Chevening and Allied Bank Offer Fully Funded UK Masters to Pakistanis
The United Kingdom government’s Chevening programme and Allied Bank Limited have announced a partnership to provide fully funded masters scholarships to Pakistani students at leading British universities. Two Pakistani scholars will receive funding each year for three academic years, beginning in 2027-28.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by the British High Commission. Selected scholars will pursue studies in artificial intelligence, technology, cybersecurity, digital transformation, economics and financial inclusion.
The first two Chevening-Allied Bank scholars will be selected from the existing applicant pool for the 2027-28 academic year. Applications for the 2028-29 Chevening-Allied Bank scholarships are expected to open as part of the Chevening application cycle in August 2027, with successful candidates beginning their studies in the United Kingdom in 2028.
Chevening Allied Bank scholarships: what the funding covers
Chevening is the British government’s international scholarships programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and partner organisations. Since 1983, the programme has offered fully funded one-year masters degrees at United Kingdom universities, covering tuition, living costs and travel.
Close to 60,000 people from more than 160 countries and territories have studied in the United Kingdom through Chevening. Pakistani alumni work across education, governance, health, climate, business and civil society, helping strengthen links between the United Kingdom and Pakistan.
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said Pakistan’s greatest strength is its people. She expressed hope that the partnership would help impressive future leaders to study at world-leading United Kingdom universities and bring fresh ideas home.
Marriott added that it was especially fitting that a former Chevening scholar is now opening the same door for the next generation. She referred to Allied Bank President and Chief Executive Aizid Gill, who studied for an MSc in Business Economics at the University of Manchester as a Chevening scholar in 2001. He is one of Pakistan’s nearly 2,000 Chevening alumni.
Gill said the scholarship is about giving talented Pakistanis the opportunity to learn, grow and bring that exposure back home. He added that Allied Bank strengthens its support for the next generation of leaders through the partnership, in the hope that the support helps them build the knowledge and skills to contribute to the country’s future.
Why the subject list matters for Pakistan
The six subject areas are not random. Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital transformation speak directly to Pakistan’s push to grow its technology sector and improve digital services. Economics and financial inclusion speak to a separate, long-running challenge: bringing more people into formal banking and widening access to credit and savings.
For applicants, the timing also matters. Because the first two scholars come from the existing 2027-28 pool, students who have already applied for Chevening for that year are the ones in line for the first awards. Students who missed that cycle should watch for the August 2027 opening, rather than expecting a separate, earlier window.
The scale is modest, with two scholars a year, but the value of each award is high. A fully funded year in the United Kingdom removes the tuition and living cost barrier that stops many strong applicants. The partnership model also matters: a Pakistani bank is funding places on a British government programme, which ties the awards to a clear return-home expectation in the public messaging around the launch.
Pakistan’s universities have seen repeated name and structure changes this year, as reported here: Punjab Universities Change Names Under New Act. Against that background, a stable, externally funded route to a masters degree abroad will interest students who want a defined one-year programme with a fixed start date.
What happens next
The next step for the first cohort is selection from the existing pool, with no new application round announced for 2027-28. The next open round for this partnership is expected in August 2027, for study starting in 2028. Applicants should check the official Chevening application cycle when it opens, and confirm the subject list and eligibility rules at that point, since details can change between cycles.
The scholarships sit alongside other education news, including Punjab’s nursing scholarships for faculty, Germany’s increased student visas for Pakistanis, and the UK’s longer migrant settlement wait.
Frequently asked questions
How many Chevening-Allied Bank scholars will be funded each year?
Two Pakistani scholars will receive funding each year for three academic years, beginning in 2027-28.
Which subjects are covered?
Artificial intelligence, technology, cybersecurity, digital transformation, economics and financial inclusion.
When will the first scholars be selected?
The first two scholars will be selected from the existing applicant pool for the 2027-28 academic year.
When do applications open for the next round?
Applications for the 2028-29 Chevening-Allied Bank scholarships are expected to open as part of the Chevening cycle in August 2027.
What does a Chevening award cover?
Chevening awards cover tuition, living costs and travel for a one-year masters degree at a United Kingdom university.
