The Weizmann Institute of Science International Scholarships are not a separate award you apply for. They are the fellowships that come with admission to the Weizmann School of Science in Rehovot, Israel. If you get a place in an MSc, PhD or MD-PhD program, you get funded. That is the whole deal, and it changes how you should prepare: you are not writing a scholarship essay, you are trying to get into a research-heavy graduate school.
The school focuses on the physical sciences, chemical sciences, life sciences, mathematics and computer science, plus a Science Teaching track. There is no business, law or humanities option here. If your degree is in one of those science areas and you want a research career, keep reading. You can also see the full scholarship details on our listing.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded (tuition plus living stipend fellowship) |
| Levels | MSc, PhD, MD-PhD |
| MSc deadlines | February 28, 2027 (Life Sciences), March 31, 2027 (Physics, Chemistry, Math and CS), April 18, 2027 (Science Teaching) |
| PhD deadline | Open all year round |
| MD-PhD | Israeli citizens or permanent residents only |
| Country | Israel (Rehovot) |
| Official site | Weizmann Feinberg admissions |
Three programs, three very different entry routes
Most confusion about Weizmann comes from treating the three degrees as one scheme. They work differently.
The MSc: fixed deadlines by faculty
The MSc online application system opens in November (the exact date for the next cycle is still to be determined). Deadlines then depend on your field: Life Sciences closes first on February 28, 2027, Physics, Chemistry and Math and CS on March 31, 2027, and Science Teaching on April 18, 2027. There is no registration fee for the MSc application, which is a relief compared with many foreign universities.
You need a BSc, or be in your final year, with a minimum GPA of 85. For Mathematics and Computer Science the bar is 90. The source does not explain how a Pakistani CGPA maps onto that scale, so do not guess. Ask the admissions office how they read your transcript before you assume you qualify.
The PhD: no deadline, but a hard gate
PhD applications are accepted all year. That sounds relaxed. It is not. You must hold an MSc with a thesis from an accredited institution, an MD, or a PhD in engineering in selected fields. And before you apply, you must have a commitment from a potential advisor who is a senior ranking member of the Weizmann research staff. Their support letter goes into your application. No advisor, no application.
This is where most students from Pakistan will spend their real effort. A strong CV means little until a faculty member agrees to take you on.
The MD-PhD: not open to Pakistani students
The Miriam and Aaron Gutwirth Medical School MD-PhD program is restricted to Israeli citizens or permanent residents. It also asks for a degree average of 85, seven core courses passed with at least 80, a score of 300 or higher on an external knowledge test, and, for some applicants, the YAEL Hebrew test with a minimum of 120. If you are a Pakistani MBBS graduate hoping to use this route, it is not available to you. Look at the MSc or PhD instead.
What the fellowship money actually pays
All admitted students receive a fellowship. In practice that means:
- full tuition coverage across all programs
- a living stipend fellowship for MSc, PhD and MD-PhD students
- reimbursement of test fees for accepted MD-PhD candidates
- help with visa procedures and health insurance through the Weizmann Institute International Office
The source does not give a stipend figure, so you will not find one here. Ask the school for the current monthly amount and work out your own budget before you accept an offer. Also note that the International Office gives guidance on visa and insurance. That is support, not a promise that every cost is paid for you.
Can a Pakistani student apply?
The program is described as open to international and domestic students for the MSc and PhD. It does not list eligible countries one by one. Before investing months in an application, check with the admissions office whether your nationality can be admitted and whether you can get the required student visa. Do this first, not after you have an advisor lined up.
The paperwork, and where people slip
The document list depends on your level. For an MSc you will typically need:
- a CV in PDF with a passport-size photo on the top right-hand side
- your BSc certificate or degree approval
- an updated BSc transcript showing your GPA
- the title page of your passport
- GRE and TOEFL or IELTS scores, where applicable
- a motivation statement in English (half a page at most) if you apply to the Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience track
- between one and three reference letters
PhD applicants add their MSc certificate or degree approval, an official MSc transcript, the title page of the MSc thesis, and the support letter from their potential advisor. Reference letters are mandatory for PhD applicants, with specific rules on who can write them.
Any document not in English or Hebrew needs a certified notary translation. Uploads should be official copies with institutional letterheads, stamps and signatures. If your university issues Urdu documents or unsigned printouts, sort this out early. Our documents checklist for international scholarships covers how to get certified copies in order.
Do you need GRE or IELTS?
For MSc candidates from non-Israeli universities, external exams are generally not required unless the relevant Board of Studies asks for them. International PhD candidates may be asked for GRE, TOEFL or IELTS scores unless the Board of Studies grants a waiver. So the answer is "maybe". Do not book a test blindly, but do not assume you are exempt either. Confirm with your faculty.
Submitting through the online system
- Go to the Weizmann admissions portal and create an account with your email address.
- Choose the right form, for example the MSc application form or the PhD application form.
- Complete every step and enter the names and email addresses of your referees.
- Upload all required documents as PDFs, with stamps and signatures visible.
- Submit before your program deadline. You will get a confirmation email, and your referees receive unique links to upload their letters.
- Track your application and the arrival of recommendations through the online monitoring service.
Note the order in step 5. Referees only get their links after you submit. If you submit on the last day, your referees have almost no time. You are solely responsible for making sure their letters arrive before the deadline, so submit well ahead and warn your professors in advance.
Planning your timeline from Pakistan
For the MSc, work backwards from your faculty's deadline. Life Sciences applicants have the shortest window, since the system opens in November and closes on February 28, 2027. That is roughly three months to collect transcripts, translations and reference letters, and Pakistani university offices are not quick. Start gathering papers before the portal opens.
For the PhD, the year-round intake means your timeline is set by the advisor search, not by a calendar. Contact potential advisors well in advance. Read their recent papers, write a short targeted email, and explain why your MSc thesis fits their group.
The MD-PhD has its own multi-stage process (registration, online tests, knowledge tests, clinical interviews and an assessment center), but as noted it is only for Israeli citizens and permanent residents. Its published dates also belong to an earlier cycle, so anyone eligible should confirm the current schedule on the official portal.
Who this suits, and who should skip it
This is a good fit if you have high grades in a pure or applied science, you enjoy lab or theoretical research, and you can show a clear research interest. It suits PhD candidates who already have a thesis-based MSc and are comfortable cold-emailing faculty.
It is a poor fit if you want a taught, coursework-only degree, if your field is outside the listed sciences, or if your grades sit below the 85 threshold (90 for Math and CS). Skip the MD-PhD entirely unless you hold Israeli citizenship or residency.
Mistakes that sink otherwise good applications
- Applying for a PhD without a confirmed advisor and support letter. The application will not move forward.
- Uploading scans without stamps or signatures, or untranslated documents.
- Leaving referees until the final week, then finding a letter missing.
- Ignoring the half-page limit on the Neuroscience motivation statement, or skipping it altogether.
- Not following the recommended CV layout for Life Sciences.
- Assuming your nationality is eligible without checking with the school.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an application fee?
No fee is charged for the MSc registration process. For other programs, check the current rules on the official portal.
Do I apply separately for the scholarship?
No. All admitted students receive fellowships covering living expenses, along with tuition coverage. Getting admitted is the scholarship.
Can I apply for a PhD at any time of year?
Yes, PhD applications are open all year round. You still need a qualifying MSc and a commitment from a senior ranking Weizmann research staff member who will act as your advisor.
What GPA do I need for the MSc?
A minimum of 85, or 90 for Mathematics and Computer Science. Ask the admissions office how they convert your Pakistani grades.
Can Pakistani doctors apply for the MD-PhD?
No. The MD-PhD is open only to Israeli citizens or permanent residents.
How many reference letters do I need?
For the MSc, at least one and up to three. Letters are mandatory for PhD and MD-PhD applicants, with specific rules on recommenders.
Dates and requirements can change between cycles, so confirm everything on the official Weizmann admissions website and keep an eye on our Weizmann scholarship page for updates.