Funded PhD positions, doctoral scholarships and research fellowships open to Pakistani citizens — including salaried PhD jobs in Europe and government scholarships in China, Hungary and Korea.
How to apply as a Pakistani student
- In Europe many PhDs are jobs: apply to a specific project and supervisor.
- Email potential supervisors with a short, tailored research idea and your CV.
- Keep publications, thesis abstract and two or three referees ready.
- Check whether the position is a salaried contract or a stipend — it affects visa and pay.
- Apply only through the official portal or the university.
Open PhD opportunities for Pakistani citizens
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2027 (UK)
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK
United Kingdom
- Fully funded, Stipend
- Open to: 12 listed countries
- Master's, PhD
- 3–4 years
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) 2027/28
Research Grants Council (RGC), Hong Kong
Hong Kong
- Fully funded, Stipend
- Open to all nationalities
- Master's, PhD
- 3 years
Gates Cambridge Scholarship (PhD, MPhil & one-year master’s)
Gates Cambridge Trust · University of Cambridge
United Kingdom
- Fully funded, Stipend
- All nationalities except United Kingdom
- Graduate, Master's, PhD
- 1 year (master's) to 4 years (PhD)
KAUST Fellowship — Fully Funded MS & PhD (Saudi Arabia)
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Saudi Arabia
- Fully funded, Stipend
- Open to all nationalities
- Graduate, Master's, PhD
- MS about 1.5 years; PhD several years
FWO PhD Fellowship Fundamental Research (Flanders, Belgium)
Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO)
Belgium
- Salary
- Open to all nationalities
- Master's, PhD
- 3 or 4 years
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) — PhD (Type A via HEC & Type B)
China Scholarship Council (CSC)
China
- Fully funded, Stipend
- Open to all nationalities
- Master's, PhD
- 3–4 years (plus Chinese language year if Chinese-taught)
TWAS-CNPq Postgraduate Fellowship (Full PhD in Brazil)
The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) · CNPq Brazil
Brazil
- Stipend
- Open to: Developing countries
- Master's, PhD
- 4 years
MBZUAI PhD in Artificial Intelligence (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)
United Arab Emirates
- Funding not confirmed
- Open to all nationalities
- Master's, PhD
- 4 years
Khalifa University PhD Scholarship (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
Khalifa University of Science and Technology
United Arab Emirates
- Fully funded, Partially funded, Stipend
- Open to all nationalities
- Master's, PhD
- 4 years
PhD & Research Positions in ERC-Funded Projects (Europe)
European Research Council (ERC) grant holders · via EURAXESS
Multiple countries
- Salary
- Open to all nationalities
- Master's, PhD, Postdoc
- PhD contracts usually 3–4 years
DAAD Research Grants — Doctoral Programmes in Germany
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Germany
- Fully funded, Stipend
- Open to all nationalities
- Master's, PhD
- Up to 4 years
FPI — Predoctoral Contracts on Funded Research Projects (Spain)
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) · Spanish universities and research centres
Spain
- Salary
- Open to all nationalities
- Master's, PhD
- 4 years
TIGP — Taiwan International Graduate Program (Academia Sinica PhD)
Academia Sinica · partner Taiwanese universities
Taiwan
- Stipend, Tuition waiver
- Open to all nationalities
- Master's, PhD
- 5 years
CAS-ANSO Scholarship for Young Talents (PhD & Master’s, China)
ANSO · Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS / USTC)
China
- Fully funded, Stipend
- Open to all nationalities
- Master's, PhD
- Up to 48 months (PhD) · 36 months (master's)
IAEA Internship Programme (Vienna)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Multiple countries
- Stipend
- Open to all nationalities
- Graduate, Master's, PhD
- 3 months to 1 year
OIST PhD Program — Fully Funded (Okinawa, Japan)
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST)
Japan
- Fully funded, Stipend
- Open to all nationalities
- Graduate, Master's, PhD
- 5 years
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships — Research (PhD & Postdoc)
Swiss Confederation (SERI / FCS)
Switzerland
- Stipend
- Open to all nationalities
- Master's, PhD, Postdoc
- Up to the length set in the award (PhD, postdoc or research stay)
Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI) — Master’s, PhD & Research
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI)
Italy
- Stipend
- Open to all nationalities
- Graduate, Master's, PhD
- Flexible
France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship (Master’s & PhD)
Campus France · French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
France
- Partially funded, Stipend
- Open to all nationalities
- Graduate, Master's, PhD
- Up to 12–24 months (master's), 12–36 months (PhD)
World Bank Group Pioneers Internship
World Bank Group
United States
- Salary
- Open to all nationalities
- Master's, PhD, Undergraduate
- Set per position
MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan
Japan
- Fully funded, Stipend, Tuition waiver
- Open to all nationalities
- High school, Master's, PhD
- Length of the degree or research program
Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Burslari)
Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB)
Türkiye
- Fully funded, Stipend
- Open to all nationalities
- High school, Master's, PhD
- Length of the degree program plus a Turkish language year
EURAXESS: PhD, Postdoc & Research Jobs in Europe
European Commission — EURAXESS
Multiple countries
- Salary
- Open to all nationalities
- Master's, PhD, Postdoc
- Varies by position (PhD positions are usually 3–4 years)
United Nations Internship Programme
United Nations Secretariat
Multiple countries
- Funding not confirmed
- Open to all nationalities
- Graduate, Master's, PhD
- Set by each opening
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