HEC Announces PhD Scholarships in the USA

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has announced PhD scholarship opportunities in the United States under the US–Pakistan Knowledge Corridor Project. The programme aims to support Pakistani students seeking doctoral education at leading US universities ranked among the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings.

The scholarships offer financial support for tuition fees, living expenses, and health insurance, with funding limits varying according to the ranking category of the selected university.

Scholarship Categories and Financial Support

1. Top 50 QS-Ranked Universities

Students admitted to universities ranked among the top 50 are eligible for the following financial support, as stated in the HEC announcement:

• Tuition fees: Full tuition fee coverage

• Annual stipend: USD 19,000

• Health insurance: USD 2,000

2. Universities Ranked 51–100

For universities ranked between 51 and 100, the announced support includes:

• Tuition fees: Up to USD 12,000 per year

• Living expenses: Stipend support

• Health insurance: Financial support

The exact stipend and insurance limits for the second category should be confirmed through the official HEC scholarship guidelines.

Application Deadlines

HEC has listed two application deadlines for the 2027 intakes:

Intake	Application deadline
Spring/Summer 2027	October 30, 2026
Fall 2027	March 30, 2027

Applicants should check the official portal for the application status, eligibility requirements and any intake-specific conditions before submitting their applications.

How to Apply

Interested candidates can visit the official HEC scholarship portal to review the details and submit an application.

Official application portal: https://scholarship.hec.gov.pk

HEC programme information: https://www.hec.gov.pk/site/US-PAK-KC

Applicants should carefully review the eligibility criteria, required academic qualifications, university-ranking requirements and supporting documents listed by HEC. Admission requirements and application procedures may vary by university and doctoral programme.

Important Information for Applicants

Candidates planning to pursue a PhD in the United States should begin preparing early. They should identify suitable universities and research programmes, review admission and English-language requirements, and prepare their academic transcripts, research proposal and other required documents.

The scholarship's financial coverage depends on the university's ranking category and the applicable HEC rules. Applicants should therefore confirm the complete funding package, eligibility conditions and application procedure from the official HEC sources before making financial or admission decisions.

Eligible students are encouraged to review the programme details and apply before the relevant deadline.

Eligibility Criteria

According to HEC's published programme guidance, applicants generally need to meet the following requirements:

• Be a Pakistani or Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) national.

• Hold at least a four-year bachelor's degree or equivalent, representing 16 years of formal education.

• Meet the applicable academic record requirements.

• Have a valid GRE General score of at least 300 or an HEC HAT score of at least 60%.

• Be no older than 35 years at the application deadline, or 40 years for eligible government employees, public-sector university and government college faculty, and researchers in approved R&D organisations.

• Secure admission to a qualifying US university and satisfy the scholarship category requirements.

Applicants who already hold a PhD or are receiving another scholarship may be ineligible. Candidates should verify the requirements for the current intake on HEC's official pages, as the detailed eligibility rules may differ from earlier programme cycles.