ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has announced applications for PhD scholarships for 2027 admissions under the US–Pakistan Knowledge Corridor Program. The scholarships are available to Pakistani and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) nationals seeking admission to PhD programs at top 100 QS-ranked universities in the United States.
According to the HEC announcement, the scholarship is **exclusively for PhD programs** and does not cover Master’s, MS, or MS-leading-to-PhD degrees. Applicants are encouraged to secure admission in HEC’s preferred subject areas before applying for the scholarship.
Scholarship Categories
The scholarships are offered under two categories based on the QS World University Rankings of U.S. institutions.
Category I: Top 50 QS-Ranked U.S. Universities
Applicants who secure admission to a U.S. university ranked among the **top 50** in the QS World University Rankings will be eligible for:
* Full tuition fee as per the university’s invoice.
* Annual living stipend of **USD 19,200**.
* Annual health insurance support of **USD 2,000**.
To qualify, applicants must have confirmed admission to a top 50 QS-ranked U.S. university and either:
* A minimum **GRE General Test score of 300, or
* A minimum **60% score in the HEC Higher Aptitude Test (HAT).
Category II: QS-Ranked U.S. Universities (51–100)
Applicants admitted to U.S. universities ranked between **51 and 100** may receive:
* Tuition fee support of up to **USD 12,000 per year**.
* Annual living stipend of **USD 19,200**.
* Annual health insurance support of **USD 2,000**.
Applicants must also have confirmed admission to an eligible university and meet one of the following test requirements:
* A minimum **GRE General Test score of 300**, or
* A minimum **60% score in the HEC HAT**.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must satisfy the following requirements:
* Be a Pakistani or AJK national.
* Hold a minimum **16 years of education**, including a four-year bachelor’s degree (BS, BSc, BE, or equivalent).
* Have **no second or third division** throughout their academic career.
* Be **40 years or younger** on the application closing date if they are regular government employees, public-sector university or college faculty members, or researchers in approved R&D organizations.
* Be **35 years or younger** for all other applicants.
* Not be receiving any other scholarship at the time of application.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted online through the **HEC Scholarship Portal**. Applicants are also advised to review the official HEC guidelines for complete information on preferred subject areas, eligibility criteria, required documents, and application procedures.
HEC has further encouraged applicants to seek funding from their chosen universities wherever possible, as any tuition fee not covered by the scholarship may have to be financed by the student.
The US–Pakistan Knowledge Corridor Program aims to increase the number of highly qualified Pakistani researchers and academics by facilitating doctoral studies at leading U.S. universities, thereby strengthening higher education and research capacity in Pakistan.
