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quick answer
Can Pakistani students get a fully funded scholarship in Qatar?
Yes. Pakistani students can study in Qatar on a fully funded scholarship through two routes. Qatar University funds undergraduate students with tuition, shared housing, a return flight, and a 500 QR monthly stipend. Hamad Bin Khalifa University funds Master’s and PhD students with tuition waivers and a monthly stipend where awarded. Both bodies decide selection on merit. MTZ does not award or guarantee any scholarship.
Qatar scholarships at a glance
Qatar offers Pakistani students two fully funded scholarship routes: one for undergraduate study at Qatar University, and one for Master’s and PhD study at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Doha.
Destination: Qatar (Doha)
Who each route is for: Qatar University for undergraduate study; HBKU for Master’s, PhD, and Law
Qatar University award (undergraduate): full tuition exemption, textbook exemption, 500 QR per month, shared student housing with campus transport, one annual return air ticket, residence permit under Qatar University sponsorship
HBKU award (Master’s): 60% to 75% tuition waiver by programme, plus a 7,000 QR monthly stipend for international students where awarded
HBKU award (PhD): 100% tuition waiver, plus a 9,000 QR monthly stipend for international students where awarded
Airfare at HBKU: one round-trip ticket across the whole degree, not annual
Minimum academic bar: 95% high school average for the QU International Students Scholarship; per-programme requirements at HBKU
Language: IELTS or TOEFL for English-medium; Arabic-medium QU programmes waive English testing
How you apply: direct to the university. No HEC nomination and no embassy step for Qatar
Selection basis: merit at Qatar University; merit or need at HBKU, subject to available funds
Cost of an MTZ profile assessment: free
Last verified: 13 June 2026
Your two routes to a funded place in Qatar
Pakistani students reach a funded place in Qatar through two separate universities: Qatar University for undergraduate study, and Hamad Bin Khalifa University for Master’s and PhD study. Each runs its own award and decides its own selection.
Route 1: Qatar University, for undergraduate study
Qatar University funds international undergraduate students through two awards a Pakistani applicant can target. The International Students Scholarship is the academic route: it covers tuition, textbooks, a 500 QR monthly salary, shared student housing with campus transport, one annual return air ticket, and a residence permit under Qatar University sponsorship. The academic bar is high, a 95% high school average, and the award goes to first-degree (Bachelor) applicants only. Transfer, visiting, non-degree, and second-degree applicants do not qualify.
The Talent Scholarship is the second Qatar University route. It funds international undergraduates who prove a talent in scientific research, technology and innovation, literature, media, acting (for male applicants), or a listed sport. The academic bar drops to an 80% average, but you submit a portfolio, two recommendation letters, and pass an interview. International talent recipients receive a 1,000 QR monthly salary plus the same housing, return ticket, and residence permit. Medicine and dental medicine are outside the talent route’s admission guarantee.
Route 2: Hamad Bin Khalifa University, for Master’s and PhD
Hamad Bin Khalifa University, a Qatar Foundation university in Education City, Doha, funds graduate study. A PhD place carries a 100% tuition waiver and, where awarded, a 9,000 QR monthly stipend for international students across 45 months. A funded Master’s place carries a 60% to 75% tuition waiver by programme and a 7,000 QR monthly stipend for international students across 21 months, where awarded. The waiver and stipend are not automatic: HBKU awards them on merit or need and only where funds are available, and the stipend is tied to working as a research assistant for 10 hours a week. HBKU does not pay housing; you cover housing from the stipend. International students receive one round-trip ticket across the whole degree, not annual flights. LL.M., MS Economics, and certificate programmes carry a 0% waiver.
Who can apply, and the marks you need
Pakistani nationals qualify for both Qatar routes: Qatar University accepts international undergraduate applicants, and HBKU accepts graduate applicants of any nationality. The bar differs by route, so check the panel that matches your level.
Both routes are open to Pakistani citizens. Qatar University’s International Students Scholarship is built for non-Qatari, non-GCC applicants, which includes students from Pakistan. HBKU states its graduate scholarships are open to applicants of any nationality. You apply as an international student in both cases.
Qatar University funds first-degree (Bachelor) study only under these awards, so it suits a Pakistani student finishing FSc, A-Levels, or an equivalent secondary certificate. HBKU funds Master’s, PhD, and Law degrees, so it suits a graduate who already holds a Bachelor’s (for Master’s entry) or a relevant Master’s (for PhD entry).
The Qatar University International Students Scholarship requires a 95% high school average and final, not provisional, acceptance into your chosen college. The Qatar University Talent Scholarship requires an 80% average plus a proven talent, a portfolio, and an interview. HBKU sets its academic requirement per programme, assessed by each college during admission.
For English-medium programmes at either university you show English proficiency through IELTS or TOEFL. Confirm the exact band on the official Qatar University required-test-scores page or the relevant HBKU programme page, since the band is set per programme. Qatar University’s Arabic-medium programmes, such as Sharia and Arabic language, waive English testing. There is no MOI-letter shortcut published for these awards.
At Qatar University you apply to a specific college and must meet that college’s own admission requirements; the Talent Scholarship’s admission guarantee excludes medicine and dental medicine. At HBKU the funded waivers and stipends concentrate in PhD programmes (100% waiver) and STEM and SHAPE Master’s programmes (60% to 75% waiver); LL.M., MS Economics, and certificate programmes carry a 0% waiver and no stipend.
Neither Qatar University nor HBKU publishes an age limit for these scholarships on its official pages. Verify any current age condition directly with the university before you apply, since an unpublished internal rule can change. The MTZ enquiry form does not ask for or apply an age cutoff.
How Qatar differs: you apply straight to the university
Qatar has no central government scholarship office and no Higher Education Commission nomination step for these awards, so a Pakistani applicant applies directly to the university rather than through a sending body. This is the single biggest difference between Qatar and routes like Hungary or Italy.
At Qatar University you complete the online admission application and select the “Scholarship Application” section inside that same application, during the announced window. The scholarship decision rides on your admission file; there is no separate national portal and no embassy nomination for the International Students Scholarship or the Talent Scholarship. The GCC embassy route is a different award and does not apply to Pakistani students.
At HBKU there is no separate scholarship application at all. Every admitted graduate applicant is considered automatically for a tuition waiver and stipend during the admission review. You apply once, to the programme, and the funding decision follows the admission decision.
The practical message for your family is direct: get the admission application right, because the funding decision is built on it. You apply yourself or with MTZ’s help through the official university process. MTZ does not nominate, award, or guarantee any scholarship.
Documents you submit with your application
What you submit depends on your route: Qatar University asks for your school records inside the admission application, while HBKU asks for your degree records and a written case for your place. Neither route has a separate scholarship form, so these are the documents that carry both your admission and your funding.
Qatar University (undergraduate)
For the International Students Scholarship you submit:
1. Original high school certificate and transcript, showing a 95% average
2. The admission documents required by the college you apply to
3. An English test score (IELTS or TOEFL) where the programme is taught in English
For the Talent Scholarship you also submit:
4. Two recommendation letters from bodies relevant to your talent
5. A portfolio letter with a link to supporting video or files showing your talent and recent achievements
6. Your final grade 11 transcript and your grade 12 first-semester transcript, each at an 80% average
7. For sport talent only, the Qatar University medical history form and physical examination form, completed by a doctor
Hamad Bin Khalifa University (Master’s and PhD)
Because funding rides on admission, you submit HBKU’s graduate admission set:
1. Electronic copies of official transcripts for all previous university study, with a graduation statement and an explanation of the grading scale
2. Your bachelor’s degree certificate for Master’s entry, or your master’s degree certificate for PhD entry
3. A valid IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL score of 79, where the programme requires it
4. An electronic copy of your valid passport
5. A current CV or resume
6. A personal statement
7. Two letters of recommendation, submitted by your referees through the portal, at least one from an academic referee
Some programmes ask for extra items, for example a research proposal for certain PhD routes or a GRE or GMAT score for some College of Science and Engineering PhD programmes. Check your programme page before you apply.
What the funding actually covers
A funded place in Qatar covers your tuition and gives you a monthly stipend, but the two routes differ on housing and flights, so read both columns before you choose. The figures below are the official amounts in Qatari Riyal.
covered:
⚫ Qatar University, full tuition exemption and textbook exemption on both undergraduate awards
⚫ Qatar University International Students Scholarship, a 500 QR monthly salary, shared student housing (two students per room) with campus transport, one annual return air ticket, and a residence permit under Qatar University sponsorship
⚫ Qatar University Talent Scholarship, a 1,000 QR monthly salary, and for international talent recipients the same housing, annual return ticket, and residence permit
⚫ HBKU PhD, a 100% tuition waiver and, where awarded, a 9,000 QR monthly stipend for international students across 45 months
⚫ HBKU Master’s, a 60% to 75% tuition waiver by programme and, where awarded, a 7,000 QR monthly stipend for international students across 21 months
⚫ HBKU international students, one round-trip air ticket across the whole degree
Not covered:
⚫ HBKU housing: you pay your own housing from the stipend or personal funds, since HBKU does not pay housing directly
⚫ HBKU annual flights: you receive one round-trip ticket for the entire degree, one inbound at the start and one outbound at graduation, not a flight each year
⚫ HBKU LL.M., MS Economics, and certificate programmes: a 0% tuition waiver and no stipend
⚫ Living costs beyond the stipend at either university, since the Qatar University 500 QR salary is small and meant as pocket money alongside the housing and flight it provides
⚫ Personal visa, medical, and incidental costs not stated in the official award
HBKU states plainly that its tuition waivers and stipends are not guaranteed, are awarded on merit or need, and depend on the availability of funds. An HBKU stipend is tied to working as a research assistant for 10 hours a week. At Qatar University the award is competitive, cannot be combined with another scholarship, and is cancelled if you do not pass your first semester. MTZ does not award or guarantee any of these.
the official figures are in Qatari Riyal. As a rough indication only, 1 QR is in the region of PKR 76 to 78 at mid-2026 rates. Use a conservative rate when you plan, since the exchange rate moves across a multi-year degree, and confirm the live rate with MTZ before any financial decision.
How to apply, step by step
You apply directly to the university in Qatar, with no HEC nomination and no embassy step, and the scholarship decision follows your admission decision. The five steps below are the process; the documents for each step sit in the Documents block above.
step-1 →
Pick your route and programme. Decide whether you are an undergraduate applicant for Qatar University or a Master’s or PhD applicant for HBKU, then shortlist the exact programme and college. At HBKU, identify a faculty research line that matches your background, since graduate selection weighs research fit.
step-2 →
Open the official application in the right window. At Qatar University, create your account on the online admission application and apply during the announced international-student window. At HBKU, open the graduate application for the Fall intake. Apply early, because places and funds are limited.
step-3 →
Apply for admission and scholarship together. At Qatar University, complete the admission application and select the Scholarship Application section inside the same form. At HBKU, there is no separate scholarship form: submitting your graduate admission application puts you in line for a tuition waiver and stipend automatically.
step-4 →
Submit and let the university assess. Send your complete application before the deadline. Qatar University evaluates files after the window closes and sends nominated international students an initial conditional acceptance, then arranges the student visa. HBKU colleges review files and decide both admission and funding.
step-5
Accept and prepare to travel. Once you receive your final admission and scholarship decision by email, accept the offer, complete the visa and residence steps the university sets, and plan your arrival in Doha.
Annual pattern and live dates: Qatar University runs its international undergraduate scholarship window tied to the Fall intake, opening in the first quarter of the year. HBKU runs a Fall graduate intake with an international-applicant deadline that has fallen around March and a regular deadline around April. These are the annual patterns, not a live deadline. MTZ confirms the current open dates with you before you apply, so you never work from a window that has already closed.
How MTZ helps you apply
MTZ guides you through a Qatar application end to end, from an honest read of your profile to your visa, without ever promising a result the university alone decides. You can also start with a free profile assessment before you commit to anything.
MTZ reads your marks, your level, and your target programme against the verified Qatar University and HBKU requirements, then tells you plainly whether you are competitive. If your numbers fall short of the 95% Qatar University bar or a programme’s graduate requirement, you hear that early, while you still have time to adjust your plan. Start with the free Scholarship Profile Assessment at https://mtzvisas.com/scholarship-eligibility/.
MTZ helps you pick the route that fits your level and field: Qatar University if you are a school-leaver heading into a Bachelor’s, or HBKU if you hold a degree and want a funded Master’s or PhD. For HBKU, MTZ helps you shortlist programmes where a tuition waiver and stipend are actually on offer, so you do not aim at a 0% waiver track by mistake.
MTZ helps you assemble the exact set each university asks for, from your attested transcripts and English score to a personal statement or talent portfolio that answers what the committee looks for. The aim is a file that reads cleanly the first time, since a missing transcript or an incomplete statement can cost you the cycle.
MTZ tracks the live Qatar University and HBKU windows and tells you when each opens, so you submit inside the window rather than after it closes. MTZ checks your application against the official requirements before you send it.
Once a university issues your acceptance, MTZ supports the student visa and residence steps the university sets, and helps you plan your move to Doha. Qatar University applies for the visa for its scholarship students; MTZ helps you prepare what the university and the visa process need from you.
Start with the free scholarship eligibility assessment:
The honest limits you should know
MTZ does not award, decide, or guarantee any Qatar scholarship: Qatar University and HBKU make every selection, and a place is never assured at the point you apply. Read these limits before you build your hopes around a single route.
Read these limits before you apply.
Selection sits entirely with the universities. MTZ prepares and submits a competitive application; it does not influence who is chosen.
The Qatar University academic bar is high. The International Students Scholarship asks for a 95% high school average, and the award is competitive even above that mark.
An HBKU waiver and stipend are not guaranteed. HBKU states they depend on merit or need and on the availability of funds, and a stipend is tied to working as a research assistant for 10 hours a week.
HBKU does not pay your housing. You cover housing from your stipend, and your funded flights are limited to one round trip across the whole degree, not a ticket each year.
A 0% waiver applies to some HBKU tracks. LL.M., MS Economics, and certificate programmes carry no waiver and no stipend, so confirm your programme’s rate before you apply.
The Qatar University award can be lost. It cannot be combined with another scholarship and is cancelled if you do not pass your first semester.
Age conditions are not published. Verify any current age rule directly with the university, since an unpublished internal limit can change.
• Application windows change each year. Work from the live dates MTZ confirms with you, never from a date you read elsewhere.
Qatar University or HBKU: which route fits you
Choose Qatar University if you are a school-leaver heading into a Bachelor’s, and HBKU if you already hold a degree and want a funded Master’s or PhD. The table sets the two routes side by side so you can match the one that fits your level and budget.
| Feature | Qatar University (undergraduate) | HBKU (Master’s and PhD) |
|---|---|---|
| Study level | Bachelor only | Master’s, PhD, and Law |
| Who it suits | School-leaver with FSc, A-Levels, or equivalent | Graduate with a Bachelor’s (Master’s entry) or a Master’s (PhD entry) |
| Tuition | Full exemption on both undergraduate awards | 100% for PhD; 60% to 75% for funded Master’s; 0% for LL.M., MS Economics, certificates |
| Monthly money | 500 QR (Intl Students) or 1,000 QR (Talent) | 9,000 QR PhD or 7,000 QR Master’s, international, where awarded |
| Housing | Shared housing with campus transport, provided | Not provided; paid from your stipend |
| Flights | One annual return air ticket | One round trip across the whole degree, not annual |
| Academic bar | 95% (Intl Students); 80% plus talent (Talent) | Per programme; CSE asks a minimum 3.0 GPA |
| Language | IELTS/TOEFL for English; Arabic-medium waives English | IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 79 where required |
| How you apply | Direct; tick scholarship section in admission form | Direct; funding considered automatically at admission |
| Selection basis | Merit, competitive | Merit or need, subject to available funds |
| Guarantee | None; Qatar University decides | None; HBKU decides, not guaranteed |
Qatar scholarship questions Pakistani families ask
These are the questions Pakistani families ask most about funded study in Qatar, answered from the official Qatar University and HBKU sources. Each answer gives the direct reply first.
Yes. Pakistani students can study in Qatar fully funded through two routes: Qatar University for undergraduate study, and Hamad Bin Khalifa University for Master’s and PhD study. Both are open to international applicants, which includes Pakistan, and both decide selection on merit.
The Qatar University International Students Scholarship covers full tuition, textbooks, a 500 QR monthly salary, shared student housing with campus transport, one annual return air ticket, and a residence permit under Qatar University sponsorship. It is for undergraduate (Bachelor) study only.
You need a 95% high school average for the Qatar University International Students Scholarship, plus final acceptance into your college. The separate Talent Scholarship asks for an 80% average together with a proven talent, a portfolio, and an interview.
HBKU pays a 100% tuition waiver for a PhD and a 60% to 75% waiver for a funded Master’s, plus a monthly stipend where awarded: 9,000 QR for international PhD students and 7,000 QR for international Master’s students. The waiver and stipend depend on merit, need, and available funds.
No. HBKU does not pay housing directly. You cover your housing from your stipend or your own funds. This is different from Qatar University, which provides shared student housing as part of its undergraduate award.
Yes for English-medium programmes. Qatar University considers IELTS or TOEFL for English-taught programmes, and HBKU asks for IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 79 where a programme requires it. Qatar University’s Arabic-medium programmes, such as Sharia and Arabic language, waive English testing.
No age limit is published by Qatar University or HBKU for these scholarships on their official pages. Verify any current age condition directly with the university before you apply, since an unpublished internal rule can change. The MTZ enquiry form does not ask for an age cutoff.
You apply directly to the university. There is no Higher Education Commission nomination and no embassy step for Qatar. At Qatar University you tick the scholarship section inside the online admission application; at HBKU you apply to the graduate programme and the funding is considered automatically at admission.
No, not on either route. At Qatar University the scholarship sits inside the admission application as a section you select. At HBKU every admitted graduate applicant is considered for a waiver and stipend during admission, with no separate form to submit.
Qatar University opens its international undergraduate scholarship window in the first quarter of the year for the Fall intake. HBKU runs a Fall graduate intake with an international-applicant deadline that has fallen around March. These are annual patterns, so confirm the current open dates with MTZ before you apply.
You apply to a specific college at Qatar University and must meet its requirements, and the Talent Scholarship’s admission guarantee does not extend to medicine or dental medicine. MBBS study and any medical merit award follow their own rules and are not covered on this scholarship page.
LL.M., MS Economics, and certificate programmes at HBKU carry a 0% tuition waiver and no stipend. The full waivers concentrate in PhD programmes (100%) and the funded STEM and SHAPE Master’s programmes (60% to 75%). Confirm your programme’s rate before you apply.
No. MTZ does not award, decide, or guarantee any scholarship. Qatar University and HBKU make every selection. MTZ assesses your profile honestly, helps you build a competitive application, and supports your visa once a university issues an offer.
MTZ reads your profile against the verified requirements, helps you pick the route that fits your level, builds your document set and statement, submits inside the live window, and supports your visa to Qatar. You can begin with a free Scholarship Profile Assessment at https://mtzvisas.com/scholarship-eligibility/.
Start your Qatar scholarship application
Get an honest read on whether Qatar University or HBKU fits you, and let MTZ help you build an application that competes. MTZ does not award or guarantee any scholarship; the universities decide.
This page was written and verified by the MTZ counselling team and published under the author below.
Author: Mubbashir Qureshi, CEO, MTZ Global Visa Consultants Pvt Ltd. 25+ years personal experience guiding Pakistani students into study abroad and international education.
MTZ Global Visa Consultants Pvt Ltd is SECP registered, ISO 9001:2015 certified, and staffed by British Council certified counsellors, with offices in Islamabad (G8 Markaz) and Lahore (Gulberg III). Figures on this page were verified at the official Qatar University and HBKU sources on 13 June 2026. Spotted an error? WhatsApp +92 315 155 5507.
