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Key Takeaways

  • The Azerbaijan government scholarship for Pakistani students is the Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant Program, run by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Science and Education. It funds 100 international students a year for five years from 2023.
  • It covers tuition and language preparatory courses, one return economy flight per year, 800 AZN a month for 10 months, 200 AZN a year for medical care, a single-entry visa and a temporary residence permit. Nothing else is reimbursed.
  • It is a two-stage process: first-stage nomination through your own government (in Pakistan, HEC), then second-stage registration on the SIACAS portal (portal.edu.az). Only nominated candidates get to stage two.
  • 2026-27 timeline: first-stage applications 16 February to 15 April 2026; SIACAS registration 1 to 10 June 2026; results 1 July to 1 August; classes from 15 September 2026.
  • Academic bar: GPA of at least 70/100 in the previous qualification. English-medium applicants need IELTS 5.0 (UG) or 5.5 (PG) or prior education in English.
  • Pakistan’s allocation is small. HEC has listed two or three nominations in recent rounds. Apply anyway; nomination is free.

Table of Contents

The Azerbaijan government scholarship for Pakistani students that appears in HEC announcements every spring is the Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant Program. Unlike many “fully funded” schemes, this one publishes a detailed official call with exact benefits, dates and criteria. This guide is built from that call for 2026-27, published by Azerbaijan’s Study in Azerbaijan portal, and from HEC’s own pages.

If you are looking at the Azerbaijan government scholarship for Pakistani students, the two things to understand first are that it is two-stage and that Pakistan’s allocation is small. Both shape how you should apply.

What the scholarship is

The program was established by presidential decree on 8 July 2023 and is offered annually for five years, funding 100 international students a year at preparatory, undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and general medicine or medical residency levels, per the official call. It is run jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science and Education.

Who is eligible

Citizens of OIC member states, Non-Aligned Movement states, Small Island Developing States, and countries with cultural and historical ties to Azerbaijan, per the call. Pakistan qualifies through the OIC. Age limits as of 15 September 2026:

  • undergraduate and general medicine: under 35
  • graduate and medical residency: under 40
  • doctoral: under 45

Azerbaijani citizens and former citizens are excluded. Applicants with multiple nationalities may apply under only one.

Levels and durations funded

  • Bachelor’s: 4 to 5 years
  • General medicine: 5 to 6 years
  • Master’s: 1.5 to 2 years
  • Medical residency: 2 to 5 years
  • PhD: 3 years
  • Preparatory language courses: 6 months to 1 year

Benefits apply only for the program duration listed, per the call.

Applying for a government scholarship

What is covered

From the official call:

  1. Tuition, including language preparatory courses in the language of instruction
  2. One international economy return flight per year between the home country and Baku
  3. 800 AZN per month (about USD 470) for accommodation, daily expenses and materials, paid for 10 months a year (not July and August)
  4. 200 AZN per year (about USD 117) for medical care and medication
  5. Single-entry visa and temporary residence permit for each academic year

Coverage of this scale is confirmed by Pakistani reporting from ProPakistani and Edify Elite.

What is not covered

The call states that any expense not specified will not be covered or reimbursed. In practice that means:

  • no allowance in July and August
  • no second flight in a year
  • no family support
  • document notarisation, translation and the pre-application medical certificate are your cost

2026-27 timeline

  • 16 February to 15 April 2026 (6 PM Baku time): first-stage applications to your own government authority
  • 16 April to 1 June 2026: review by that authority
  • 1 to 10 June 2026: second-stage registration in SIACAS by nominated candidates
  • 10 June to 1 July 2026: evaluation
  • 1 July to 1 August 2026: notification of selected candidates
  • 15 September 2026: academic year starts (may vary for medical preparatory)
  • 30 September 2026: last date to arrive in Azerbaijan

All dates from the official call. Expect a similar calendar for 2027-28, with HEC advertising around February.

Stage one: HEC nomination in Pakistan

Azerbaijan does not accept direct applications at stage one. Candidates must be nominated by their own government. In Pakistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that requests for nomination come to HEC through diplomatic channels, HEC advertises and shortlists, and the shortlisted names go back to Azerbaijan; the Pakistan Embassy in Baku is not involved in selection, per the MOFA guidelines for students. HEC runs the process through its scholarship pages, including an Azerbaijan scholarship FAQ and applications through the HEC portal, per Edify Elite.

Practical points:

  • Watch hec.gov.pk and HEC’s social channels from February.
  • Submit the completed nomination form and documents to HEC by its deadline, which falls before Azerbaijan’s 15 April cut-off.
  • Nomination is free. Any “consultant fee for HEC nomination” is a private charge.
Deadlines decide who gets considered

Stage two: SIACAS registration

Nominated candidates register on the Study in Azerbaijan Centralized Admission Service at portal.edu.az between 1 and 10 June, choosing the “Heydar Aliyev – International Education Grant” admission channel and up to three specialties at different institutions, per the call. Applicants track status in their SIACAS account. Technical issues go to siacas.support@tsii.edu.az.

Two warnings in the call itself: nomination by your government does not guarantee the grant, and the Selection Committee’s decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

Documents and academic requirements

From the call:

  1. completed nomination form
  2. diplomas and transcripts, with a GPA of at least 70/100 (or 7/10) in the previous degree
  3. medical certificate including HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B and C tests, dated within three months of application
  4. valid passport copy
  5. CV
  6. proof of language proficiency
  7. motivation letter
  8. awards, if any

Documents must be in Azerbaijani, Turkish, English or Russian and notarised, in PDF, uploaded to SIACAS before 10 June, 6 PM Baku time.

Language requirements

  • English programs: IELTS 5.0 (TOEFL 40) for undergraduate, IELTS 5.5 (TOEFL 50) for postgraduate, or previous education in English
  • Russian or Turkish programs: proof of proficiency or prior education in that language
  • Azerbaijani programs: proof of English, Russian or Turkish, with a preparatory course funded

The university may test proficiency itself, per the call. Pakistani applicants whose degree was taught in English usually satisfy the English condition without IELTS, but bring a medium-of-instruction letter.

How many Pakistanis get it

The program funds 100 students globally across dozens of eligible countries. HEC’s FAQ has listed three slots for Pakistani and AJK nationals in one round, per HEC, and two (one master’s, one PhD) under a related AIDA grant, per HEC. Treat it as highly competitive and apply alongside other options.

Nomination runs through official channels

Medical applicants and PMDC

The grant funds general medicine, and Azerbaijan Medical University teaches a six-year English-medium program, per the Pakistan Embassy Baku guidelines. A scholarship does not exempt you from PM&DC: you still need 60% FSc, 50% MDCAT, free registration at srf.pmdc.pk before departure, an ECFMG-listed university and the NRE on return, per PM&DC’s policy. See our PMDC policy guide.

Other Azerbaijan scholarships

Individual universities run their own awards. Reporting in March 2026 mentioned university programs with deadlines such as 20 March, a Nailekhanim Foundation award for female students to 30 June, and merit awards to 31 August, per The Northern Post. Khazar, ADA and Western Caspian are named across sources, per e-immigration.az. Check each university’s page directly.

After selection

Selected candidates must confirm through SIACAS within the deadline or lose the place, then deliver original documents to the university in Azerbaijan and sign the scholarship agreement, per the call. The education visa is issued through Azerbaijan’s missions; the embassy in Islamabad describes the science or education visa on its visa page. After arrival, students must register with the State Migration Service within 15 days and obtain a residence permit, per the Baku guidelines.

FAQ

Is the Azerbaijan government scholarship fully funded?

It covers tuition, one return flight a year, 800 AZN a month for 10 months, 200 AZN a year for medical care, visa and residence permit. Nothing else, per the call.

Can I apply directly on SIACAS?

No. Only candidates nominated at stage one by their government can register at stage two.

Is IELTS mandatory?

Not if your previous education was in English; otherwise IELTS 5.0 or 5.5 depending on level.

When should I start?

January. HEC calls open around February and close well before Azerbaijan’s 15 April deadline.

Can I appeal a rejection?

No. The call states decisions are final.

Bottom line

The Azerbaijan government scholarship for Pakistani students is one of the best-documented awards available: the official call tells you exactly what you get and when. The catch is scale: two or three Pakistani places a year. Prepare a strong file with a 70+ GPA, notarised documents and a fresh medical certificate, watch HEC in February, and apply to other programs in parallel.