UK Scholarships for Pakistani Students: 2027 Guide

Chevening, Commonwealth and GREAT scholarships are open to Pakistani students. Here's who each one is for, what it covers, the deadlines and how to apply.

Quick answer Pakistani students can apply for three major UK government–backed master's scholarships:

• Chevening: fully funded; needs 2+ years' work experience. The 2027–28 round closes 6 October 2026, 4:00 pm Pakistan time.
• Commonwealth Master's Scholarships: fully funded, for people who couldn't otherwise afford UK study. The CSC deadline is 20 October 2026, 8:00 pm Pakistan time, and your nominating agency may close earlier.
• GREAT Scholarships: £10,000 towards tuition.

Many UK universities also offer their own fee discounts. Always check the official page: amounts and deadlines change every year.

Chevening Scholarships (fully funded master's)

Chevening is the UK government's international scholarship programme. It funds a one-year master's at any UK university.

To be eligible you need to:

• have at least two years (2,800 hours) of work experience
• be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country (Pakistan has its own Chevening country page)
• hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master's
• commit to returning home for at least two years after the scholarship
• not have studied in the UK before on a UK government-funded scholarship

You choose three UK master's courses on your application. (Chevening: prepare your application)

2027–28 round: applications opened on 4 August 2026 and close on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC (4:00 pm in Pakistan). (Chevening timeline)

Commonwealth Master's Scholarships (fully funded)

These scholarships are funded by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. They are for people from eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries who couldn't otherwise afford to study in the UK. Pakistan is on the eligible list.

Each scholarship covers:

• approved return airfare
• full tuition fees
• a living allowance of £1,712 a month (or £2,000 a month in the London metropolitan area), at current rates
• a study travel grant

To be eligible you must:

• be a citizen and permanent resident of an eligible country
• by September 2027, hold at least an upper second-class (2:1) degree, or a 2:2 plus a relevant postgraduate qualification
• be able to start in the UK in September 2027

You can't apply to the CSC directly. You apply through a nominating agency in Pakistan (or a selected NGO). Each nominator may set its own rules and an earlier deadline.

2027–28 round: the CSC deadline is 16:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October 2026 (8:00 pm in Pakistan). (CSC: Commonwealth Master's Scholarships)

GREAT Scholarships (£10,000 towards tuition)

GREAT Scholarships give £10,000 towards tuition fees for one-year taught postgraduate courses. In 2026–27, over 60 UK universities offer them to students from 18 countries, including Pakistan. The Pakistan country page lists the universities taking part, the courses covered and how to apply.

The scholarships are funded jointly by the UK government's GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council and the universities. (British Council: GREAT Scholarships)

University scholarships

Most UK universities offer their own awards to international students, usually as a discount on tuition fees. Two things to watch:

• Some are automatic if you accept your offer and pay your deposit by a set date.
• Some can't be combined with other awards from the same university.

For example, the University of Greenwich gives an automatic £3,000 Early Confirmation Scholarship to new self-funded international postgraduate taught students starting in January 2027, if they accept their offer and pay the deposit by 16 October 2026. (gre.ac.uk; see our full Greenwich scholarships guide)

CourseOptions lists 1,350+ open scholarships at UK universities. Filter them for Pakistani students, then confirm the details on the university's own page:

• Postgraduate scholarships for Pakistani students
• Undergraduate scholarships for Pakistani students

Which should you apply for?

You can usually apply for more than one, but check each scheme's rules on holding awards together. For example, the CSC says you may not be able to hold another award that covers the same costs.

Avoiding outdated or fake information

• Apply only through the official websites linked above.
• Be wary of pages that promise a set number of scholarships "for Pakistani students", or awards you can't find on the university's own site.
• Check the year. Scholarship amounts and deadlines usually change each round.

FAQs

Are there fully funded UK scholarships for Pakistani students? Yes. Chevening and Commonwealth Master's Scholarships are both fully funded and open to eligible Pakistani citizens.

Can I get a UK scholarship without work experience? Chevening requires two years. Commonwealth Master's and GREAT have different criteria, and many university awards depend on your offer and on deadlines, so check each official page.

Do I apply to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission directly? No. You apply through an approved nominating agency in Pakistan, which nominates candidates to the CSC.

How much is a GREAT Scholarship? £10,000 towards tuition fees for a one-year taught postgraduate course (2026–27).

Next step

• Find scholarships for Pakistani students
• Search postgraduate courses
• Read next: UK Student visa from Pakistan: money, documents and steps

Scholarship details checked against the official pages on 1 October 2026.