Written by Christian Chinonso
Founder, LearnViaHub | Academic Credential & International Student Research
✓ Last checked: 27 October 2026
Quick answer
The Fulbright Degree Program in Pakistan, run by USEFP, funds a master’s or PhD at a U.S. university. The GRE is required, with at least 145 on each section. USEFP publishes no minimum CGPA. Master’s applicants need 16 years of education and PhD applicants need 18. Every field is eligible except clinical medicine.
USEFP’s latest round closed on 1 April 2026. It hopes to award 100 scholarships in 2027, and it says awards depend on its budget. USEFP has published no dates for the next round, and it publishes no stipend figure, so this page gives neither.
Applying costs nothing. Check USEFP’s Fulbright page for the next round, and fill in your own application, because USEFP warns that agents sell forms and take fees.
Requirements confirmed by USEFP
Every row comes from the USEFP page linked in its first cell. The 2027-cohort round closed on 1 April 2026, and these are its rules.
| Requirement | What USEFP says |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Pakistani citizens who live in Pakistan throughout the process and commit to return and serve Pakistan |
| Master’s | A four-year bachelor’s degree, or a bachelor’s plus master’s totalling 16 years of formal education, from an accredited university |
| PhD | A master’s, M.Phil. or comparable degree, a minimum of 18 years of formal education. USEFP calls work experience in teaching, research or the public sector in Pakistan “highly desirable” |
| Work experience | Not required, except for MBA and Public Policy or Administration applicants, who need two years in the relevant field |
| Degree choice | One degree only, either a master’s or a PhD. You cannot apply for a master’s leading to a PhD |
| Fields | All except clinical medicine. USEFP encourages sciences, technology and AI, trade and economics, and natural resource management |
| CGPA | USEFP publishes no minimum. It assesses merit by what you achieved given your circumstances, says there are no quotas, and says applicants without excellent grades need good GRE scores |
| English test | No TOEFL with the application. USEFP requires it only from selected candidates |
| Documents | An application form, three reference letters, your GRE score report, and scanned transcripts with an explanation of the grading scale. Submit everything online, because USEFP accepts no paper applications |
| Dependants | Only spouses and children up to age 21 count. You must show you can support them, and USEFP tells applicants to be ready to go without them |
| Cost to apply | Nothing. Misrepresentation or plagiarism can end your place in the programme |
Who is not eligible
| If this is you | What USEFP says |
|---|---|
| You hold dual U.S./Pakistan nationality | Not eligible. The same applies if your spouse, or your child over 18, is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident |
| You, or a close relative, work for Fulbright, the State Department or USAID | Employees and contractors, and their spouses, children, siblings, dependants and parents, are excluded |
| You already received a Fulbright award | Not eligible if you used a scholarship from any Fulbright programme |
| You are already studying in the U.S., or hold a work, residence or student visa in any country | Not eligible |
| You earned a U.S. degree within the past five years | Not eligible |
Degree-history cases
These cases come from USEFP’s FAQ.
| Situation | USEFP’s answer |
|---|---|
| You hold a foreign bachelor’s degree | You can apply, unless the degree is from the U.S. within the past five years. USEFP gives priority to applicants without foreign study experience |
| You hold a bachelor’s and a master’s degree and want a master’s scholarship | You can apply, but you must show why the second degree is necessary. USEFP gives priority to people who have not yet studied abroad |
| You hold a foreign master’s degree and want a PhD scholarship | It does not affect your eligibility, unless the degree is from the U.S. within the past five years |
| You finished the Global UGRAD programme | You can apply. It does not count against you |
| You hold an MBBS degree | You can apply, but not for clinical medicine or a specialisation. Research-focused fields such as public health are open |
| You are a chartered accountant | HEC recognises ICAP, ICMAP and ACCA final examination certificates as equivalent to an M.Com. (16 years) and no longer issues individual equivalence letters |
| You complete your degree in 2026 | In the 2027 round, you could apply if you provided your final transcript by the end of December 2026 |
The GRE and its reimbursement
USEFP requires the GRE General Test from every applicant, with at least 145 on each section and a higher score on the section most relevant to your field. You must take the test before the deadline. If your score report has not arrived, you can state your unofficial scores and upload proof of your registration. Use USEFP code 9388 and IIE code 2326 so ETS sends your scores directly (USEFP FAQ).
USEFP says it weighs verbal and quantitative scores differently by discipline, so humanities applicants rely more on the verbal section and engineering applicants on the quantitative one. It also says applicants from private English-medium schools may have a verbal advantage, and that it takes this into account.
| GRE reimbursement | What USEFP says |
|---|---|
| Who can request it | Applicants studying or teaching at an HEC-approved public university |
| Score you need | A combined 300 in engineering and science, or 290 in humanities and social science |
| How to claim | Attach your request to a complete application with your official score report |
| How many | Up to 30 requests, with priority for those who submit early before the deadline |
Selection and timeline
| Stage | What USEFP says |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | Staff screen every application for completeness and minimum qualifications |
| Round 2 | Staff evaluate complete applications against set criteria and shortlist them |
| Round 3 | In-person or virtual interviews between June and August, with panels of U.S. and Pakistani citizens |
| Round 4 | USEFP announces principal and alternate nominees in September. The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board in Washington, D.C. gives final approval |
| After selection | University placement continues until April, visa interviews run until June, July or August, and departures start in July |
You cannot pick your university. IIE matches grantees with U.S. universities, and USEFP says you can note strong preferences in the application, which IIE will consider if they make sense. The U.S. Embassy issues visas, and USEFP says almost all past grantees received them.
What the award pays
USEFP lists tuition, textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, health insurance, visa fees, a computer and a settling-in allowance (USEFP FAQ). It says awards always depend on its budget allocation for the programme year. USEFP says the Higher Education Commission also funds 25 PhD scholarships a year for five years under Fulbright rules.
USEFP does not publish a stipend amount, and the sites that quote one disagree with each other, so we leave the figure out. Your award documents state it.
The return obligation
Every successful candidate signs a contract with USEFP, and successful PhD candidates also sign a bond with the HEC. The contract binds you to return to Pakistan immediately after your programme and serve for the number of years equal to your scholarship, with a minimum of two. USEFP says you pay nothing as long as you fulfil it, and it redeems the obligation year for year (USEFP). Grantees must also return within 30 days of finishing (USEFP FAQ).
Related guides:
Frequently asked questions
Is the GRE required for Fulbright Pakistan?
Yes. USEFP requires the GRE General Test from every applicant, with at least 145 on each section. You must take it before the application deadline.
What CGPA do I need?
USEFP publishes no minimum CGPA. It assesses merit by what you achieved given your circumstances, and it says applicants without excellent grades need good GRE scores.
How much is the Fulbright Pakistan stipend?
USEFP does not publish an amount. It lists a living stipend among the award items, and your award documents state the figure.
Can I apply with a two-year bachelor’s degree?
Only if your total reaches 16 years of education, for example with a two-year master’s degree. The master’s programme needs 16 years and the PhD needs 18.
When is the next deadline?
USEFP has not published it. The 2027-cohort round closed on 1 April 2026, so watch USEFP’s Fulbright page for the next one.
What is the PhD bond?
Successful PhD candidates sign a bond with the HEC as well as the USEFP contract. Both bind you to return to Pakistan and serve for at least two years.
Can I choose my U.S. university?
No. IIE matches grantees with universities. You can note strong preferences in your application, and IIE will consider them if they make sense.
How we researched this
Last checked: 27 October 2026. We read USEFP’s Fulbright Degree Program page and its Frequently Asked Questions page in full.
Limits: both pages describe the 2027-cohort round, which closed on 1 April 2026, and USEFP has published no details for the next round. Rules and budgets change each cycle, so confirm everything with USEFP before you apply.
This page is for general information and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. LearnViaHub is not affiliated with any government agency or institution mentioned. Check official sources before acting.
Christian Chinonso is the founder of LearnViaHub, with 6+ years of research experience in international education — including GPA systems, scholarships, student financing, and study-abroad guidance — for students worldwide.