Swiss govt announces scholarships for Pakistani students

Islamabad: The Swiss Government, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC), introduced the 'Excellence Scholarship for Pakistani Students' for the upcoming academic year 2024-25.

The scholarship program offered opportunities for one-year post-master's research, three-year post-master's programs, PhD studies, and one-year Post-Doctoral Programs (PDP) for prospective candidates, as reported by local HEC sources.

Applicants are required to submit their applications to the Swiss embassy by September 30. Additional information is available on the official website, according to local HEC sources.

The primary objective of the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships is to provide educational opportunities to foreign researchers pursuing master's or PhD degrees. Scholarship recipients will be chosen under the guidance of the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students.

Additionally, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has introduced a scholarship program for students from Gilgit-Baltistan, enabling them to study in prestigious Pakistani universities and institutions.

According to an HEC official, applications are open to exceptional students from Gilgit-Baltistan who wish to pursue undergraduate studies (four/five-year BS programs) at HEC-recognized public sector universities and degree-awarding institutions (DAIs).

These scholarships are available for the academic year 2023-24 and encompass all fields of study or disciplines. The initiative is titled, "Undergraduate Scholarship Program for the Students of Gilgit-Baltistan in Top Pakistani Universities/Institutions (Batch-III)."

Regarding eligibility criteria, applicants must possess domicile or local certificates from Gilgit-Baltistan and have successfully completed a Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) or its equivalent.