The United States has the widest spread of scholarship routes in this series, and the 61 entries below show it. There are government-funded graduate programmes, a Stanford leadership scholarship, need-based aid at named universities, fellowships for researchers and mid-career professionals, and a set of search databases. Most suit Pakistani students applying for a master's or PhD, or for an undergraduate place at a university that funds international applicants. A few are closed to anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or are meant for high school students, and the sections below say which.
All 61 United States scholarships at a glance
Fully funded graduate programmes that Pakistani applicants should look at first
If you hold or are finishing a bachelor's degree, this group is where most of the serious money is. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is the best known. According to the data it provides approximately 4,000 grants annually to students from over 150 countries, and the deadline is set per country, so Pakistani applicants follow the local Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy website. The site has several Fulbright entries, all listed as given:
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program (full details): a funded route to a Master's or Doctorate and research at U.S. universities.
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program (full details): the same programme with a separate guide, listed as fully funded.
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program (full details): listed as full or partial funding, with the deadline set by country.
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA) (full details): a fully funded Master's or PhD route, with dates to confirm locally.
- US Fulbright Student Program (full details): listed as full or partial funding, deadline varies by country.
Two programmes are built around Pakistan or similar countries. The US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor PhD Program is described as HEC Pakistan's flagship channel for Pakistani PhD scholars going to top-ranked US universities. Funding depends on the university's QS ranking: full at QS Top-50 institutions, partial tuition support at QS 51-100. You secure your own admission first, and HEC funds the placement. The usual date is around April 30, though it varies by cycle (full details). The Gallaudet-Nippon World Deaf Leadership Scholarship is a fully funded two-year master's for deaf and hard-of-hearing students from developing countries, with an expression of interest typically due by the end of January (full details).
Stanford and other competitive fellowships
Knight-Hennessy Scholars gives up to three years of financial support for any graduate degree at Stanford, with leadership training attached. Its deadline in the data is October 6, 2026, at 1:00 pm Pacific Time, which is close, so check it first. The entry appears under six slightly different names, all listed here as given:
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) Program (full details): the main entry, fully funded, status opening soon.
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) Program (full details): a second guide for the same programme.
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program (full details): a third guide, same deadline.
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program (Stanford University) (full details): the Stanford University version.
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University (full details): described as covering graduate students across all seven schools.
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University (full details): the USA version of the programme page.
Other fully funded graduate and research options:
- Amazon AI PhD Fellowship Program (full details): a $68 million initiative funding more than 100 PhD students in core AI research with two years of tuition, stipend, AWS compute credits and a mentor, but limited to nine named US partner universities.
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) (full details): supports graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields; the deadline is listed as October.
- Harvard Academy Scholars Program 2027 in USA (full details): for scholars in social sciences or law; confirm the date on the official site.
- Harvard Environmental Fellowship Program 2027 (full details): research support for environmental scholars at Harvard; confirm the date on the official site.
- East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship (full details): for graduate students from the Asia-Pacific region and the United States at the University of Hawaiสปi; listed as full or partial.
- Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program (RSMFP) (full details): support for young researchers from developing countries working on development topics, connected to World Bank research in Washington D.C.
- Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship (full details): a USDA-funded fellowship placing agricultural scientists and policymakers from developing countries in up to 12 weeks of research training; typically January-March.
Mid-career professionals
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship is a non-degree, fully funded year for mid-career professionals from designated countries, with dates set locally by the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy. It appears twice:
- Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program (full details): combines graduate-level coursework, leadership training and professional collaboration over an academic year.
- Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program (full details): ten months of independent study and professional development.
Need-based aid at US universities for undergraduates
For school leavers, the strongest entries are universities that admit international applicants need-blind and meet demonstrated need. Amherst, MIT, Princeton and Williams are described as meeting 100 percent of need for admitted international students, and Harvard and Yale have no separate named scholarship but admit all applicants need-blind regardless of citizenship. The catch is the early deadlines, mostly in November and early January. Several also need the CSS Profile, so start that paperwork early.
- Amherst College International Student Financial Aid (full details): need-blind for international undergraduates and meets 100% of calculated need.
- Harvard College Financial Aid (International Students) (full details): no separate international scholarship; need-blind admission with aid.
- MIT Need-Blind International Financial Aid (full details): need-blind, meets 100% of every admitted student's need.
- Princeton University International Financial Aid (full details): need-blind and meets 100 percent of need through grants, with no student loans.
- Williams College International Student Financial Aid (full details): meets 100% of demonstrated need for four years.
- Yale University Financial Aid (International Students) (full details): need-blind regardless of citizenship, with aid based on need.
- Duke University International Scholarships (full details): meets 100 percent of demonstrated need for undergraduates through grants and aid.
- University of Pennsylvania International Scholarships (full details): institutional aid and grants meeting 100 percent of demonstrated undergraduate need.
- MIT Financial Aid and Graduate Fellowships (full details): need-based grants for undergraduates and departmental funding for doctoral students.
- Northwestern University International Scholarships (full details): aid for a small group of international applicants, combining scholarships, grants, loans and work study.
- University of Miami Scholarship USA (full details): merit scholarship consideration is automatic; need-based aid needs a separate application.
Music, performing arts and sport
- Berklee College of Music International Merit Scholarships (full details): automatic merit consideration for international applicants, including the Presidential Scholarship awarded through audition.
- Juilliard School Scholarships for International Students (full details): merit and need-based support for dance, drama and music students.
- NCAA Athletic Scholarships for International Student-Athletes (full details): the main sports pathway, with recruiting and NCAA Eligibility Center registration typically beginning at age 15-16, roughly 2-3 years before enrollment.
Fellowships, grants and career programmes
These suit researchers, early-career professionals and people aiming at international organisations. Many give no fixed date, so you must check the official site before planning.
- AAUW International Fellowships (full details): for women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents pursuing master's, doctoral or postdoctoral study; partial funding.
- American Council of Learned Societies ACLS Fellowships (full details): humanities research and community engaged projects.
- German Marshall Fund Fellowships and Transatlantic Programs (full details): in-residence policy fellowships and professional growth programmes.
- Mellon Foundation Fellowships and Grants (full details): grants and fellowships across the arts, humanities and higher learning.
- US Institute of Peace USIP Peace Scholar Fellowship (full details): research related to resolving violent conflict abroad.
- Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research Fellowships (full details): anthropological research, writing and related grants.
- Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Program (full details): support for academic research and professional development.
- IMF Fund Internship Program (FIP) (full details): a paid summer internship for economics PhD candidates, 10-12 weeks at IMF headquarters.
- UNICEF Traineeship 2027 (United States) (full details): internships, Junior Professional Officer posts and UN Volunteer opportunities.
- United Nations Young Professionals Programme YPP (full details): recruitment for a career as an international civil servant.
- World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program and Internship (full details): World Bank talent programmes including internships and staffing programmes.
- World Bank Group Young Professionals Program (YPP) (full details): a two-year leadership programme for early-career professionals.
Scholarship search databases
These are not scholarships themselves. They match you to awards, usually with a free profile. Useful as a backup, weak as a main plan.
- Cappex Scholarship Search (full details): a large database from Appily.
- College Board Scholarship Search and BigFuture Scholarships (full details): monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000 awards with no essays.
- Fastweb Scholarship Search (full details): a free platform covering college and trade school scholarships.
- Niche.com Scholarship Database (full details): a database including exclusive Niche sponsored awards.
- RaiseMe Micro-Scholarships (full details): micro-scholarships from partner universities for high school and community college students.
- ScholarshipOwl International Scholarships (full details): a matching and management platform with rolling deadlines updated monthly.
- Unigo Scholarship Database (full details): a matching database; one example deadline is January 31, 2027 for the I Have a Dream Scholarship.
Entries that are not aimed at Pakistani applicants
Read these before spending time. The Boren Scholarships are for U.S. undergraduate students, and the Council on Foreign Relations fellowship is for United States citizens. The two Model Organization of American States entries are for high schools. The Kennedy-Lugar YES Program is for high school students from countries of strategic importance, so check eligibility on the official site.
- Boren Scholarships (full details): January 27, 2027, opening soon.
- Boren Scholarships (United States) (full details): a second Boren entry with the same deadline.
- Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship (full details): foreign policy fellowship for U.S. citizens.
- 45th Model Organization of American States (MOAS) for High Schools (full details): registration for the 45th conference at OAS Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
- Model Organization of American States (MOAS) for High Schools (full details): the other guide for the same conference; confirm dates on the official site.
- Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program (full details): a fully funded State Department exchange for high school students.
Choosing between them and preparing documents
My view for Pakistani students: start with Fulbright and the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor if you want a Master's or PhD, and the need-blind universities if you are finishing school. Knight-Hennessy is a long shot but fully funded, and its date comes first. Treat the search databases as a supplement. Match your level and field first, then the date, then the funding type.
Documents take longer than most people expect, so begin early. Our documents checklist for international scholarships and the broader scholarships guide for Pakistani students cover transcripts, references and statements. For undergraduate aid, add the CSS Profile where a university asks for it.
Frequently asked questions
Which United States scholarship is fully funded for Pakistani students?
Several entries are listed as fully funded, including the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program and need-based aid at universities such as Princeton and MIT. Funding type and eligibility differ, so read each guide.
Is there a scholarship specifically for Pakistani PhD students?
The US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor PhD Program is HEC Pakistan's channel for Pakistani PhD scholars. Full funding applies at QS Top-50 institutions and partial tuition support at QS 51-100.
Which deadline is closest?
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars deadline is October 6, 2026, at 1:00 pm Pacific Time. Early decision and early action dates at universities fall in November.
Do I need admission before applying?
It depends. For the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor you secure your own admission first. For university aid, merit consideration can be automatic with your application, as at the University of Miami.
Are the search databases worth using?
They can point you to smaller awards, such as Fastweb or Unigo. They list many deadlines that vary by scholarship, so confirm each one on its own page.
Can I apply to the Boren Scholarships?
The data describes Boren as funding U.S. undergraduate students, so it is not aimed at Pakistani citizens.
Open the individual guides above for eligibility and application steps, and always confirm dates and rules on each scholarship's official website before you apply.