IBA Talent Hunt Program 2026-27: Who Qualifies and How to Apply

The IBA National Talent Hunt Program (NTHP) is a free, three-week orientation at IBA Karachi that prepares bright students from families with financial need for IBA's undergraduate aptitude test. Applications for the next cycle are open now: if you scored 80% or more in Matric in 2026 and are in first-year Intermediate, the first-stage form closes on 1 February 2027. A separate online cycle for students now in second year closes on 15 December 2026.

NTHP is not a degree and not a scholarship by itself. It is a route in: students who complete it can sit the IBA Aptitude Test with the test fee waived, and a limited number who pass are chosen for NTHP scholarships. We checked every date and rule below on IBA's official NTHP website on 21 October 2026. Some dates differ between IBA's own pages, and we point those out. IBA's pages are the final word, so confirm there before you apply.

Who can apply

IBA's NTHP FAQs set these conditions:

• At least 80% marks in Matric (SSC-II) from any board in Pakistan.
• Financial need. Your family's income is assessed from the documents you submit.
• Any academic group. FSc, ICS, I.Com and FA students can all apply, though each IBA degree has its own admission rules.

You are not eligible if you have already attended an orientation programme run by any university or NGO, or if your documents are incomplete or forged. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee selection; IBA selects on marks and financial need.

The two cycles open now

NTHP runs in cycles named after the IBA admission year they lead to. Two are open at the same time.

Cycle for Fall 2028 admission (students now in first-year Intermediate). This is the main in-person programme at IBA's main campus in Karachi. It is for students who passed Matric in 2026 with 80% or more and will appear in HSSC-I in 2027. Three sponsors fund places, each with its own eligibility:

The sponsor pages give this timetable:

IBA's home page gives 7 October rather than 5 October as the opening date, and the Stage 2 window opens before the Stage 1 results are due. If you are selected, follow the dates in IBA's emails.

Cycle for Fall 2027 admission (students now in second-year Intermediate). This one is funded by OGDC and taught online, for students from the same OGDC districts listed above. Its page says the form is open from 1 October to 15 December 2026, selected students are told by email between 16 December 2026 and 1 February 2027, and online classes run from 15 February to 5 March 2027. The same page asks for 80% in HSSC-I in 2026, while the FAQs describe the 80% rule in terms of Matric, so check with the NTHP office which marks apply to you.

What the programme gives you

According to IBA's NTHP pages, selected students get:

• Classes in English grammar and composition and in mathematics, with group work and practice exercises.
• Preparation for the IBA Aptitude Test, mock exams and feedback from trainers.
• Academic coaching and counselling.
• A waiver of the IBA undergraduate aptitude test fee for one test round in the matching admission cycle.

The training is free. IBA's FAQs say that where accommodation is provided, the details come in separate joining instructions and cover only the orientation period. The pages we read do not say whether travel to Karachi is paid, so ask the NTHP office before you plan the trip. Attendance of at least 90% is required.

Does NTHP lead to a scholarship?

It can, but nothing is guaranteed. After the orientation you take the IBA Aptitude Test like any other applicant and must meet IBA's admission rules. IBA says a limited number of NTHP scholarships go to eligible candidates who pass the test after the orientation, chosen by a scholarship committee. Taking part in NTHP does not guarantee admission, a scholarship or other financial aid. Our IBA NTHP page keeps the key details together.

Documents you will need

You apply online at IBA's NTHP portal (talenthunt.iba.edu.pk, linked from nthp.iba.edu.pk), after creating an account. For the detailed Stage 2 form, IBA asks for:

• Matric marksheet (required)
• HSSC-I enrolment or admit card (required)
• Your CNIC or B-Form, and your parent's or guardian's CNIC
• Salary slip and income certificate. IBA does not accept an income affidavit. Salaried parents give an original salary slip; business owners give their FBR income tax return
• FBR income tax return (required)
• Your birth certificate and your domicile, or your father's domicile

If your HSSC-I result is not out yet, the FAQs say you can apply with your admit card. Give honest figures: IBA says false or misleading information can lead to disqualification. Our paperwork checklist helps a family collect CNICs, B-Forms and income papers in one place.

It is free: never pay anyone

NTHP is free to apply for and free to attend. Apply only through IBA's own NTHP website, and ask questions directly: nthp@iba.edu.pk, or (+92) 21-3810-4700, extensions 2558, 2310, 2318 or 2322. Nobody should pay an agent, an academy or a "processing fee" to get an NTHP place. IBA sends updates by email, so ask your child to check the spam folder too. Our guide to avoiding scholarship scams lists the warning signs.

Apply for other programmes too

NTHP leads only to IBA, so it is sensible to keep other doors open. Students in first-year Intermediate with 80% in Matric can also apply to the LUMS National Outreach Programme, whose application closes on 23 February 2027; our LUMS NOP article explains it. Habib University's Equal Opportunity Program and the HEC Need-Based Scholarship are other options once your child is applying to university. Our deadlines calendar shows what closes when.

Your next step

If your child scored 80% or more in Matric this year and your family needs support, fill in the one-page Stage 1 form now rather than waiting for the last week before 1 February 2027, and start collecting the salary slip or FBR return today. Always confirm the dates on nthp.iba.edu.pk before you apply.