Pakistan Announces 4500 Fully-Funded Scholarships for Afghan Students (2025)

Oct 7, 2025

4500 Fully-Funded Scholarships for Afghan Students

In a major initiative to strengthen educational and cultural ties with neighbouring Afghanistan, Pakistan has launched 4,500 fully-funded scholarships for Afghan students. This program is part of the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships Programme (Phase-III), overseen by Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC).

What the Scholarship Covers

The 4,500 scholarships are fully funded, meaning successful applicants will receive a complete package that includes:

Tuition fees at Pakistani universities
Hostel dues and accommodation
Living allowance / stipend
Book allowance

Thus, the financial burden on the student is minimal or none.

Who Can Apply & Levels of Study

These scholarships are open to Afghan nationals to pursue higher education in Pakistan at several levels:

Undergraduate
Graduate (Master’s / M.Phil)
Doctoral (PhD)

Fields covered include, but are not limited to: medicine, engineering, agriculture, management, computer sciences, and other disciplines relevant to Afghanistan’s reconstruction and human development.

Reservation and Gender Quota

A notable feature of the scheme is that 33% of the seats are reserved for female students. This demonstrates Pakistan’s intention to ensure more inclusive participation, especially given the educational barriers faced by Afghan women.

Application & Selection Process

Over 22,000 applications were reported from Afghan students for these 4,500 slots.
Applicants will first take an online test, followed by interviews.
The entire selection process is planned to conclude within 45 days once the test and interviews begin.

Timeline & Phases

This is part of Phase-III of the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships.
The 4,500 scholarships are to be awarded over a span of three years.
The announcement of this phase came in early 2025.

Purpose & Objectives

The scheme has several key objectives:

Capacity building of Afghan youth through quality education.
Promoting professional linkages between institutions in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Contributing to human resource development for Afghanistan’s reconstruction and growth.
Enhancing people-to-people contacts and goodwill between the two nations.

Recent Steps & Implementation

Hundreds of Afghan students have already arrived for studies under the scheme, including both Master’s and PhD students.
Preparatory courses are being provided in certain cases before formal admission to degree programs.

Challenges / Key Considerations

While the program is ambitious and generous, there are certain challenges and practical issues to keep in mind:

Ensuring that the scholarship process remains fair and transparent, particularly with such a large number of applicants.
Logistical considerations: travel, visa formalities, arrival, accommodation, and preparatory arrangements.
Navigating language, curriculum, and cultural differences for students coming from Afghanistan.
Ensuring that female candidates are able to participate fully, which may require additional support.

Impact and Significance

This initiative is seen as more than just a scholarship scheme. It represents:

A gesture of educational diplomacy and soft power.
Practical support for Afghanistan’s development through building educated human capital.
Reinforcement of regional cooperation and shared responsibility.
Opportunities for Afghan students that might otherwise be limited.

Key Facts at a Glance

Item	Detail
Total Scholarships	4,500 (over three years)
Eligible Nationals	Afghan students
Levels Covered	Undergraduate, Master’s/M.Phil, PhD
Disciplines	Medicine, Engineering, Agriculture, Computer Science, Management, etc.
Female Quota	33% reserved seats for women
Process	Online test + interviews
Number of Applicants	~22,000+
Duration for Selection	~45 days after tests & interviews begin

Conclusion

Pakistan’s announcement of 4,500 fully funded scholarships for Afghan students in 2025 reflects a strong commitment to educational cooperation and building human capital across borders. For Afghan students, this offers a meaningful opportunity to access higher education, gain new skills, and contribute to their country’s long-term future. With a gender quota and inclusion of multiple levels of study, the program is designed to be broad and impactful.