Every year, Pakistani graduates crowd into the same famous awards — Fulbright, Chevening, Commonwealth. Meanwhile four equally prestigious scholarships are open or opening soon, with deadlines from late November 2026 to early January 2027 — yet far fewer Pakistani applicants hear about them before the deadline passes. ETH Zurich opens 1 November; Eiffel, Clarendon and Gates Cambridge are already open through their own routes. All facts verified against the official pages on 16 October 2026.
1. ETH Zurich — Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP), Switzerland
Level: Consecutive Master’s at ETH Zurich (Master of Advanced Studies excluded).
What it pays: CHF 13,500 per semester from autumn 2027 (about Rs 45 lakh) plus a full tuition fee waiver, for the regular programme length (3 or 4 semesters). About 60 ESOP scholarships for 2027/28, with mentorship through the ETH Foundation.
Who can apply: Apply to an ETH Master’s via eApply with a very good Bachelor’s result — the top 10% of your programme (grade A, self-assessed). You are not eligible if already enrolled in an ETH Master’s or holding one. No nationality restriction.
The catch: Exactly one window — 1 to 30 November 2026 (11:59 AM CET (3:59 PM PKT)); miss it and you wait a year. You must also upload a self-developed pre-proposal for your Master’s thesis (proper scientific citation) and name two professor referees if your programme doesn’t already require them. A February phone/video interview is possible; decisions by end of March 2027. ESOP sets no separate language test — your programme’s English rules apply: IELTS Preparation — Practice Tests.
Official source: ETH Zurich — Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme
2. France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship — France
Level: Master’s (M1/M2), engineering degrees, and doctorates in France.
What it pays: Master’s scholars receive €1,200 per month (about Rs 3.7 lakh) and doctoral scholars €2,000 per month (about Rs 6.2 lakh), at rates in force from January 2026. France also pays directly for transport, insurance, housing help, and cultural activities. One honest caveat: tuition fees are NOT covered — confirm tuition with the university first.
Who can apply: Outstanding foreign (non-French) students in seven priority fields — biology and health; ecological transition; mathematics and digital sciences; engineering; history, French language and civilisation; law and political science; economics and management. Strict age caps: 29 or younger for Master’s, 35 or younger for doctorates. Crucially, you cannot apply directly — a French institution must nominate you, and only one institution may submit your file.
The catch — the timeline: The 2027 call opened 2 October 2026; institutions submit to Campus France by 6 January 2027; results in the week of 12 April 2027. But your real deadline is earlier: each university sets its own internal pre-selection date, typically November or December 2026. Contact your chosen university’s international office now.
Official source: Campus France — Le programme de bourses France Excellence Eiffel
3. Clarendon Fund — University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Level: Full-time and part-time DPhil and Master’s courses, all subject areas.
What it pays: More than 200 new fully funded scholarships a year — Oxford’s largest graduate scheme — each covering course fees in full plus a grant for living expenses.
Who can apply: Anyone, from any country, in any field — no restrictions on nationality, ordinary residence or field of study. Selection is on outstanding academic merit and potential alone, and it is highly competitive: around 700 scholars from roughly 70 nations study at Oxford at any one time.
The catch: There is no separate application — which is exactly why people miss it. You are automatically considered if you apply for your Oxford course by its December or January funding deadline (date varies by course). Apply in the later spring round and the door is already closed. English requirements are set by your course, not the scholarship: IELTS Preparation — Practice Tests.
Official source: University of Oxford — Clarendon Fund
4. Gates Cambridge Scholarship — University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Level: PhD, MLitt, and eligible one-year postgraduate courses for citizens of any country outside the UK; about 70 full-cost scholarships yearly — roughly two-thirds to PhD students.
What it pays: The full University Composition Fee, a maintenance allowance of £23,152 for 12 months at the 2026-27 rate (about Rs 85 lakh; PhD awards run up to 4 years), economy airfare at the start and end of the course, inbound visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge, plus discretionary funding for academic development, fieldwork and hardship — but not bench fees or equipment.
Who can apply: Four criteria — outstanding intellectual ability, reasons for choice of course, commitment to improving the lives of others, leadership potential. No separate Gates form: you apply through the single Cambridge Graduate Application Portal, completing the Gates funding section (statement plus one extra reference) inside it.
The catch — deadlines: Pakistani applicants are in the international round: your deadline is the “Course Funding Deadline” in Cambridge’s Course Directory — 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, 11:59pm UK time (≈ 4:59am PKT), with every document — references included — submitted by then. Outcomes by 8 March 2027, interviews 22–23 March, offers by early April 2027.
Official source: Gates Cambridge — Application timeline 2027/28
Deadlines at a glance
| Scholarship | Level | How you apply | Key deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETH Zurich ESOP | Master’s | Via eApply with your Master’s application | 30 Nov 2026, 11:59 AM CET (3:59 PM PKT) (window opens 1 Nov) |
| France Excellence Eiffel | Master’s / PhD | Through a French university’s nomination | Institutions by 6 Jan 2027 — your university’s internal date is Nov/Dec 2026 |
| Oxford Clarendon | Master’s / DPhil | Automatic with your Oxford course application | Dec 2026 or Jan 2027 (course deadline) |
| Gates Cambridge | PhD / MLitt / 1-yr postgrad | Cambridge Graduate Application Portal | 8 Dec 2026 or 6 Jan 2027, 11:59pm UK time |
Four things applicants get wrong about these awards
- A scholarship is not admission. An Eiffel nomination does not enrol you — you still complete admission. Clarendon, Gates and ESOP ride on your course application; a weak one kills both.
- IELTS is an admission requirement, not a scholarship one. None of the four sets its own IELTS score — the universities’ language rules apply.
- “Fully funded” means different things. Eiffel excludes tuition; Gates and Clarendon cover fees plus living costs; ESOP waives tuition and pays a stipend. Read the official coverage section, not the headline.
- Deadlines run on institutional timezones, and caps are hard rules. ETH closes in Central European time; Cambridge at 11:59pm UK (≈ 4:59am PKT) — submit 48 hours early. Eiffel’s age limits (29/35) and ESOP’s Master’s-holder ban are eligibility conditions, not guidelines.
Your 7-day action plan (16–23 October)
- Pick one or two matching your degree level — depth beats breadth.
- ESOP: start the thesis pre-proposal this week. Eiffel: email 2–3 French universities’ international offices today for their internal deadline.
- Clarendon/Gates: note the December/January funding deadline on your course page and ask referees this week — references must be submitted, not just requested, by the deadline.
PKR figures are approximate, at mid-market rates on 16 October 2026 (CHF ≈ Rs 334, EUR ≈ Rs 311, GBP ≈ Rs 368) — rates move daily, so recheck before budgeting. Always confirm deadlines and eligibility on the official pages linked above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Pakistani students apply for all four of these scholarships?
Yes. None restricts by nationality: ESOP places none, Eiffel is open to non-French nationals, Clarendon has none on nationality or residence, and Gates Cambridge admits citizens of any country outside the UK.
Do I need IELTS for these scholarships?
The scholarships set no IELTS scores, but universities’ admission rules do — funding and admission usually share one application. Prepare early with our free IELTS Preparation practice tests.
Is the Eiffel Scholarship really “fully funded” if it doesn’t pay tuition?
Eiffel covers living costs generously — €1,200/month for Master’s, €2,000/month for PhD, plus travel and insurance — but Campus France states plainly that tuition is not covered. Confirm tuition with the nominating university.
Can I apply for more than one of these scholarships?
Yes — they are independent programmes. The only exclusivity rule is Eiffel’s: a single French institution may submit your nomination.
I already hold a Master’s degree. Can I still apply?
It depends on the award. ESOP excludes anyone already holding a Master’s. Clarendon and Gates Cambridge accept graduates applying for a *new* postgraduate course (Gates suits PhD applicants best), and Eiffel accepts Master’s holders for the doctoral track within the age caps (29/35).