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The scholarship hustle: more than a golden ticket out

Obtaining international scholarships can be difficult without guidance for Pakistani students

By Yusra Salim |
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PUBLISHED September 22, 2024
KARACHI:

For many Pakistani students, getting a scholarship to study abroad is the ultimate goal. It presents the possibility of a top-notch education, exposure to a foreign environment, and the development of a global professional and social network. Though there are more and more scholarships available worldwide, such as the DAAD in Germany, the Fulbright in the United States, and the Chevening in the United Kingdom, obtaining one of these scholarships is not an easy feat. Only a small percentage of the hundreds of Pakistani students who apply for scholarships each year are successful. The difficulties applicants face vary from competition to budgetary issues. Procedural problems and the more general structural problems obstruct access to chances for international education.
The strong competition is the primary cause of the difficulties in obtaining scholarships overseas. Some of the most desired scholarships include the Fulbright, Commonwealth, and Chevening, which all draw applications from around the world. “These scholarships are frequently viewed as the golden ticket to a better liestyle because they provide large stipends for living expenses, transportation expenses, and health insurance in addition to paying for tuition,” shared Azam Khan, who is a consultant for Pakistani students. Every year, hundreds of exceptionally talented students from Pakistan and other countries apply because of these perks.

“For instance, just a tiny portion of the hundreds of applications for the Fulbright Scholarship for Pakistani students are chosen each year. Strong personal statements, leadership potential, good academic records, and, in certain situations, years of professional experience are required for the demanding selection procedure,” he said. Students who possess exceptional grades and certifications are in a highly competitive pool, which reduces their chances of success.
Khan advises students to apply for big scholarships with well-prepared applications. He explained that there are seats available for various scholarship programs, and some fields of study, such as STEM subjects, that may be given preference over others. “Because of this, students majoring in the humanities, arts, or social sciences frequently have less money or opportunity than their counterparts in the engineering, technology, and medical disciplines,” he added.
The main reason why students opt for scholarships nowadays is the current political and economic situation of Pakistan. Everyone simply wants to leave the country for a better life and education. “I have been preparing for a scholarship and have been applying to places since I graduated two years ago,” said 24-year-old Zeeshan Siddiqui. “I think despite earning a good amount in Pakistan, there is no future here, and getting a scholarship is an easy way to say good-bye,” he said.

The cost of the application process itself presents Pakistani students with major obstacles when they seek scholarships elsewhere. “Even if a lot of scholarships have full funding, low and middle-class students may find it too expensive to even apply,” said Khan. The fees charged by consulting agencies plus the fees for English language tests, documentation attestations, etc is also a lot for a low and middle-class student to bear. This includes the cost for application fees, document verification procedures, and test costs such IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, or GMAT, all of which are required for the majority of scholarship applications.
For example, to prove their English competence, students frequently have to take English language examinations like the TOEFL or IELTS, which can cost between 40,000-50,000 rupees. Similarly, the GRE may be required of graduate applicants, which raises the cost even more. Students from poor or rural backgrounds find these costs especially difficult because they might not have access to the materials needed to study for these tests or even be able to afford them in the first place. “It further increases the problems where we have to take coaching classes to prepare for such tests. Luckily, we have YouTube now which can help with preparing for tests. Otherwise, coaching fee can run up to 30,000-40,000 rupees for a month course,” said Siddiqi, who appeared for IELTS six months back and scored 7 bands by self-preparation.
Not all costs are covered by all scholarships. In a few scholarships, students may still be responsible for extra charges, such as visa application fees, health insurance, and living expenses, even after receiving a scholarship. Many Pakistani families find it intimidating to consider sending a child overseas without complete financial safety, which deters them from applying for scholarships in the first place.
For Pakistani students, one of the biggest obstacles to getting overseas scholarships is the absence of appropriate assistance and mentorship during the application process. “Students must prepare a variety of documents for the scholarship application process, which can be complicated at times. These documents include research proposals for graduate students, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and academic records,” said Naima Alam, who studied on scholarship in the US last year. An an applicant has to request teachers and bosses to give them a recommendation letter and wait for weeks until someone agrees and provides a reasonable one. Many students lack access to career counsellors or teachers who can help them navigate this process successfully, especially those from state universities.
“Most scholarship applications include personal statements and letters of reference, but students frequently find it difficult to express their experiences, motives, and objectives in a way that selection committees will find compelling,” Alam explained. Our education system depends on just memorising and rote learning, not critical thinking or developing intellectual ability. Hence, students also lack the skills to explain to potential recommenders how to produce compelling letters of support or know how to approach them. Students who lack guidance have an unfair advantage over their counterparts from countries with more developed educational and mentorship support systems.
The absence of guidance makes it difficult to find out about scholarship opportunities. A lot of students still don't know about the many kinds of scholarships they can apply for. Although there is a greater concentration of educational resources in urban locations such as Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, students from smaller cities and rural regions are less aware of foreign programs or have poor internet connectivity, which could cause them to miss out on chances.
Almost every opportunity of scholarship requires a standard English test score and that is where many students are lacking. They can't get the desired scores even after several attempts. Students frequently have to take English language exams to be eligible for scholarships, even in non-English speaking nations like Germany and Japan.

“The language barrier can be a major obstacle for students from rural areas or those who have not attended private institutions as the main language of study is Urdu and Pakistan's public schools typically get subpar English teaching, which limits their ability to write and speak the language,” said Khan, adding that the number of qualified applicants is further reduced by the time and financial commitment required to prepare for and pass language competence exams. “I have seen students taking eight or nine attempts yet fail to score the desired results. All this costs time, money, and energy.”
Pakistani students still encounter difficulties when applying for student visas, even after they have been awarded a scholarship. Visa applications can be difficult, drawn out, and sometimes even unclear for nations like the US, UK, and Canada. “Even after receiving a scholarship, I was refused a visa despite my elder brother in Australia doing his Masters,” said Hashim Islam. Such rejection can crush ambitions. Insufficient financial proof, unclear post-study plans, or even security concerns are among the reasons for visas being refused.
Providing evidence of adequate financial resources to pay for any additional costs not covered by the scholarship is sometimes one of the prerequisites for obtaining a visa. “It eventually becomes challenging for people like us who belong to low-income families to satisfy this criteria because we might not have the necessary funds to meet their visa criteria,” said Islam. Luckily, he was granted a visa in the second attempt.
While seeking international scholarships, Pakistani female students have particular difficulties. “Sending a daughter overseas for further study is still seen with worry in many conservative households. The number of girls approaching us for help is far lower than boys, despite girls having good grades. They are discouraged from applying for scholarships due to concerns about safety, societal standards, and family expectations,” said the consultant. This societal problem causes a gender gap in which women are less likely than males to benefit from the possibilities for overseas study.

While scholarships provide many Pakistani students who want to study abroad with optimism, obtaining these opportunities is not without its difficulties. Students encounter several challenges that make the process challenging and, at times, depressing, ranging from competition and financial problems to a lack of direction and social restraints. More Pakistani students can only be empowered to fulfill their aspirations of studying abroad and making a positive impact on the global knowledge economy by addressing these structural obstacles.

List of scholarships for Pakistani students

1. United States (US)

2. United Kingdom (UK)

3. Germany

4. Australia

5. Canada

6. Turkey

7. China

8. Japan

9. France

10. South Korea

11. Italy

12. Sweden

13. Netherlands

14. Malaysia

15. New Zealand

16. Qatar

17. United Arab Emirates (UAE)