The WHO fellowships are not a single scholarship with one form and one deadline. The World Health Organization runs fellowship and scholarship opportunities for health professionals and researchers, and almost all of the actual work (setting criteria, opening calls, choosing fellows) happens at the level of its regional offices. If you go looking for one big "WHO scholarship" application page, you will not find it. That is the first thing to understand before you spend any time on this.
This guide explains how the system works, who it realistically suits, and how a Pakistani doctor, public health graduate or researcher should go about tracking down an open call. For the summary card and links, see the full scholarship details.
Why there is no single WHO application portal
WHO does not keep one centralised portal for all of its global fellowships. Fellowships are typically managed through the regional offices, and there are six of them:
- African Region (AFRO)
- Region of the Americas (PAHO)
- South-East Asia Region (SEARO)
- European Region (EURO)
- Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO)
- Western Pacific Region (WPRO)
Each region sets its own criteria and application procedures based on local health priorities. So the eligibility rules, the funding and the timing you read about for one region may not apply to another. In practice, your job is to work out which regional office covers your country, then watch that office's website for active calls. Do not assume which region you fall under. Check it on the official WHO website before you start.
The basic facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | World Health Organization (WHO), through its regional offices |
| Funding | Full or partial, depending on the specific fellowship |
| Levels | Professional development, postgraduate, research |
| Fields | Public health, medicine, health policy, epidemiology, health systems strengthening |
| Deadline | Varies by programme. Confirm on the official site |
| Country | Global |
| Official site | who.int |
Who this route actually suits
These programmes aim to strengthen health systems by giving specialised training and educational opportunities to people committed to public health. The stated goal is to build capacity within member states to deal with health challenges, from infectious disease control to health policy development.
That framing tells you a lot. This is a good fit if you already work in health (a doctor in a public hospital, a researcher in epidemiology, someone in a health department or a public health programme) and you want specialised training that you will bring back to your home system. It is a poor fit if you are a fresh FSc student hoping to fund a full undergraduate degree abroad. The listed levels are professional development, postgraduate and research, and nothing in the description points to first degrees.
If you are early in your career and just want a funded master's anywhere, a general scholarship search will serve you better. Our scholarships guide for Pakistani students is a better starting point for that.
What a fellowship may cover, and why "may" matters
Coverage varies by the specific fellowship programme. Depending on the track, it can include:
- tuition fees
- a living stipend
- access to WHO technical expertise and networks
- opportunities for professional research and training
Read that list carefully. Tuition and stipends are possible, not guaranteed. Some fellowships may cover full costs and others give partial support. No fixed amount, stipend rate or duration is published at the global level, so any figure you see quoted for "the WHO scholarship" in general should make you suspicious. The only reliable numbers are the ones in the specific call you are applying to.
Participants often take part in advanced studies, research projects or specialised training at recognised institutions. The networking side is real value: you work alongside international health experts, and the training lines up directly with global health priorities. For a mid-career professional, that can matter as much as the money.
Eligibility, and the question of nationality
The general requirements are:
- You must be a health professional or researcher.
- You must meet the specific criteria set by the relevant WHO regional office.
- You need a demonstrated commitment to public health in your home country.
- You need proficiency in the languages required by the host institution.
- You must meet the academic or professional prerequisites of the specific programme.
There is no blanket statement that every nationality qualifies for every programme. Some regional programmes are open only to certain countries, so check eligibility for your nationality in each call you consider. Pakistani applicants should confirm which regional office covers Pakistan and whether the programme they want accepts Pakistani nationals before preparing anything.
The "commitment to public health in the home country" line is the one people underestimate. These fellowships exist to build capacity in member states. A profile that shows you have worked in, and plan to return to, your own health system reads far better than one that looks like a stepping stone to settling abroad.
General guidance also mentions students in health-related fields, but the formal requirement lists health professionals and researchers. If you are still a student, read the specific call closely before assuming you qualify.
Paperwork to have ready before a call opens
Calls can be short, and regional deadlines vary, so it pays to build your file in advance. The usual documents are:
- Curriculum vitae
- Academic transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Research proposal (if applicable)
- Proof of professional qualification
For a Pakistani doctor, "proof of professional qualification" will normally mean your degree and registration documents. If a programme asks for attested copies, our attestation guide explains how that process works. Get recommendation letters from people who have seen your public health work directly. A supervisor from a district health programme often carries more weight than a famous name who barely knows you.
If the track involves research, the proposal does a lot of the work. Make sure your research interests line up with current WHO global health topics. A proposal on a problem your region is actively prioritising will be read differently from a generic clinical topic.
Finding a live call and applying
The process, once you strip it back, looks like this:
- Identify the relevant WHO regional office website.
- Review its active fellowship or scholarship calls.
- Verify the eligibility criteria for that specific programme.
- Prepare the required documents.
- Submit through the designated regional portal.
The hard part is step two. Because there is no central listing, you need a habit of checking. Look at the six regional office websites regularly, not once a year. Also contact your local Ministry of Health and ask about WHO-sponsored training. Some opportunities reach candidates through national health authorities, and a short enquiry can save you weeks of searching.
Timing without a fixed deadline
There is no standard opening date or closing date. Both vary by programme, so confirm the current cycle on the official portal. The practical advice is simple: prepare well ahead of regional deadlines. If your CV, transcripts, references and a draft proposal are already done, you can respond to a call the week it appears instead of rushing.
Where applicants usually go wrong
The most common mistake is treating WHO like a normal scholarship and waiting for "the deadline". There isn't one. People who do well here are the ones who monitor regional sites and stay in touch with their health ministry.
The second mistake is applying to a programme without checking whether your country is eligible for it. Since each region sets its own rules, a call you find through a social media post may be meant for a completely different group of countries. Verify before you invest time.
Third, many applicants write about personal ambition and skip the part WHO cares about most: how their training will strengthen the health system back home. Make that link concrete. Name the programme, district or service you work in and what you would change.
Finally, be careful with third-party websites claiming to sell "WHO scholarship" application help or listing fixed stipend figures. Use the official WHO site and the regional office pages linked from it as your source of truth.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for a WHO fellowship?
Through the WHO regional office relevant to your country. Visit that office's website, look for active fellowship or scholarship calls, and submit through the portal named in the call.
Are WHO fellowships fully funded?
Not always. Some may cover full costs, while others give partial support. Check the funding details of the specific fellowship before you apply.
Can Pakistani students apply?
It depends on the programme. Eligibility is set by each regional office and some programmes are limited to certain countries. Confirm in each call that Pakistani nationals are eligible.
Do I need to be working in health already?
The listed requirement is that you are a health professional or researcher with a demonstrated commitment to public health in your home country. Some general guidance also mentions students in health-related fields, so read each call's prerequisites closely.
Which fields are covered?
Public health, medicine, health policy, epidemiology and health systems strengthening.
Where else can I hear about WHO-sponsored training?
Your local Ministry of Health. It is worth asking them directly, alongside checking the regional office websites.
For current calls, start at the official WHO website and its regional office pages, and keep the WHO fellowship scholarship page bookmarked. You can also browse all global scholarships open to international applicants.