Cracking a Foreign Scholarship-2019

Dr. Junaid Mir, Dr. Ghufran Ahmad Pasha, Dr. Afaq Ahmad
Starting Scholarship Hunt: Do you have…?
General Pre-requisites: English Language Certificate
Different Forms of Scholarships
Not all scholarships are created equally

Partial cash grants

Tuition fee waive-off only
Living expenditures only
Fully funded (fixed)
Fully funded including allowances

Suitability for particular candidate depends highly on ones financial

situation, country of program, family status, institution
 Some Best Foreign Government FULLY Funded Scholarships
Name Opening Deadline Country Level General Pre-Req

GRE
Fulbright Foreign Student Program Feb May USA Masters, PhD
TOEFL after shortlisting
British Chevening Scholarship Aug Nov UK Masters IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.,
Endeavour Postgraduate Awards Apr Jun AUS Masters, PhD IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.,
Australia Awards Scholarships Feb Apr AUS Masters TOEFL or IELTS
DAAD Scholarship Aug Sep GER Masters, PhD TOEFL or IELTS
SISS :Swedish Institute Study Scholarships Oct Feb SWE Masters TOEFL or IELTS
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degrees Oct Jan EU Masters Depends on HEI
Swiss Excellence Scholarships Aug Sep SWI Masters, PhD Depends on HEI
Commonwealth Scholarship Sep Nov UK Masters, PhD IELTS after shortlisting
Departmental /Supervisor Scholarships Aug Sep Masters, PhD IELTS or TOEFL
MEXT Apr --- JPN Masters, PhD ---

These deadlines are for scholarship applications, where most of them require admission letter or correspondence from HEI
in that country which have different deadlines
Links of Foreign Government funded scholarships
• Fulbright: http://www.usefpakistan.org/Programs/FulbrightDegree.cfm?Tab=Programs
• Commonwealth UK: http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/applicants/
• Chevening: http://www.chevening.org/pakistan
• Endeavour: https://internationaleducation.gov.au/endeavour%20program/scholarships-
and-fellowships/international-applicants/pages/international-applicants.aspx
• DAAD: http://ic.daad.de/islamabad/en/19411/index.html
• ADS: http://www.australiaawardssouthwestasia.org/how-to-apply/pakistan
• SISS: https://si.se/en/apply/scholarships/swedish-institute-study-scholarships/
• Erasmus Mundus: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-
plus/opportunities/individuals/students/erasmus-mundus-joint-master-degrees_en
• SWISS Excellence: https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/en/home/bildung/scholarships-and-
grants/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships-for-foreign-scholars-
an.html#1582163571
• NZAID: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/aid-and-development/scholarships/how-to-
apply/#comm
• MEXT: http://www.pk.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/MEXT_Research_Scholarship.html
General Types of Scholarships / Grants

1. Student-Origin Specific
Scholarships specifically aimed at Pakistani students offered
independently by foreign universities and institutions
• Limited number and generally a partial grant or certain tuition-fee waiver
• Few scholarships (NOT ALL) given in:
https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/scholarship-
advice/scholarships-pakistani-students
Scholarships for Pakistani students through MOU signed between
foreign universities and HEC
• Maintenance allowance and certain tuition fee waiver
http://hec.gov.pk/english/scholarshipsgrants/Guidelines/Pages/default.aspx
General Types of Scholarships / Grants…

2. Local Government Funded

Scholarships offered by Higher Education of
Pakistan (HEC)
• Will generally require a NTS test
• Fully funded (fixed) with average allowance
• 4-5 years of bond is required to ensure service to
the country after completion of studies
• Quota based and profession based scholarships
http://hec.gov.pk/english/scholarshipsgrants/Pages
/InternationalScholarships.aspx
General Types of Scholarships / Grants

3. Foreign Government Funded

Scholarships offered by different
governments through their organizations to
study generally at the university of your
choice in that country
• Most prestigious and best scholarships
• Generally Fully funded (Tuition fee and
maintenance allowance) with additional
allowances offered
• Offered by developed countries every year for
specific countries with strict deadlines and
highly competitive selection procedures
General Types of Scholarships / Grants

4. University / Departmental Funded

Scholarships offered by nearly every top
ranked university of the developed countries
• Open to postgraduate students in any subject
offered at that HEI
• Fully funded and Partially funded scholarships
• Needs to be applied at the time of admission
and generally needs recommendation by the
prospective supervisor
http://www.scholars4dev.com/1323
• Departmental based are generally offered by 3/university-scholarships-for-all-
the academics for a particular project international-students/
• Countless options available around the globe
How to establish contact with potential supervisor through the email
Essential Components: Recommendation /
Reference / Referral Letter
A letter written by academic, personal
mentor, colleague, or by someone else
who can assess your work or academic
performance
• Types of letter: Academic and Non-
Academic
• Who to ask: A responsible academic who
has taught you or personal tutor
• Essential attributes of letter: Introduction,
Professional Success, Personal testimony,
Closing
• Modes of letter: Printed sealed with
signature, Email, On-line form
Essential Components: Recommendation /
Reference / Referral Letter…
To get a successful letter
1. Choose referees carefully based on the subject area you are applying for
2. Retain ample amount of time for letters
3. Where possible, seek permission in person before mentioning or giving
referees name in application
4. Provide referee with the following:
• Sample recommendation letter
• Updated version of CV
• Scholarship application form
• Short paragraphs of your achievements
• Suggest qualities to highlight in letter, provided it is ok with referee
5. Give a gentle reminder of application deadline to the referee
Essential Components: Motivation Letter
A personalized document accompanying your CV
introducing and presenting yourself for the program

The most important document of your application which can turn the
tables around by directly influencing the scholarship awarding committee
Essential Components: Motivation Letter…

Few essential attributes

1. Introduction, an impression of who you are
2. Reason for applying in that particular program
• Make yourself aware of the program and its
contribution towards your goals
3. Why you are the right person for that particular
applied program
• Knowledge, Skills, Relevant professional experience,
Personal traits
4. Professional goal and how you are different from
other with same education
5. Contribution to your society after completion of
your applied program
Essential Components: Motivation Letter…

Common Mistakes
• Your motivation letter and CV echo
• Motivation letter is a copy of another and not unique
or personal
• Forgetting to proof read
• Writing your letter at the last moment in single sitting
• Letter is too general, not writing for specific
scholarship or university program
• Not answering the questions
• Having a boring introduction
• Trying to make too many points without examples or
facts
Essential Components: Research Proposal

A concise and coherent summary of your

proposed research
• Purpose: To demonstrate your aptitude of research
and ability to communicate complex ideas clearly,
concisely and critically
• Essential Components:
1. Title 2. Research Context
3. Literature Review 4. Aims and Objectives
5. Methodology

Make or break document for project based and departmental

scholarship applications
Essential Components:

Educational Documents Curriculum Vitae

Contacting Potential Supervisor for Admission and
Scholarship applications
Your first impression is the most critical one,
unless your email is properly narrated, it is going
straight to trash folder. To avoid this
• Write to someone with approximately the correct
expertise in your area of interest
• Your email should be tailored to the academic’s area of
interest and refer to their current work
• Take time over writing your introductory email. Be polite
and use proper English with salutations without any
mistake
• Highlight your strengths and technical papers if you have
https://www.sciencedirect.com/
• Include information regarding the funding science/article/pii/S2049080116
• Don’t just attach CV, establish contact first 00025X
Common Myths: Is this stopping you?
Tuition fee waive off scholarships are not good
There are many other ways to get maintenance allowance. Partial supports,
bursaries, TA ships, Lab demonstration jobs, Project work, Tuitions, Odd Jobs.
These options vary and depend on HEI and country
My chances are very less with so many applications
Government funded scholarships are generally most competitive due to good
publicity and being well renowned. Apply in other scholarships as well. The
more you apply, higher are your chances
My GPA is low to compete in the scholarships
Do not give-up so easily. GPA is just one aspect which can be overshadowed by
other application components and scores in your GRE and IELTS etc. Play to
your strengths, not every subject will have a low GPA. Having a killer GPA alone
does never ensure or increases your chances of getting scholarship
Foreign Supervisors don’t respond to the emails
During my undergraduate studies at LUMS, I was heavily involved in student activities, leadership roles and
social projects requiring spending months in rural areas. In addition to working at a small village for almost 10
months in my junior year (during which time I used to spend my complete weekends at the village and
weekdays travelling between college and the village) I organised orientation weeks, TEDx LUMS, headed the
student council, lead my team to the second place at a national business plan competition, worked at the
United Nations, and interned at several multi national companies such as Pepsi and Nestle etc. In my final
year, I also assisted a non-profit startup, MAKTAB, to aid more village students with their educational needs by
collaborating with big NGOs. Seeing an invaluable opportunity in the growing educational technology space, I
have been working with them to make this a success and have been currently putting tremendous effort in
partnering with other non-profits and human rights organisations; looking for capital and developing the
business plan.
Although these leadership experiences taught me many valuable lessons in teamwork, perseverance,
and business intelligence, I learnt the very important lesson of maintaining balance. I lost academic
focus and my grades suffered in my sophomore and junior years. Thus, I do not view my
undergraduate performance during these two years as an accurate representation of my academic
abilities. However I have now set things right and in my last semester I got a GPA of 3.5 (from GPA
2.5) and scored 316 on the crucial GRE exam with a 110 on the TOEFL, which is a better reflection of
my potential to succeed in an academic setting while working in an analytical and complex job. I hope
these experiences will help me become a business graduate at Columbia business school, which has
been my dream destination – I’m sure that I can achieve my goals by benefiting from its enriching
program.

Taken from: http://www.brightlinkprep.com/overcome-low-gpa-fulbright-application-1/

Lets Start Applying
PREPARE
1. Prepare for the language certificate and give either IELTS or TOEFL. (Some
countries e.g., China, Japan, etc., do not require English language certificate for
their offered scholarships)
2. Prepare and give GRE if you are targeting particularly USA. Though GRE does
reflect your academic aptitude, it is generally not required and optional in most
scholarships offered around the globe
3. Prepare (Write, Review through feedback, Proof-Read multiple times) your
Motivation Letter, Statement of Purpose, Research Proposal (for PhD
applicants),and CV. Also prepare samples of Letter of Recommendations
4. Meet the potential academics for recommendation letters and to take their
consent for mentioning their names as referees in scholarship applications
5. Attest all your educational documents if intending to apply for HEC funded or
HEC managed foreign scholarships
Lets Start Applying
SEARCH
1. Sign-up for few of the following scholarship search engines and set your
preferences by applying suitable filters
• https://scholarshipdb.net/
• http://scholarship-positions.com/
• http://www.jobs.ac.uk/
• http://www.scholars4dev.com/
• http://www.european-funding-guide.eu/
2. You cannot apply in every scholarship offered out there. Search and take
intelligent decisions to shortlist the scholarships (University-Funded,
Government-Funded, HEC-Funded) related to your field of subject and
preferences. Go through the eligibility criteria
Lets Start Applying
APPLY
1. Note down the deadlines for the shortlisted scholarships of your interest
2. For PhD candidates, establish the communication with the academic in the
university for their consent to act as a potential supervisor and feedback in the
scholarship application
3. Check the scholarship application requirement and if desired, take the
conditional admission in the university. Some universities have strict admission
deadlines as well
4. Fill in the scholarship application. Take your time as every question is
important and has weightage in decision
5. Apply for the scholarship and…

PRAY
 MEXT AND JAPAN
EXPERIENCE

DR. GHUFRAN AHMAD PASHA

MEXT SCHOLARSHIP
Flight Time - 12 Hours
Mount Fuji Tokyo Imperial
Palace
Hiroshima Peace
Memorial
Tokyo Sky Tree Golden Pavilion
Temple/ Kinkaku-Ji

Tokyo Tower
 Universal Studio
Tokyo Disneyland Japan

And many more…

 Rich Culture
• Japan has always had a reputation for its
distinctive culture and unique
traditions.
• As an island nation with a long history of
isolation, many aspects of the culture
developed completely unaffected by
outside influences.
• But there are so many other reasons why
Japan is the most unique country in the
world.
 Fun facts
• Square-shaped watermelons are grown by
Japanese farmers for easier stack and store.
• Sleeping on the job is acceptable in Japan, as
it's viewed as exhaustion from working hard.
• In Japan there are more pets than children!
• Japanese people have 20 different ways for
saying "sorry.“
• In Japan, teachers and students clean the
school together!
• Japan is home to over 3,000 McDonald’s
restaurants, the largest number in any country
outside the U.S..
• The literacy rate of Japan is almost 100%. So, you’re likely to find yourself
in a world-class academic environment.
• Japan is a country of contrasts, preserving old traditions related to the
unique Japanese culture, and at the same time, the nation is a leader in
scientific research, mostly technology, famous for manufacturing robots.
• More than 100,000 international students from every corner in the
world enroll in Japanese universities every year.
• Since 1949, there have been twenty-two Japanese (or Japanese born)
winners of the Nobel Prize.
Famous Universities
• The University of Tokyo • Nagoya University
• Tohoku University • Yokohama National University
• Nagoya University • Hokkaido University
• Kyoto University • Saitama University
• Tokyo Institute of • Okayama University
Technology • And many more…
• Osaka University
UET Taxila Japan Alumni (Civil Dept.)
• Prof. Dr. Qaiser uz Zaman Khan
(PhD, Saitama University)
• Dr. Qazi Umer Farooq (01-CE, PhD,
Tokyo University)
• Dr. Naveed Ahmad (04-CE, PhD,
Tokyo University)
• Dr. Ghufran Ahmed Pasha (06-CE,
PhD, Saitama University)
• Shehriar-e-Rehmat (04-CE, MS,
Saitama University)
• Saqib Habib (06-CE, MS, Saitama
University)
• Imran Khan (07-CE, PhD Student,
Nagoya University)
• Amad-ud-din (09-CE, MS, Tokyo University)
• Atif Anwar (09-CE, MS, Saitama University)
• Aamir Khokar (11-CE, MS, Saitama University)
• Abdul Moiz (11-CE, PhD Student, Tokyo
University)
• Muhammad Ali Hafeez (11-CE, PhD student,
Yokohama National University)
• Babar Abbasi (11-CE, Master Student, Tokyo
University)
• Ali Ejaz (12-CE, MS, Saitama University)
• Naveed Anjum (12-CE, PhD Student, Saitama
University)
How to apply to universities in Japan?
• For most universities in Japan, you can simply apply online by
submitting the application form along with all requested
application documents. Additionally, you can check an official
website dedicated to higher education studies in Japan that offers
detailed information about courses provided by all universities in
Japan (https://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/).
• Make sure to know what the language requirements are, and
whether you need to prove skills in English before enrolling in a
degree programme.
• To help your chances of going to Japan, be sure to apply to more
than one university!
• http://www.saitama-u.ac.jp/rikogaku/en/exm_001.html
Tuition fees in Japan

• Admission fee – approx. 3000

USD
• Tuition Fee – approx. 5000 USD
(annually)
 Scholarships
• Japanese Government Monbukagakusho (MEXT)
Scholarships
• Direct admission in universities
• Embassy recommendations
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) Scholarships (for
MS)
• JICA scholarships (for MS)

• Usually 143, 000-148,000 yens (1300 USD)

Types of Scholarships
• (Monbukagakusho) Scholarships (MEXT)
• https://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/toj/toj0302e-10.html

• Embassy Recommendations
• https://www.pk.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/education.html
English-language tests
• IELTS
• TOEFL
• English Proficiency Certificate from UET
 Accommodation
costs
• Many universities in Japan offer
accommodation for international
students for the one year. There are
rooms and apartments with low
rents but availability is usually
limited. A single room in a
university dormitory is around 270
USD/month and a double room
costs 180 USD/month.
• Another option for affordable
housing is sharing an apartment; a
room in a shared apartment cost
between 200 and 500 USD.
Healthcare
• Foreign students who plan to live in Japan for a
period of more than 3 months have to subscribe
to the “National Health Insurance”. Once you
arrive in Japan, register for the National Health
Insurance at your nearest local office and pay the
insurance premium.
• You will have to pay the insurance premium
monthly once registration is completed.
Dawah opportunity

And who is better in speech than Tokyo Camii & Turkish

one who invites to Allah and does Culture Center (Largest
mosque in Japan).
righteousness and says, "Indeed, I
am of the Muslims."
 DEPARTMENTAL
SCHOLARSHIP AND
EDINBURGH EXPERIENCE

DR. AFAQ AHMAD

EDINBURGH- MY SECOND HOME
EDINBURGH- MY SECOND HOME
• DO YOU THINK IT IS A PIECE OF CAKE????????????

• THINK AGAIN???????????????????????
• 40 APPLICATIONS…….

• 25 REJECTIONS…………..

• 11 ACCEPTANCE AS FEES WAIVE SCHOLARSHIPS…….

• 04 ACCEPTANCE AS FULLY FUNDED

SCHOLARSHIPS…….
 • Short list the Universities
1

• Short list the Professors

2

• Follow them on ResearchGate

3

• Mark the Deadlines

4

• Read their papers and Ref into your Research Proposal and Motivational Letters
5

• Discuss with them, Incorporates their comments, Remind them

6
Benefits of a Foreign Scholarship