The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a scholarship program aimed at supporting students from flood-affected districts. The floods have put the continuation of higher education for many students at risk due to financial constraints.
The USAID scholarship program, which has been providing aid to financially disadvantaged households since 2004, will offer scholarships to students enrolled in thirty partner universities. The funding will cover two semesters, aiming to alleviate the financial burden faced by these students.
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be enrolled in the 2nd to 7th semester of a four or five-year undergraduate degree program in Fall 2023. All disciplines and subjects are open for consideration. Applicants must hail from districts, sub-districts, or UC Tehsils affected by the floods as identified by the Government of Pakistan, PDMA, or District Administration. Proof of flood damage, such as impact on household or livelihood, is required. It should be noted that any fraudulent submissions, including fake pictures downloaded from the internet, will be rejected.
The scholarship covers tuition fees for two semesters, i.e., Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. It also includes a stipend covering boarding, lodging, transportation, and other academic costs for two semesters. Half of the scholarships are reserved for female students.
Applications must be submitted through the HEC Online Application System, with a printout of the application form and supporting documents sent to the student financial aid offices of the university. Incomplete forms will not be accepted.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) reserves the right to cancel the scholarship award if the information provided by the applicant is found to be false or misleading. Students who have secured admissions on a self-sustain, self-support, or self-finance basis, or in evening programs with higher fee structures, two years bachelor’s, associate, or lateral degree programs are ineligible. Similarly, students availing of any other scholarship or continuous grant are also ineligible.
The deadline for online application submission is 16th August 2023. For more information on eligible institutes and universities, interested applicants can visit the official website.
