Pakistani Students Can Now Apply for the Fulbright Scholarship for Masters & PhD in the US

It is the dream of millions to be able to attend some of the most famed and respected institutions in around the world, which have constantly churned out some of the most brilliant and successful individuals that changed the face of the world. Not many get to fulfill this dream and follow the path of their idols, but a lot of those who do, owe it to USEFP’s Fulbright scholarship program.

What is Fulbright?

Fulbright is the flagship scholarship program of the United States. Managed by the United States Education Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP), it is designed to award Pakistani citizens the opportunity to study for a Master’s or PhD degree program at a US university.

The Fulbright grant funds the participant’s tuition, required textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, and health insurance, and also facilitates them for the visa process.

The Fulbright Program has finally opened its application process for Pakistani citizens and students looking to pursue a Masters or a doctorate degree at a US university beginning in fall of 2018 can apply now.

Can I apply?

The application process is completely online but you will need to submit a number of attested documents and a good deal of information about yourself including. You also need to meet certain criteria to be eligible for the program.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Permanent citizens of Pakistan with strong academic histories, residing and working in Pakistan and committed to returning and serving Pakistan
• For Master’s: Persons who have a completed 16 years of formal education. Recent graduates are strongly encouraged to apply except for MBA applicants
• For PhD: Persons with 18 years of formal education. It is highly desirable that candidates have work experience in teaching, research and or the public sector in Pakistan
• All disciplines except for clinical medicine are eligible to apply. However, energy, water, agriculture, health and education are priority areas
• Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and remote areas who would not otherwise have such an opportunity, women, minorities and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Persons with a dual U.S/Pakistani nationality, or those having a spouse, parent, fiancé or child over 18 years of age who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, are ineligible. Employees of the Fulbright organization or the U.S. Department of State and their spouses, fiancés, siblings, dependents, children and parents, and persons already studying in the U.S. or on a work/residence visa in any country will also not be considered.

If you have already received a Fulbright student grant previously, other candidates who haven’t received it will be preferred over you.

How can I apply?

You need to have given two exams to be applicable for USEFP,

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE): According to the new scoring system, minimum scores of 138 in the verbal and 136 in the quantitative sections are required.
• TOEFL: Short-listed applicants will be required to take the TOEFL within two weeks of being notified and to bring proof of registration for the TOEFL with them to the interview with a minimum score of 90.

The application procedure has four main requirements,

1. Filling an application form.
2. Attaching reference letters.
3. Attaching your GRE report.
4. Attaching scanned copies of transcripts.

The deadline for submitting the application is 17th of May, 2017. You can get more information about Fulbright by visiting the following link.