List of Scholarships for Medical Students (MBBS/BDS) in Pakistan

The government medical colleges are considered as heaven by the working middle-class as they are the only means of fulfilling their dream of pursuing a career in medicine. But given in the present circumstances of rapidly escalating inflation, even those studying in the government medical institutions find it hard to pay their tuition fees and manage day-to-day expenses. And so, the students rely on scholarships and grants for continuing their medical education (MBBS/BDS).

In Pakistan, there are a number scholarships offered to medical students by the government (through Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and provincial governments), private companies, and nonprofit organization. The majority of the scholarships offered to medical students are merit-based meaning you can avail these scholarships by meeting or exceeding certain criteria set by the awarding authority. Most of these scholarships are geared towards students with outstanding academic achievements. And some of these scholarships are need-based i.e families with certain incomes are eligible.

Scholarships are gifts because you don’t have to pay them back. 🙂 Finding one and qualifying for it while in medical school is like striking gold. Because it not only eases financial stress but also helps you expanding your wardrobe collection (as in the case of girls) and making additions to your tech-gear (us, boys).

You may find the list of scholarships for medical students (MBBS/BDS) after the jump:

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Scholarships for Medical Students (MBBS/BDS)

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This blog post has been written in an effort to help medical students (MBBS/BDS) to find scholarships to help them bear their educational expenses. After doing days of research, we have finally compiled the following list of scholarships for medical students: 🙂

1. HEC Need Based Scholarship

HEC Need Based Scholarship offers financial support to talented youth who are not able to continue their education due to financial constraints. This is an open scholarship program where students from various disciplines can apply from a list of selected 61 public sector universities.

The HEC Need Based Scholarship covers:

• Tuition Fee
• Lodging
• Transportation
• Transportation
• Books
• Other Academics Expenses

The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan will also pay an additional Rs.6000/month as a stipend to every grantee.

Eligibility Criteria: 

• The HEC Need Based Scholarship is open to those students currently enrolled in 4-5 years of undergraduate disciplines at HEC selected public sector institutes.
• Evaluation of a candidate’s financial background will be made by HEC before provision of the scholarship.

For more information, please check here.

 

2. HEC Undergraduate Indigenous Scholarships for the Students of Balochistan and FATA

The HEC Undergraduate Indigenous Scholarship for the students of Balochistan and FATA is open to undergraduate students from all disciplines in public sector universities. The grantee will receive a total of Rs. 120,000/year with an additional Rs.10,000 one-time settlement allowance.

** This scholarship is distributed on district/agency quota. Students who have completed their intermediate education from boards other than Balochistan and FATA will compete on 10% open merit quota and they WILL NOT be placed in district/agency quota.

This scholarship program covers: 

• Tuition Fess + hostel fee and other expenses up to Rs. 60,000 per semester
• Living Allowance: Rs. 6000 per month
• Book Allowance: Rs. 5000/year
• Traveling Allowance: Rs. 5000/year
• One time initial settlement: Rs. 10,000 (just once)

Eligibility Criteria: 

• The candidate must be a local/domicile holder of their district or agency.
• 60% in intermediate exams
• Maximum age limit: 22 years (on closing date of application)

For more information, please check here.

 

3. National Bank of Pakistan’s Interest-Free Student Loan Scheme

The government of Pakistan in collaboration with major commercial banks (i.e NBP, UBL, MCB, HBL and ABL) launched the Student Loan Scheme (SLS) in 2001-2002. These student loans are “interest-free loans” which are meant to help the meritorious and academically genius students of the country to help them continue their professional education.

Repayment: 

After 10 years from the date of disbursement of the first installment.

Eligibility Criteria:

• On-merit admission to a public sector institution.
• At least 70% marks in last professional exam.
• Age must not exceed 21 at the time of admission.
• The candidate must demonstrate genuine inability to afford further pursuance of education due to financial constraints.

For more information regarding student loan scheme, please check here.

 

 

4. Professional Education Foundation (PEF) Scholarship

The Professional Education Foundation (PEF) is an NGO dedicated to helping academically outstanding but underprivileged students of Pakistan by providing financial assistance.

Types of Financial Support provided:

• Need-based financial support
• Interest-free loans

Eligibility

• Admission on merit in selected medical universities/colleges.
• The applicant must have genuine financial constraints.

Selected Medical Universities/Colleges

1. Bolan Medical College, Quetta
2. Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore
3. Ayoub Medical College, Abbottabad
4. Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi
5. Fatima Jinnah Medical College
6. Jinnah Sindh Medical University
7. Khyber Medical and Dental College, Peshawar
8. Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh
9. Nishtar Medical College, Multan
10. Peoples University of Medical & Health Sciences for Women, Nawabshah
11. Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad
12. Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur
13. Rawalpindi Medical College
14. Service Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Lahore

 

 

5. Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF)

The Punjab Educational Fund (PEEF) is a scholarship program initiated by the Government of Punjab under the supervision of Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif. PEEF Scholarship is aimed to help those students who are unable to continue their education to lack of financial resources.

This scholarship offers financial assistance to talented youth of Punjab (mainly) and also to the talented but needy students of other provinces Balochistan, AJK, FATA and Gilgit Baltistan are also offered scholarships.

Scholarship stipend rates:

• Rs. 3000 to Rs. 3500/month

Eligibility criteria:

• On merit admission into a public sector medical college/university
• The applicant must have scored at least 60% marks in the previous exam
• Household income is equal to or less than Rs.15,000 (documented proof to be submitted)
• Not availing any other scholarships during the current academic year.

For more information regarding PEEF Scholarship for Medical Students, please check here.

 

6. Balochistan Educational Endowment Fund (BEEF)

The Balochistan Education Endowment Fund (BEEF) was established in the year 2014 after abolishing the MPA Fund when media reports surfaced indicating nepotism and corruption in MPA Fund. The medical students (MBBS/BDS) of Balochistan can easily avail this scholarship provided they fulfill the required eligibility criteria as mentioned below.

Scholarship amount:

• Rs.48,000 to Rs.60,000 per semester (x2 for annual system)

Eligibility Criteria:

• The applicant must have Local/domicile of Balochistan.
• At least 60% marks in matriculation and intermediate education.
• The candidate must have secured a position in TOP 25 of his class.
• Maintaining of 75% attendance in class.

For more information regarding BEEF Scholarship for medical students, please check here.

 

7. Pak-USAID Merit and Needs Based Scholarship Program

The Pak-USAID Need-Based Scholarship is aimed to provide financial assistance to meritorious but under-privileged students Pakistan. This scholarship program is run by the joint collaboration of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and USAID.

Scholarship covers:

• Tuition
• Accommodation
• Living Expenses

Eligibility Criteria:

• The candidate must be a Pakistani/AJK national.
• On-merit admission into selected medical university/college.
• Candidates in their first semester or 1st year of medical education are eligible.
• The candidate must demonstrate poor financial background and neediness for being considered by the awarding committee.

Selected Medical Universities for USAID Need Based Scholarship:

• Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi
• National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad
• University of Health Sciences, Lahore

For more information on USAID scholarship for medical students, please check here.

 

8. Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme

Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme is aimed to provide the meritorious and talented youth with an opportunity to enhances their quality of education and development of research trend among Ph.D scholars by providing them access to information technology. This program was started by the Government of Pakistan in 2013 for next five consecutive years.

Selected Medical Universities:

1. Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences, Khairpur
2. Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi
3. Khyber Medical University, Peshawar
4. King Edward Medical University, Lahore
5. Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro
6. National University of Medical Sciences, Islamabad
7. Peoples University of Medical & Health Sciences for Women, Nawabshah
8. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Larkana
9. Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad

For more information on PM’s laptop scheme for medical students (MBBS/BDS), please check here.

 

9. Chief Minister Punjab’s Laptop Scheme

CM Punjab’s laptop scheme is another brainchild of Pakistan Muslim League-N’s government aimed to provide quality education and access to IT resources. Below-mentioned medical colleges/universities are selected for this laptop scheme:

1. Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore
2. D.G Khan Medical College
3. De-Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore
4. Dental College, Multan
5. Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore
6. Gujranwala Medical College, Gujranwala
7. Khawaja Safder Medical College, Sialkot
8. Lahore General Hospital
9. Nawaz Sharif Medical College, Gujrat
10. Nishtar Medical College, Multan
11. Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad
12. Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur
13. Rawalpindi Medical College, Rawalpindi
14. Sahiwal Medical College, Sahiwal
15. Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore
16. Sheikh Zaid Medical College, Raheem Yar Khan
17. King Edward Medical University, Lahore
18. University of Health Science Lahore

Eligibility Criteria:

• On-merit admission in above-mentioned government sector medical universities/colleges
• 60% or above in annual exam system and 70% or above in semester system

 

10. Chief Minister Balochistan’s Laptop Scheme

The CM Balochistan’s Laptop Scheme is very first of its kind initiative taken by the government of Balochistan to provide free laptops to the academically outstanding students of Balochistan. This scheme is still in progress and will be officially announced by the end of this year. The CM Balochistan, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has allocated Rs. 500 million rupees for facilitating this laptop scheme.

Eligibility criteria:

• For medical students, 60% in annual exam system and 70% in the semester system.

 

11. Alfalah Scholarship Scheme

The Alfalah Scholarship Scheme is a non-profit organization providing financial assistance to talented but underprivileged students of Pakistan without any discrimination. This scholarship scheme is sponsored by various national and international organizations.

Selected Medical Colleges/Universities:

The Alfalah Scholarship Scheme is open to all medical colleges/universities.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant must meet the following requirements in order to be selected:

• 70% marks in Matric
• 60% marks in Intermediate
• At least 60% marks in previous medical board exam.

For more information regarding Alfalah Scholarship for medical students, please check here.

 

We hope medical students from all over Pakistan will find this blog post useful when applying for scholarships. Please add to this list by leaving your comment below. Thanks! 🙂