Chinese citizenship, an eligible undergraduate degree obtained between June 2026 and July 2027, and a position within the top 20% of the undergraduate cohort. The programme lists a full tuition waiver, accommodation, medical insurance and fellowship or assistantship support. Selection includes examinations and interviews. English proficiency still matters. An eligible English-medium undergraduate qualification or one of the accepted language tests can meet the language requirement under the notice. Check the exact evidence before relying on an IELTS exemption. This route deserves close attention if you are a strong science undergraduate considering a research career. Compare the research areas and assessment syllabus before spending time on the application. Official JUSTCOOL admissions requirements: https://www.justcoolphd.cn/Admissions.htm · JUSTCOOL application system: https://apply.justcoolphd.cn/ 4. Shenzhen University PhD Scholarships, March 2027 Intake Shenzhen University’s international PhD admissions window runs from 10 October to 30 November 2026 for entry in March 2027. The published requirements include a master’s qualification or above and an age below 40. The guide also explains arrangements for applicants expecting to graduate. Applicants need to contact a potential supervisor and obtain the required recommendation. English-taught and Chinese-taught programmes have different language evidence requirements. Competitive Liyuan International Scholarship categories provide a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend of CNY 4,000, 5,000 or 6,000, depending on the award. Admission alone does not guarantee one of these scholarships. Accommodation and insurance charges also need checking. The application fee is CNY 400 and is non-refundable. Before paying, confirm that your subject is available, your supervisor documentation is ready and your funding plan covers any costs outside the award. Official Shenzhen University March 2027 PhD admissions guide: https://lxs.szu.edu.cn/en/info/1112/3623.htm 5. Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027/28 HKPFS supports research study at participating Hong Kong universities and accepts applicants from around the world, including Pakistan. The initial application deadline is 1 December 2026 at noon Hong Kong time. Start with the Research Grants Council system to obtain an HKPFS reference number. You must then complete the relevant university applications by their deadlines. The process permits up to two programmes at one or two universities under the scheme’s rules. The fellowship provides an annual stipend and conference or research-related travel support for up to three years. Ask each university about tuition arrangements, additional support and funding beyond that period. Published figures explicitly labelled 2026/27 should not be assumed to be confirmed 2027/28 rates. For a competitive application, connect your proposed research with the department’s work and show evidence of academic ability, research potential and leadership. Official HKPFS overview: https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/index.html · 2027/28 application announcement: https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/news.html · Initial application system: https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/InitApplication.jsp 6. France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship 2027 Eiffel supports selected master’s and PhD candidates through nominations made by French higher education institutions. Students cannot submit directly to Campus France. Your practical first step is to find an eligible host programme and ask about its Eiffel nomination procedure. The published 2027 institutional calendar gives 6 January 2027 as the nomination deadline. Universities need time to select and prepare candidates, so their internal deadlines can be substantially earlier. Obtain the date from your intended host immediately. Eiffel includes a monthly allowance and specified support services. Eiffel itself does not pay tuition fees. Ask the institution whether a fee exemption or another source of support would apply to you, and get that position confirmed before budgeting. Prepare your academic record and study or research plan around the institution’s selection criteria. A general scholarship email without a suitable programme is unlikely to give the university enough to assess. Official Campus France Eiffel programme: https://www.campusfrance.org/en/the-france-excellence-eiffel-scholarship-program · Official 2027 calendar: https://www.tunisie.campusfrance.org/le-programme-de-bourses-france-excellence-eiffel 7. University of Padua International Excellence Scholarship Padua’s International Excellence programme supports selected international students entering eligible English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes. The university has announced support for up to 76 awards for 2027/28, with €8,000 gross per year and a tuition fee waiver. Regional tax and stamp duty remain relevant expenses. The timing needs careful reading. The first 2027/28 degree application window for many programmes closes on 15 November 2026. The scholarship webpage says further call information is due in November 2026. A degree application deadline should therefore not be presented as a universal scholarship deadline. Under the published programme arrangements, eligible applicants are considered through their course application without a separate scholarship form. Check the new call for the final 2027/28 conditions, eligible programmes and award duration. Choose a degree that fits your previous studies, then check both the admission call and the scholarship notice. The award is competitive. Official Padua International Excellence scholarship page: https://www.unipd.it/en/padua-international-excellence-scholarship-programme · 2027/28 international application information: https://dissgea.unipd.it/en/international-students-202728-applications 8. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships Erasmus Mundus is worth exploring if you want a master’s programme delivered by a group of universities, often with study periods in more than one country. Applicants generally need a bachelor’s degree or to be in their final year with graduation completed before the programme starts. Each consortium decides the relevant academic background, language evidence, documents and selection process. Scholarships are available to highly ranked applicants and support participation costs, with contributions towards travel, visas and living costs. Admission and a scholarship offer are separate outcomes, so read the funding decision carefully. Many programmes take applications between October and January for study beginning the following academic year. There is no single student deadline for every Erasmus Mundus programme, and a general calendar does not prove that a particular course is currently open. Use the official catalogue, select courses matching your degree and confirm the current scholarship window on each consortium’s website. Official Erasmus Mundus student guide and programme catalogue access: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/individuals/students/erasmus-mundus-joint-masters 9. Chinese Government Scholarship, CSC CSC offers several routes into Chinese universities, including awards for different degree levels. Full awards can include tuition, accommodation or an accommodation subsidy, medical insurance and a living allowance. Read the coverage stated for your exact route. For Pakistani applicants, the HEC nomination route and university-managed routes must be checked separately. HEC’s displayed 2026–27 deadline was 5 January 2026, which has passed. The next HEC deadline should come from a fresh announcement; an old call does not establish that applications for 2027–28 are open. Direct university applications follow the university’s own admissions and scholarship instructions. Programme category, agency number, language evidence and any additional application system must match the current notice. Start preparing your academic documents and study plan now, while keeping the application status separate from your preparation timeline. Official HEC Chinese Government Scholarship notice: https://www.hec.gov.pk/Site/CGSP/default.aspx · Our CSC application guide: https://www.studywithalizubair.com/blog/csc-scholarship-guide · Learn With Ali Zubair scholarship videos: https://youtube.com/@learnwithalizubair?si=q5vQmqucDjQ3tT6S 10. US–Pakistan Knowledge Corridor HEC’s US–Pakistan Knowledge Corridor supports eligible Pakistani and AJK applicants pursuing PhD study in the United States. Admission, academic eligibility, test requirements and scholarship category all affect the application. Funding arrangements vary by category. Some categories have tuition limits, so an expensive admission offer can leave a funding gap. Confirm how the university’s tuition waiver or financial support works alongside HEC funding. A fresh open deadline was not confirmed in the HEC pages reviewed for this guide. Previously listed cycles should not be reused as current deadlines. Monitor the official page and scholarship portal for a new notice. Meanwhile, identify suitable US research departments, prepare for the tests required by your intended route and build a realistic admission plan. Read the scholarship obligations, including the commitment to serve in Pakistan, before applying. Official HEC application guidance: https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/scholarshipsgrants/US-Pakcorridor/Pages/How-to-Apply.aspx · Funding categories and FAQ: https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/scholarshipsgrants/US-Pakcorridor/Pages/FAQ.aspx · HEC scholarship portal: https://scholarship.hec.gov.pk/ How to choose a realistic shortlist Begin with your qualification and subject, then compare the cost and timing. An undergraduate planning a direct science PhD has a different shortlist from a student seeking a taught master’s. - After intermediate/A levels: check the bachelor’s track and entry requirements for Open Doors, eligible Padua degrees and future CSC undergraduate calls. - After a bachelor’s degree: investigate Erasmus Mundus and eligible master’s routes. Science graduates meeting JUSTCOOL’s precise conditions can also examine its direct PhD option. - After a master’s degree: compare HKPFS, Swiss research funding, Shenzhen PhD opportunities and relevant doctoral routes elsewhere. For each option, record the course, scholarship, deadline with time zone, documents, application fee, funding coverage and likely personal contribution. Apply where your academic record and goals fit the selection criteria. Documents Pakistani applicants should prepare Create one organised folder, then tailor the contents to each application: - A valid passport and consistently written personal details. - Degree certificates and complete transcripts, with required translations or attestation. - An academic CV focused on relevant achievements. - A programme-specific motivation letter, study plan or research proposal. - Recommendation letters requested well before the deadline. - The language evidence accepted by that university. - Supervisor support or pre-admission documents where required. - Relevant HEC or programme test results, where the current call requires them. Medical certificates, police certificates and some test results have validity periods. Check the rules before paying for them too early. Save submitted forms and confirmation emails, and monitor the email account used for applications. Questions students often ask Are all ten scholarships open and fully funded? The opportunities have different statuses and coverage. Some current calls provide broad support; others leave tuition or living expenses unpaid. CSC’s next HEC call and a fresh Knowledge Corridor deadline need confirmation. Padua’s new scholarship notice and individual Erasmus Mundus calls also need their own checks. Can I apply without IELTS? Some programmes accept a qualifying English-medium degree or another recognised test. Others require specific scores. Read the language requirement for your course and scholarship together, and obtain written clarification if your evidence is unclear. Does a scholarship cover the visa and flight? Coverage varies. List tuition, accommodation, food, insurance, visa costs, travel, application charges and initial living expenses separately. Count an expense as funded only when the award rules or offer confirm it. Where can I watch scholarship application guidance? Visit Learn With Ali Zubair on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@learnwithalizubair?si=q5vQmqucDjQ3tT6S for scholarship-related videos. Keep the current official call open while preparing an application, because requirements can change between intakes. For help organising your university shortlist and application documents, contact Study With Ali Zubair: https://www.studywithalizubair.com/contact.