The LSHTM Fund Scholarship is one of the few public health awards that pays for the whole master's year rather than a slice of it. It is run by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and aimed at talented students from low- and middle-income countries who could not otherwise afford UK postgraduate study. It covers the full overseas tuition fee and adds a tax-free stipend of £22,000 for living costs. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing, but this guide goes further into how the award works and where Pakistani applicants tend to slip.
Who is this for? A Pakistani doctor, public health worker or recent graduate who already knows they want to work on epidemiology, infectious disease, health policy or a similar problem, and who can explain why that work matters back home. If you are still unsure whether public health is your field, or you are mainly after a UK degree for its own sake, this is probably the wrong scholarship to spend your effort on. The selection is framed around future leaders in public and global health, and a vague motivation will show.
The LSHTM Fund Scholarship in one table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded: overseas-rate tuition plus a tax-free stipend of £22,000 |
| Level | Master's (one year, on campus) |
| Where | LSHTM's London campus, United Kingdom |
| Deadline | Typically early March, 16:00 BST (confirm the exact date each cycle) |
| Nationality | Citizens or residents of low- and middle-income countries as classified by the World Bank (Pakistan qualifies) |
| Official site | lshtm.ac.uk |
What a £22,000 tax-free stipend plus full fees actually means
Most UK scholarships Pakistani students find are partial: a fee discount of some kind, with living costs left to you. This one is different. The full overseas-rate tuition is paid, and the £22,000 stipend is meant to cover living expenses for the year in London. It is a grant, not a loan, so there is no separate repayment obligation.
The award covers:
- Full overseas-rate tuition fees
- A tax-free annual stipend of £22,000 for living expenses
- One year of on-campus master's study in London
- Access to LSHTM's research community and alumni network
Note what is in that list and what is not. The source material does not mention flights, visa fees or the UK health surcharge as separate items, so plan as if those come out of your own pocket or the stipend until the official scholarships page tells you otherwise. Ask before you assume.
The scholarship also only applies to on-campus programmes. LSHTM runs a wide spread of master's courses, and the eligible fields include public health, epidemiology, tropical medicine, global health policy, health economics, nutrition and infectious disease control, with reproductive and maternal health also among the school's areas. Pick the programme first, then check it is an on-campus one.
Why Pakistan's World Bank status decides your eligibility
Eligibility here is tied to a World Bank income classification, not to a fixed list of countries. Pakistan currently falls within the low- and middle-income group, so Pakistani citizens or residents are in the target pool. Classifications can change, though, and LSHTM's own advice is to confirm the current World Bank LMIC classification each cycle. It is a quick check and saves you from a wasted application.
Beyond nationality, you need:
- An offer of admission, or eligibility for admission, to an LSHTM on-campus master's programme
- A strong academic record that shows you can handle demanding graduate study in public health
- A demonstrated commitment to using your training on health challenges in your home country or region
- English proficiency at LSHTM's standard admissions level
The fourth point is where many applicants lose marks without realising it. "Commitment" is judged from evidence: what you have done so far and what you plan to do after London. A student who has spent time on a polio campaign, a district health office, a hospital infection control team or a research project has something concrete to point to. Someone with only a good CGPA has less.
Two applications, not one
This catches people every year. The LSHTM Fund Scholarship is a separate application from your master's admission. You apply to the programme first, then complete the scholarship form on its own. Submitting the programme application does not automatically put you in the running for funding.
The paperwork for both together looks like this:
- Your LSHTM master's programme application (completed before or alongside the scholarship application)
- The LSHTM Fund Scholarship application form
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- A personal statement on your motivation and the public health impact you intend to have
- Two academic or professional references
- IELTS or TOEFL scores, if required for your programme
Pakistani applicants should get transcripts and degrees in order early, especially if your university is slow to issue official copies. Our documents checklist for international scholarships is a good way to make sure nothing is missing.
The application sequence
- Apply for admission to an eligible LSHTM on-campus master's programme.
- Once you hold an offer, or during the application window, complete the separate Fund Scholarship application.
- Submit your personal statement, references and other documents before the scholarship deadline, which is typically early March.
- LSHTM's scholarship committee reviews applications on academic merit, need and potential impact.
- Successful candidates are notified, generally ahead of the start of the academic year.
- Confirm enrolment and arrange your UK student visa before the programme starts in the autumn.
Working back from the early March cut-off
The usual cycle runs like this:
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Autumn of the preceding year | Master's programme applications open |
| Early March, 16:00 BST | Fund Scholarship deadline |
| Spring | Scholarship decisions |
| September/October | Programme starts |
The deadline is given as "typically" early March, so treat that as a guide and confirm the exact date and time on the official portal for your intake. Convert the 16:00 UK cut-off to Pakistan time, and do not plan to submit on the last night.
The bigger risk is the admission step. If you open the programme application in February, you may not have an offer, or even a complete application, in time to apply for funding. Aim to submit your master's application in the autumn, soon after it opens. That gives you room to fix gaps, chase referees and write a scholarship statement that is not rushed.
Decisions arrive in spring and the course starts in September or October, so the visa window is short. Read up on common student visa rejection reasons for Pakistani students before you need it, not after your award letter arrives.
What the committee is really reading for
The review looks at three things: academic merit, need and potential impact. Your grades handle the first. The second is largely settled by the scholarship's LMIC focus. The third is where your personal statement does the heavy lifting.
Some practical advice drawn from how the award is set up:
- Tie your interest to specific health problems in Pakistan or the wider region. "I want to improve global health" says nothing. A paragraph about a particular disease burden, gap in the health system or maternal and child health problem you have seen says a lot.
- Put clinical, epidemiological or field experience up front, even if it was voluntary or short. A short stint on a vaccination drive still counts.
- Choose referees who have seen your public health work, such as a supervisor from a project or a hospital department. A professor who only knows your exam marks writes a weaker letter for this particular award.
- Explain what you will do after the year in London. The scholarship is about building leaders who return to work on health challenges in lower-income countries, so your plan should point that way.
Common mistakes are easy to list. Applying for admission too late. Assuming the programme application covers the scholarship. Writing a generic statement that could fit any country. Picking a programme that is not on campus. And treating this as the only option: LSHTM runs several schemes in parallel, such as the Next Generation Scholarships, so it is sensible to look at the other funding on the LSHTM scholarships and funding page as a backup.
If you are comparing this with other UK options, our guide to all United Kingdom scholarships lists the alternatives in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Does the LSHTM Fund Scholarship cover full tuition?
Yes. It pays the full overseas-rate tuition fee and adds a tax-free stipend of £22,000 for living costs during the one-year on-campus master's.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Yes. Eligibility is based on the World Bank's low- and middle-income country classification, and Pakistan falls within it. Check the current classification each cycle in case it changes.
Do I need a separate application for the scholarship?
Yes. You apply for admission to an LSHTM master's programme and then complete the Fund Scholarship application separately. Doing only one of them is not enough.
Which programmes are eligible?
LSHTM on-campus master's programmes, including epidemiology, global health policy, tropical medicine, health economics and nutrition. Online or distance options are not part of this award.
Do I have to repay the scholarship?
No. It is a grant, not a loan, and there is no separate repayment obligation.
What if I am not selected?
LSHTM runs other scholarship schemes alongside this one, including the Next Generation Scholarships. Look at the full list on the official funding page so you have other options in the same cycle.
Before you apply, check the current deadline and requirements on the official LSHTM website, and keep our LSHTM Fund Scholarship page handy for the key details.