Scholarships in Pakistan
Getting There May Be the Biggest Challenge
Geographically, Pakistan is situated in a region where many students would not likely be interested in going to conduct casual study, at least not at this point in time. One side borders Afghanistan while another buts up to China and by many accounts there are indications of Taliban forces and pockets of dangerous resistance. Scholarship programs that are in place may occasionally be delayed. Obviously politics, religion and history all come into play and, yet it is these very factors that so instigate the imaginations of many students and scholars.
Study Urdu Language and Pakistani Culture on the Government’s Dime
Not too long ago some politicians envisioned the future generations of business and industry leaders increasingly lagging behind the rest of the world in international know-how. The key, they said, to our continuance as a leading World Power, is ensuring our future decision makers get some international savvy by gaining a firmer hold on areas of the world still critical to national security, such as Pakistan and other areas of the Middle East where language, culture and religion remain strikingly foreign to our sensibilities.
Next gen business and government officials will need customized foreign language skills and experience in diverse cultural settings in order to compete on an international scale. Enter the David L. Boren Scholarships. Students pursing programs of study in such far-flung locations as Pakistan may earn up to $26,000 and the opportunity for a long-term career in national security.
Post-graduate students working on a doctoral degree or Ph.D. scholars who would benefit from being able to conduct research in various locations in the Middle East, including Pakistan, may be eligible for fellowships from the Council of American Overseas Research Centers. Applicants must be able to do research at the available overseas institutions such as the American Institute of Pakistan Studies. Applicants are reviewed on the basis of academic background, research proposal, faculty recommendation and financial need. Awards are $9,000.
The Fulbright Scholarship Program provides outstanding students an opportune chance to apply for one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world. Applicants are judged on academic standing and proposed research or project. Fulbright Scholars are most noted for their contributions to international education by providing teaching and lecturing programs. Interested candidates must go through their international study abroad advisor in order to apply for the scholarships. Be advised that the Fulbright Scholarship program in Pakistan has been suspended from time to time due to political and social conditions. Awards are in the form of monthly stipends that cover housing and expenses. Amounts vary depending on the nature of the program.
College Scholarships
UC-Berkeley provides an Urdu Language Fellowship Program that is historically and ideally offered in Pakistan, but since its suspension, it has been temporarily moved to India. When political conditions smooth back out, the program will be reinstated in Pakistan, where Urdu is the native language. Fellowships are about 8 months long and cover airfare, tuition (in India currently), and a monthly spending stipend. Applicants must have an intermediate grasp of Urdu to be considered. These are open to students throughout the U.S. and are highly competitive.
