The eagerly awaited 2025 Fulbright Student competition for Master’s and PhD level students commenced in November 2023, with the closing date set for February 28, 2024. The announcement received wide press coverage.
In a message to potential applicants, USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar encouraged talented students and professionals to consider applying.
“We especially want to encourage applicants from public universities and under-served areas. Fulbright is a merit-based program, but in defining merit, the program considers the obstacles and challenges applicants have faced as well as their achievements,” said Akhtar. “One of the goals of the program is to build human capacity in Pakistan, so successful applicants will plan to return to Pakistan on completion of their degrees and use their new skills and knowledge for the benefit of the country.”
Fostering connections
Funded by the United States Government, the Fulbright Program in Pakistan is the world’s largest in terms of financial contribution. Applications are welcome from all disciplines, including energy, water, agriculture, health, education, environmental science, and climate change. While clinical medicine is not included in the Fulbright Program, non-clinical public health applications are encouraged.
“Pakistani Fulbrighters have solved social problems, written new laws, advanced policies to ensure equal access and voices to all, and so much more. They do this all for one purpose: to create a better, safer, and more prosperous Pakistan. In this goal, the United States and Pakistan are united,” said U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome.
The program covers graduate studies, tuition, maintenance, insurance, and air travel. All applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and must have a minimum score of 145 in both the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the exam. Shortlisted candidates will be required to take the Duolingo English Test.
Aiding prospective applicants
To help applicants put their best foot forward, Team EducationUSA Pakistan worked with the Programs department to conduct around 50 in-person and virtual workshops. These included Fulbright Journey sessions, information sessions, and GRE and statement-of-purpose workshops. GRE workshops were also held at the Lincoln Corners in Peshawar and Gilgit. All virtual sessions can be viewed on USEFP’s Youtube channel.
Under the Fulbright Program, nearly 3,000 Pakistani students have received fully funded scholarships to study for graduate study since 2005. These awardees have completed their studies and research and are now making significant contributions to the public and private sectors with their knowledge and expertise.
