Most scholarships Pakistani students chase are old programs with years of past applicants to learn from. The New Uzbekistan Scholarship is the opposite. It was announced in 2026, its application platform is still being rolled out, and nobody has a long track record to point to yet. That makes it a genuine opportunity for early movers and a poor fit for anyone who needs certainty on dates right now. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing, and this guide explains how the program works and how to get ready for it.
A scholarship built from empty grant seats
Uzbekistan gives a large number of tuition-free "grant" seats in bachelor's programs at public universities to its own top-scoring students every admission cycle. In practice, some of those seats are never filled. The New Uzbekistan Scholarship takes up to 500 of these unused seats each year and offers them to talented foreign applicants instead of letting them lapse.
The program came out of a package of higher-education reforms signed into decree by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The same package included a new national university ranking system, digital and AI integration initiatives, and university endowment funds. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan runs the scholarship, and the government's stated aim is to attract foreign students from South Asia, Central Asia and Africa.
The funding model matters for one practical reason. Because the scholarship uses seats that would otherwise sit empty, it adds no cost to the state budget, and government officials have pointed to this as a reason they expect the program to continue. It also means the number of awards in any year depends on how many grant seats go unused. "Up to 500" is a ceiling, not a promise.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Listed as fully funded; the stated benefit is a full tuition fee waiver |
| Level | Bachelor's |
| Fields | All fields, including medicine, engineering, IT / computer science and business |
| Seats | Up to 500 international students per year |
| Provider | Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan |
| Deadline | To be confirmed; expected to open through the Study in Uzbekistan platform for the 2026/2027 intake |
| Country | Uzbekistan |
| Official site | Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation portal |
What a tuition waiver does and does not pay for
The program is described as fully funded, but read the benefit carefully. What is actually listed is:
- A full tuition fee waiver at a public Uzbek university for the whole bachelor's degree.
- Access to the same state-grant campus resources given to top domestic students.
- Entry into Uzbekistan's growing set of English-medium bachelor's programs, including medicine and engineering.
There is no mention of a monthly stipend, flights, accommodation or health cover. Day-to-day expenses are typically the student's own responsibility, so plan as if you will pay for living costs and visa fees yourself. Living costs in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara are low compared with Gulf, European or East Asian destinations, which is why a tuition-only award here can still go a long way. Even so, "fully funded" on a listing should not replace a real budget. Confirm with your university exactly what the grant seat includes before you accept.
Who this suits, and who should look elsewhere
This is a good fit if you are finishing FSc, FA, A-Levels or an equivalent with strong marks, you want a bachelor's degree, and you are open to Central Asia. Students looking at English-medium medicine, engineering or IT will find the most options, since Uzbekistan has expanded those tracks to attract international students.
It is not for master's or PhD applicants. The first phase is built around bachelor's quota seats only, and any expansion to other levels is unconfirmed. It is also a weak primary plan for anyone who needs a guaranteed offer by a fixed date, because the calendar is not set yet. Treat it as one application in a wider list, not the whole list.
Eligibility for Pakistani applicants
The scholarship is open to foreign nationals generally, so Pakistani students can apply once the admission cycle opens. The listed requirements are:
- You must be a foreign national, not an Uzbek citizen.
- You need completed secondary education, the equivalent of Pakistani Intermediate (FSc/FA) or A-Levels, with strong academic standing.
- You must meet the subject prerequisites of your chosen program. For medicine, that means Biology and Chemistry.
- You need English or Russian proficiency, depending on the medium of instruction at your host university.
- Your passport must have at least one year of remaining validity at the time of application.
No minimum percentage or specific language test score is published. "Strong academic standing" is vague on purpose, and with a ceiling of 500 seats spread across many countries, assume competition will reward high marks. Check the passport rule early. Renewing a passport in Pakistan takes time, and an expiring one is an avoidable reason to miss a cycle.
Paperwork to start on now
The documents list is short, but two items cause most of the delays:
- The completed application, through the Study in Uzbekistan platform once it is live, or the relevant university portal.
- Your secondary school certificate and transcripts, attested and translated as required.
- A copy of your valid passport.
- Passport-sized photographs.
- A language proficiency certificate, if your program asks for one.
- A medical fitness certificate.
The slow parts are attestation and translation. Uzbek universities apply equivalence standards to Pakistani secondary certificates, so get your documents attested and professionally translated into English or Russian well before the platform opens. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains the Pakistani side of that process. The medical fitness certificate is easy to forget until the last week, so book it in advance as well.
How the new centralized application is expected to work
Until now, foreign students who wanted a state-quota seat had to deal with each university's own procedure, and those procedures were spread across dozens of institutions. From the 2026/2027 academic year, foreign applicants are expected to apply through one centralized system built on the Study in Uzbekistan platform. Here is the expected sequence:
- Watch the Ministry's official channels and the Study in Uzbekistan platform for the opening of the 2026/2027 cycle, or the next one if that slips.
- Shortlist public universities and bachelor's programs that take part in the state-grant reallocation scheme.
- Prepare and attest your academic documents so they meet the equivalence standards for Pakistani certificates.
- Submit the online application with supporting documents before the platform's stated deadline.
- Wait for seat-allocation results, which are expected to be announced centrally once the unused state-grant seats for the cycle have been counted.
- If selected, complete visa and university registration to start in the following academic term.
Step five is the part applicants tend to misread. Seats are only known after Uzbekistan's own students have taken theirs, so results may come later than you would expect from a normal scholarship. Keep a backup offer alive until you have a confirmed seat.
Where the timeline stands
The reform package that includes this scholarship was announced in April 2026. The Study in Uzbekistan platform is planned to centralize foreign admissions for the 2026/2027 academic year. The application window itself is still to be confirmed. At the time of the last check, the list of participating universities, the subject-wise seat breakdown and the final application calendar were still being rolled out.
So there is no deadline to plan around yet. Confirm the exact opening and closing dates on the official portal and the Study in Uzbekistan platform, and do not rely on older blog posts or social media screenshots for dates.
Mistakes that will cost Pakistani applicants
The first is assuming every Uzbek medical degree is recognized at home. If you plan to study medicine, confirm the specific university's recognition status with the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council before you commit. A free degree you cannot practise with is not a good deal.
The second is applying to one university only. With a cap of 500 seats a year, apply across several participating universities and programs where the system allows it.
The third is ignoring living costs. Budget separately for accommodation, food and visa fees. Uzbekistan is cheap compared with Western options, but cheap is not free. If you need a refresher on showing funds for a visa, see our guide to bank statements and proof of funds.
The fourth is choosing a program without checking its language. Some programs teach in English and some in Russian, and your proficiency must match the medium of instruction.
Frequently asked questions
Is the New Uzbekistan Scholarship fully funded?
It is listed as fully funded, and the benefit described is a full tuition fee waiver at a public Uzbek university by reallocating unused state-grant seats. Living costs and visa fees are typically your own responsibility, so confirm what your seat includes.
How many scholarships are offered each year?
Up to 500 international students a year. The real number in a given cycle depends on how many state-grant seats go unused.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Yes. It is open to foreign nationals generally, and Pakistanis can apply once the admission cycle opens on the Study in Uzbekistan platform.
Can I use it for a master's or PhD?
Not at present. The initial phase covers bachelor's seats only. Check the current cycle for any expansion to other degree levels.
When is the deadline?
It has not been confirmed. Applications are expected to open through the Study in Uzbekistan platform for the 2026/2027 intake, so check the official channels for the exact window.
Before you apply, check the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation portal and the Study in Uzbekistan platform for live dates, and keep an eye on the New Uzbekistan Scholarship page for updates.