Fully Funded Scholarships 2027: Deadlines You Can Still Make

If you are hoping to start a fully funded degree abroad in 2027, the next four months decide most of it. Chevening closed on 6 October and the Commonwealth master's scholarship closes on 20 October, but several of the best-paying awards open to Pakistani students still have deadlines between November 2026 and February 2027.

This list covers nine of them, in deadline order. Every one pays tuition (or waives it) and a living allowance, and every one accepts Pakistani applicants. Deadlines marked "expected" are based on last year's round; the official call usually confirms them in November.

The short list, by deadline

Scholarship	Level	Deadline	Status
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships	PhD	31 Oct 2026	Confirmed
Lester B. Pearson, University of Toronto	Bachelor's	6 Nov 2026	Confirmed
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme	PhD	1 Dec 2026	Confirmed
Gates Cambridge	Master's, PhD	8 Dec 2026 or 6 Jan 2027	Confirmed
KAUST Fellowship	Master's, PhD	3 Jan 2027	Confirmed
Chinese Government Scholarship via HEC	All levels	5 Jan 2027	Expected
France Excellence Eiffel	Master's, PhD	8 Jan 2027	Expected
Stipendium Hungaricum via HEC	All levels	15 Jan 2027	Expected
IsDB Merit Scholarship	PhD	31 Jan 2027	Expected

You can see every upcoming date on one page in the deadline calendar, and save any scholarship to get reminders 14, 7, 3 and 1 day before it closes.

Closing in the next few weeks

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (PhD), 31 October

Switzerland pays a monthly stipend of CHF 2,450 plus health insurance, a rental deposit allowance and a return flight allowance for a full PhD or a one-year research stay. Tuition is not included, but Swiss public university fees are low. You need a master's degree, must be 35 or younger, and must already have a Swiss professor willing to supervise you. If you have not contacted a supervisor yet, this round is very tight; start emailing now for next year using our email to a potential supervisor template.

Lester B. Pearson Scholarship (bachelor's), 6 November

The Pearson award at the University of Toronto covers four years of tuition, books, fees and full residence. It is for students in their final year of school (FSc, A Levels or equivalent) starting in September 2027. Your school had to nominate you by 9 October, so this deadline only matters if your nomination went in. If it did, put your effort into the personal essays and your record of leadership and community work.

December deadlines

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, 1 December

One of the most generous PhD awards anywhere: HK$344,400 a year, plus HK$14,400 a year for conferences and research travel. Any nationality can apply. You first register on the Research Grants Council portal by 1 December (12 noon Hong Kong time), then apply to a university such as HKU, CUHK, HKUST or PolyU, each with its own deadline. A strong research proposal and publications matter most here.

Gates Cambridge, 8 December or 6 January

Gates Cambridge pays Cambridge fees, a maintenance allowance of £23,152 for 12 months, flights, visa costs and the health surcharge. You apply through the University of Cambridge graduate application and tick the Gates box; there is no separate form. Which deadline applies depends on your course, so check your course page now. Gates looks for academic excellence, leadership and a clear commitment to improving other people's lives, so your Gates statement should show impact, not just grades.

January deadlines

KAUST Fellowship (master's and PhD), 3 January

Almost every student admitted to KAUST in Saudi Arabia receives the fellowship: full tuition, a monthly stipend, free housing, medical cover and relocation support. It is a strong option for engineering, computer science and the physical and life sciences. Admission is competitive, so a high CGPA and good references help most.

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) via HEC, expected 5 January

Under Type A, HEC nominates Pakistani students for bachelor's, master's and PhD study in China. It covers tuition, accommodation, medical insurance and a monthly stipend of CNY 2,500 to 3,500 depending on level. Flights are not covered under the HEC call. Bachelor's applicants need the USAT and master's applicants the HAT, so book your test early if you do not have a valid score.

France Excellence Eiffel, expected 8 January

You cannot apply for Eiffel yourself. You apply to a master's or PhD programme at a French university, and the university nominates you. The real deadline is therefore the university's internal one, usually in November or December. Eiffel pays a monthly allowance, return travel and health insurance, but not tuition.

Stipendium Hungaricum via HEC, expected 15 January

Hungary gives Pakistan one of its largest quotas (about 400 seats last cycle) for bachelor's, master's, medicine and PhD study. It covers tuition, a monthly stipend, accommodation and medical insurance. You apply on both the HEC portal and the Stipendium Hungaricum portal, so leave time for both.

IsDB Merit Scholarship for High Technology, expected 31 January

The Islamic Development Bank funds PhD and postdoctoral research in applied science and technology for citizens of member countries, including Pakistan. It covers tuition, a stipend, flights and a thesis allowance. Your home institution must nominate you, so speak to your department early.

How to make these deadlines

1. Check you qualify first. Our eligibility checker compares your degree, grades and English test with each scholarship's rules in about a minute.
2. Get your documents moving now. HEC degree attestation and IBCC equivalence can take weeks. Read the HEC attestation guide and the document checklist.
3. Ask referees today. Professors are busiest in December. Our guide on getting strong recommendation letters explains what to send them.
4. Write one strong statement, then adapt it. Start from the motivation letter guide and tailor it to each award's priorities.
5. Know what "fully funded" means for each award. Some pay tuition but not flights, others the reverse. Our explainer on fully funded vs partial scholarships lists the hidden costs to plan for.

Missed these? What opens next

Erasmus Mundus joint master's programmes mostly close between November and February, and each pays tuition plus about €1,400 a month. Browse the full list on our Erasmus Mundus page. Chevening and Commonwealth reopen in the second half of 2027, so this is a good time to prepare an English test score and your references for the next round.

Deadlines change, and some are set by your university rather than the scholarship. Always confirm the date on the official page linked from each scholarship before you apply.