Many Pakistani students search for "NORAD Norway Research and Scholarship Programmes" expecting something like a classic government scholarship: you fill in a form, upload your transcripts, and wait for an award letter. That is not how Norad works, and understanding this early will save you weeks of confusion. Norad, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, is a government body that hands out grants for development cooperation, education and research. Most of its money goes to organizations, not to individual students applying on their own.
This guide explains what Norad actually funds, who is allowed to apply, and how a Master's or PhD student might realistically benefit. You can also see the full scholarship details on our listing.
Norad is a grant agency first, a scholarship second
Norad is an administrative and specialist body for development cooperation. It supports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Climate and the Environment in reaching Norwegian development policy goals. The agency operates from Oslo and manages a set of grant schemes aimed at civil society organizations, research institutes and private sector entities.
The funding is tied to the Norwegian government's national budget and to specific grant scheme rules for each budget post. Money is distributed through calls for proposals, and those calls are managed through Norad's Grants Portal. So when you read "scholarship" in connection with Norad, think "project grant that may include support for higher education and research," rather than a personal stipend you apply for directly.
Who does this suit? A Pakistani researcher or graduate student who works with a university department, research institute or NGO that partners internationally. Who should look elsewhere? A student who wants to apply alone for a funded Master's seat in Norway next intake. For that kind of search, browse all Norway scholarships instead.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) |
| Funding | Full or partial, depending on the grant scheme and budget post |
| Study levels listed | Master's, PhD |
| Deadline | Varies. Confirm on the official site |
| Typically opens | Varies |
| Country | Norway |
| Official site | Norad official website |
The thematic areas Norad puts money into
Norad's grants follow a few thematic portfolios. If your research or your institution's project does not sit inside one of these, the chance of funding drops sharply:
- Education and research
- Climate, food, environment and energy
- Human rights and civil society
- Gender equality
- Health
- Governance and economic development
The governing documents also require adherence to the UN's sustainability goals and to human rights principles. A proposal that reads like a purely commercial or purely academic exercise, with no link to development outcomes, is a poor fit.
What a Norad grant can pay for
Coverage depends on the budget post and the call. The funding is described as full or partial, and there is no single fixed package. Based on how Norad describes its support, grants can go toward:
- Grants and project funding based on the relevant budget posts
- Support for civil society organizations and research institutes
- Funding for higher education and research in developing countries
- Support for thematic portfolios such as climate, health and education
- Access to grants management tools and guides
Notice what is missing from that list: a stated monthly stipend, a tuition waiver amount, airfare or health insurance for an individual student. If you are hoping for those, you need to check whether a specific call or partner project provides them. Do not assume it.
Who is allowed to apply, and where Pakistani students fit
Norad's own answer to "who can apply" is civil society organizations, research institutes and other private actors, based on specific calls for proposals and grant scheme rules. Every applicant must:
- comply with Norad Grant Scheme Rules and the criteria of the relevant budget post
- align with Norwegian development policy goals
- meet the criteria of the specific call for proposals for civil society or private actors
- follow the legal and financial regulations set out in grant agreements
Nothing in the published material lists eligible nationalities, so check eligibility for Pakistan in each individual call before you put work into it. In practice, a Pakistani Master's or PhD student is most likely to benefit through an institution: a university, research institute or NGO that applies to Norad and then funds students or researchers within its project. If your supervisor or department has Norwegian partners, that is the conversation to start.
The three documents Norad expects
The documentation is organizational rather than personal. Norad lists:
- Grant application documentation
- A form for statistical classification of programmes and projects
- Grant agreements as specified by Norad
The statistical classification form catches many first-time applicants off guard. Read the classification guide before filling it in, because it shapes how your project is recorded and assessed. If your institution later recruits you as a student under a funded project, you will probably need your own academic papers too, such as attested degrees and transcripts. Our documents checklist for international scholarships covers that side.
How an application moves through the Grants Portal
- Review active calls for proposals on the Norad website.
- Consult the Norad Grant Scheme Rules for the relevant budget post.
- Prepare the application following the guidelines in the Grants Handbook.
- Submit the application through the designated Grants Portal.
- Wait for assessment and a funding decision from Norad staff.
The Grants Handbook is the document to read first. It sets out the legal and financial rules every grant recipient must follow, and Norad expects applicants to know it. Skimming it after you have already written your proposal usually means rewriting.
Why there is no fixed deadline to plan around
Norad does not run on a single yearly cycle. Both the opening date and the deadline vary, because each call for proposals has its own timeline. The only reliable approach is to check the Grants Portal regularly and confirm the current cycle and deadline on the official portal. If a call relevant to your field opens, assume your institution will need time to prepare a budget, partner letters and the classification form, so start early rather than in the final week.
Where applicants usually go wrong
The biggest mistake is treating Norad as an individual scholarship. Students email asking for "the NORAD scholarship form" and find nothing, because the process is built around organizations responding to calls.
The second mistake is a weak policy fit. Norad says plainly that proposals must align with Norwegian development policy priorities. A strong research idea that has no clear development angle will struggle.
Third, people ignore the specific rules for the budget post they are applying under. The general handbook is not enough. Each budget post has its own scheme rules, and they decide what is eligible.
A few habits help:
- Read any documentation shared by Norad staff and the specific grant agreement carefully.
- Go through the financial regulations and statistical classification guides before drafting your budget.
- Check the Grants Portal regularly so you do not miss a call that opens and closes quietly.
If a Norad-funded project does lead to study in Norway, you will still face the visa stage separately. Our guide on student visa rejection reasons for Pakistani students is useful at that point.
Frequently asked questions
What is Norad?
Norad is the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, an administrative body that works under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Climate and the Environment to deliver Norwegian development policy.
Can I apply to Norad as an individual Pakistani student?
Norad's grants are open to civil society organizations, research institutes and other private actors through specific calls for proposals. Individual applications are not described. Students usually benefit through an institution that receives the grant, and you should check nationality eligibility in each call.
Does Norad fund Master's and PhD study?
Master's and PhD are the levels listed, and Norad's support includes funding for higher education and research in developing countries. Whether a particular call covers your degree depends on its budget post and rules.
When is the deadline?
It varies by call. There is no single annual deadline, so confirm dates on the official portal.
Where do I find open calls for proposals?
Calls for proposals and allocations are published through Norad's Grants Portal and the official website.
Is the funding full or partial?
It can be either. The amount depends on the grant scheme, the budget post and the specific grant agreement.
Before you plan anything around Norad, read the active calls on the Norad official website and keep the full scholarship page handy for the summary details.