The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan is now accepting applications for fully funded PhD scholarships in the USA under the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor program. Pakistani students have a golden opportunity to pursue their PhD at top-ranked American universities, including world-renowned institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, and over 250 other US universities featured in global rankings.
What is the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor?
The US-Pak Knowledge Corridor is an initiative aimed at sending 1,000 Pakistani scholars to the United States for PhD studies, with the goal of faculty development and research enhancement in Pakistan. In its initial phase, HEC aims to sponsor 1,500 PhD scholars at top-tier US institutions.
Levels: PhD
Fields: All Fields
Offered By: Higher Education Commission HEC : (Click here to view all scholarships by this authority)
International
Merit Based
All Pakistan
31-07-2025
This project is part of a long-term vision to develop Pakistan’s human capital and strengthen higher education and research capabilities, ultimately supporting national economic growth.
Benefits of the HEC US-Pak PhD Scholarship
Successful candidates will receive a fully funded scholarship that covers:
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Full tuition fee as per the university invoice
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Monthly living stipend
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Health insurance
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Airfare
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One-time settlement allowance
Eligibility Criteria for US-Pak Knowledge Corridor PhD Scholarships
To apply for the HEC PhD scholarships in the USA, candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements:
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Must be a Pakistani or AJK national
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Must have completed MS/MPhil or a 4-year Bachelor's degree (16 years of education) from an HEC-recognized university
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Age Limit:
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Maximum 40 years for full-time faculty/researchers in public sector universities or R&D organizations
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Maximum 35 years for all other applicants
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Must have a valid GRE General and TOEFL/IELTS score as required by US universities
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Must have no more than 2 Second Divisions, no Third Division or Grade D, and at least 50% marks throughout their academic career
Additional Criteria
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Preference will be given to candidates already admitted to any of the top 235 ranked US universities or 23 US University Systems
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Academic evaluation will be based on the HEC-AEF calculator
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Candidates with a GRE General score of 308 or above are strongly encouraged to apply
How to Apply for HEC PhD Scholarship in USA?
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Applications must be submitted online through the HEC Scholarships Portal:
https://scholarships.hec.gov.pk -
A complete set of scanned and attested documents (by a Grade 17 or higher officer) should be uploaded
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No hard copies are required at this stage
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Incomplete or late applications will not be considered
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Final university admission and visa processing are the responsibility of the applicant
QS Ranking Reference & University List
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The latest QS World University Rankings will be used as a reference:
https://www.topuniversities.com -
A detailed list of eligible US universities, admission deadlines, and financial coverage is available on the HEC website:
https://www.hec.gov.pk/site/US-PAK-KCSA
Application Deadlines
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Fall 2025 Intake: 31 July 2025
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Spring/Summer 2026 Intake: 15 November 2025
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Fall 2026 Intake: 30 April 2026
