Ad Futura is the scholarship scheme of Slovenia's Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund. It covers many kinds of mobility grants, some for Slovenian citizens going abroad and some for foreign nationals coming to Slovenia. For a Pakistani student, the part that matters is the Development Agreement Scholarship, which funds Master's and Doctoral study in Slovenia for citizens of countries that receive Slovenian development cooperation assistance.
That condition is the whole story with this scholarship. It is not an open call for every nationality. Whether you can apply depends on whether your country is on Slovenia's current list of development cooperation partners, and that list is reviewed periodically. Check it for Pakistan in the current call before you spend time on anything else. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing as well.
The numbers in one table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Provider | Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia (Ad Futura) |
| Track for foreign nationals | Development Agreement Scholarship |
| Study levels | Master's and PhD |
| Funding | Listed as fully funded; covers tuition support and a monthly living allowance |
| Living allowance | Approximately EUR 700 per month, subject to annual adjustment |
| Deadline | Varies by annual call; the call typically opens in spring for the following academic year |
| Country | Slovenia |
| Official site | Ad Futura scholarships (srips-rs.si) |
Who this suits, and who should look elsewhere
This scholarship makes sense for a postgraduate student who wants an EU-recognised degree, is comfortable in a small country, and can tie their field to development needs back home. Engineering, natural sciences and medicine all appear in the fields Slovenian universities teach, and the scheme lists all fields as eligible. The main public universities are the University of Ljubljana, the University of Maribor and the University of Primorska, and the number of English-taught Master's and Doctoral programmes is growing.
It does not suit undergraduates. The foreign-nationals development track primarily funds Master's and Doctoral study, not Bachelor's degrees. There is also a separate Western Balkans track for STEM and medicine study in Slovenian, but that is aimed at a different group of countries and is taught in the Slovenian language, so it is unlikely to be relevant to most Pakistani applicants.
If you want a large scholarship with a fixed deadline you can plan a year around, this is a harder fit. Dates move from year to year and eligibility depends on a country list that can change. Treat it as one application in a wider plan, not your only option. Our scholarships guide for Pakistani students is a good place to build that wider list.
What EUR 700 a month and tuition support actually mean
The fund covers a substantial share of both tuition fees and living costs for the length of the programme. In practice the support comes in four parts:
- A monthly living allowance of approximately EUR 700, which can be adjusted each year.
- Tuition fee support, described as up to several thousand euros per year depending on the programme.
- Help with accommodation arrangements through the host institution.
- Access to Slovenian public healthcare during the scholarship period.
Read the tuition line carefully. "Up to several thousand euros, depending on the programme" is not the same as a guarantee that every fee is paid in full. The scheme is listed as fully funded, but the wording on tuition leaves room for a gap on more expensive programmes. Before you accept an offer, compare the exact tuition fee of your programme with the support stated in your award decision. Slovenia does have a lower cost of living than most of Western Europe, which helps the monthly allowance go further, but you should still work out a monthly budget before you arrive.
The eligibility rules, and the one that trips people up
The fund lists four requirements:
- Citizenship of a country with an active development cooperation relationship with Slovenia. The list is confirmed in each year's call.
- Admission, or admission in progress, to a Master's or Doctoral programme at a Slovenian public higher education institution.
- A strong academic record from prior studies.
- A study plan showing relevance to your field and, where it applies, to development priorities in your home country.
The first rule is where applicants go wrong. People see "for foreign nationals" and assume they qualify. The partner country list is reviewed periodically by Slovenia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, so a country that was eligible one year may not be the next. Open the scholarships for foreign nationals page, read the current call, and if Pakistan's status is unclear, email the Ad Futura fund directly with your question. Do this first. Everything else is wasted effort if your nationality is not covered.
Note also that admission must be to a public higher education institution. A private college offer will not count.
Why your study plan carries so much weight
Award decisions weigh three things: academic merit, how relevant your chosen field is to your home country's development needs, and confirmed admission (or admission in progress) at a Slovenian institution. Two of those three are things you can shape.
The development relevance part is where a Pakistani applicant can stand out or fall flat. A study plan that says "I want to gain international exposure" tells the committee nothing. A plan that names a specific programme, explains what you will study in it, and links that to a concrete problem in Pakistan (water management, energy, public health, a specific engineering gap) gives the reviewers a reason to fund you. Build the plan around one real programme, not a general field.
The six documents to prepare
The application asks for:
- The completed Ad Futura application form.
- Proof of admission or application to a Slovenian higher education institution.
- Certified copies of previous degree certificates and transcripts.
- A study or research plan.
- A CV.
- A copy of your passport.
The certified copies are where Pakistani students lose time. The source does not specify which certification Slovenia accepts, so confirm the requirement in the current call. If you need your degrees attested in Pakistan, our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains the process. Start this early so it does not hold up your application.
Applying in the right order
The process runs in six steps:
- Confirm your country's eligibility under the current Ad Futura Development Agreement call.
- Apply for, or secure, admission to a Master's or Doctoral programme at a Slovenian institution.
- Submit the Ad Futura scholarship application with all required documents before the stated deadline.
- The fund reviews applications against academic merit and programme relevance.
- Successful applicants receive an award decision and enrol at the host institution.
- Apply for a Slovenian student residence permit using the scholarship award confirmation.
Steps 1 and 2 should overlap. You do not need final admission before you apply, but having an application in progress is required, and having it secured strengthens your case. So contact universities and start your programme application as soon as you have picked one, ideally before the scholarship call even opens.
A calendar that moves every year
There is no fixed deadline. The general pattern looks like this:
| Stage | Usual timing |
|---|---|
| Annual call published | Spring (exact dates vary year to year) |
| Application deadline | Varies, check the current call |
| Selection results | Summer |
| Enrolment and start of studies | October |
The gap between results in summer and classes in October is short. You will need to apply for a residence permit in that window, using your award confirmation. That leaves little room for delays, so have your passport valid and your documents ready before results come out. Apply as soon as the call opens rather than in the final days. Confirm the exact deadline on the official portal each year rather than relying on last year's date.
Mistakes worth avoiding
The most common one is assuming eligibility. The second is applying for the scholarship without any university application under way, which leaves you without a key requirement. The third is a vague study plan with no link to Pakistan's needs. And the fourth is treating EUR 700 as a fixed figure. It is approximate and subject to annual adjustment, so budget with some margin.
One more practical point: if you have a country-specific question, the fund suggests contacting Ad Futura directly by email. A short, clear email asking whether Pakistani citizens are eligible under the current Development Agreement call is better than guessing.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for the Ad Futura scholarship?
Only if Pakistan is on Slovenia's current list of development cooperation partner countries. The Development Agreement track is not open to all nationalities, and the list is confirmed in each year's call. Check the current call or email the fund before applying.
Does Ad Futura fund Bachelor's degrees for foreign students?
No. The foreign-nationals development track primarily funds Master's and Doctoral study, not Bachelor's degrees.
How much is the monthly stipend?
Approximately EUR 700 per month for living costs, plus tuition support. Both are subject to annual adjustment, so check the figures in the call you apply under.
Do I need a university admission letter before applying?
You need either admission or an admission application in progress at a Slovenian public higher education institution. Confirmed admission makes your application stronger.
Are programmes taught in English?
A growing number of Master's and Doctoral programmes at Slovenian universities are taught in English. Check the language of instruction for your specific programme before you apply to it.
For the current call, deadlines and country list, go to the official Ad Futura website, and see the full scholarship page for a summary of the key details.