ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission has invited applications for PhD scholarships at the world’s top 100 QS-ranked universities in the United States under the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor programme.
The scholarships are available to eligible Pakistani and Azad Jammu and Kashmir nationals seeking direct admission to PhD programmes for the Spring, Summer or Fall 2027 intakes.
Applicants must first secure admission to an eligible US university before applying for financial support through HEC’s online scholarship portal.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must be Pakistani or AJK nationals and hold at least a four-year bachelor’s degree, such as a BS, BSc, BE or another qualification equivalent to 16 years of education.
Candidates must not have obtained a second or third division during their academic career and must not be receiving another scholarship at the same time.
The maximum age limit is 35 years for general applicants.
The limit is extended to 40 years for regular government employees, faculty members of public-sector universities and researchers working in approved research and development organisations.
Candidates who already hold a PhD are not eligible.
Category I: Top 50 QS-Ranked US Universities
Applicants seeking a Category I scholarship must have secured admission to a US university ranked among the world’s top 50 in the latest applicable QS World University Rankings.
They must also possess either:
- A minimum GRE General score of 300, or
- A minimum 60% score in the HEC HAT
Under this category, HEC provides:
- Tuition fees according to the university’s actual invoice
- An annual living stipend of $19,200
- Health insurance support of up to $2,000 per year
HEC’s eligibility page confirms that admission to an eligible university and the required GRE or HAT score are mandatory for both scholarship categories.
Category II: Universities Ranked 51–100
Category II is available to candidates admitted to US universities placed between 51 and 100 in the applicable QS World University Rankings.
Applicants must also have a minimum GRE General score of 300 or an HEC HAT score of at least 60%.
Financial support under this category includes:
- Tuition fee assistance of up to $12,000 annually
- An annual stipend of $19,200
- Health insurance support of up to $2,000 per year
Applicants admitted under Category II may need to secure additional university funding if their tuition fee exceeds HEC’s annual limit.
Application Deadlines
HEC has announced separate deadlines for the 2027 admission cycles:
- Spring/Summer 2027: October 30, 2026
- Fall 2027: March 30, 2027
The deadlines were also published through HEC’s official social media announcement for 2027 admissions.
Important Conditions
The scholarship is available only for direct PhD admission and does not cover master’s or MS-leading-to-PhD programmes.
Applications must be submitted online through the HEC scholarship portal. Applicants are required to commit to returning and serving in Pakistan after completing their studies.
HEC says funding may be provided for a maximum period of five years. Attested academic documents are generally requested from shortlisted candidates rather than at the initial application stage.
Candidates should carefully check the latest QS ranking, obtain an eligible university admission offer and prepare their GRE or HAT results before submitting an application.
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