Applications Open for PHD Scholarship Program for US Universities

The US-Pakistan knowledge Corridor, established by Pakistan and the United States is giving opportunities to Ph.D. students to pursue their education in top-ranked universities in the United States. The last date to apply is 31 December 2017.

The scholars will get scholarships which include monthly living allowance, health insurance, initial settlement allowance and return airfare will be included. However, the scholarship does not include the tuition fee.

Details

Pakistani citizens/nationals with strong academic histories, committed to returning and serving Pakistan are welcome to apply.

Applicants are especially encouraged in these priority fields defined on national need basis: the broad categories are Arts & Humanities; Design & Media; Water Resources & Energy, Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Business Sciences, Agriculture & Food security, Veterinary Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Emerging Technology, Nano-Technology, Computers, Medical & Allied Health Sciences, Bio-Technology, Telecommunications, Human-made Materials, Robotics, Microelectronics.

Eligibility Criteria

• Be Pakistani citizen/national/AJK nationals who meet other criteria
• Have MS, M Phil or equivalent degree (18 years of formal education) from an accredited university/institution approved by Higher Education Commission, prior to this program, relating to selected fields for the Ph.D. Degree Program
• Have a maximum age of 40 for regular faculty members and researchers of public sector universities/R&D organizations, subject to NOC issuance and for all others maximum age of 35 at the time of closing date of application submission
• Have an active written commitment to serve the universities/R&D organizations in Pakistan after the completion of studies under the scheme. All selected applicants are required to sign a bond to return back and work in Pakistan for a minimum of five years upon completion of degree program

Academic Criteria

• The scholars who have already secured admission or enrolled in the Ph.D. program in QS ranked US universities (Overall Ranking), in the above fields may also apply for the scholarship. Preference will be given to those applicants who have obtained tuition fee waivers from ranked US universities
• Have acquired the valid GRE/GMAT/GRE Subject & TOEFL scores required for admission in US universities. Under the new scoring system, minimum scores of 138 in the verbal and 136 in the quantitative sections are required. However higher scores will be required than the minimum threshold for admission in top QS ranked US universities
• Academic merit based on HEC-AEF calculator will also be applicable
• The percentage weight is 30% GRE; 30% HEC-AEF; 40% Tuition fee waiver
• Have maximum 2 Second Divisions throughout the academic career
• Have no 3rd Division or grade D in his/her career
• Not less than 50% marks in academic career

Important Things To Note

The grant will be offered for a maximum period of 5 years on the basis of academic merit, & US university acceptance letter. The grant will not cover the tuition fee. HEC reserves the right to postpone or cancel the grant at any stage.

Please note that HEC attested documents are not required with the application. Only send the print of online application form, duly signed before the deadline, at the HEC address given in the advertisement. A hard copy of the pre-requisite documents will be required after initial shortlisting & PMU HEC will intimate successful candidates accordingly.

Plagiarism in an application can lead to disqualification at any stage of the program.

How to Apply

To Login, visit here.

1. New User Registration
   To create a profile for first time user, fill in the available form on the link mentioned above.

Click on ‘Register’ for new users and follow the steps stated below:

• You will be required to create a user ID by using your CNIC (without dashes) as User ID and select your password.

• Create an Account and fill the required information available on the screen.
• Click and obtain ‘Mobile Code’ on your provided mobile no. for further process. (Currently, MNC / Ported numbers are not supported)
• After receiving a code on your mobile enter the code.
• Enter your email ID and click Send Code. You will receive a code on your provided email.
• Please enter a valid email ID.
• Perform code verification and click on submit.
• You will be registered successfully. Please check your email for further information.
• You will be required enter your created ‘User ID’ & ‘Password’ then ‘Sign in’ on HEC E-portal.
• Complete online profile section wise at eportal.hec.gov.pk
• Click ‘Scholarships and Grants’ on left and then ‘US-PAK Knowledge Corridor Application’.
• Now follow instructions, fill and submit the form successfully.

​ ​     2. ‘Sign In’ for applicants who already have Common Profile at HEC E Portal:

• If you already created user ID at eportal.hec.gov.pk, then click & enter User ID and password and ‘Sign in’ and proceed further for the scholarship by Clicking ‘Scholarships and Grants’ on left ‘Navigation’ and then ‘US-PAK Knowledge Corridor Application’.
• Now follow instructions, fill and submit the form successfully.

General Instructions

Please fill out the application form according to the following instructions:

• Questions must be answered completely and carefully. Please make every effort to limit your responses to the space provided
• Before you begin this application, you should make sure that you are aware of all deadline dates and requirements
• If you do not hold a valid Pakistani passport, apply for one immediately after initial shortlisting
• All successful candidates will be required to sign a contract /bond with HEC that binds them to return to Pakistan immediately after their program completion in the U.S. and serve the country for the number of year’s specified in the agreement. As long as a person fulfills the service requirement, he or she will pay nothing, otherwise, a grantee will be legally liable for the cost of his or her scholarship program in the U.S. No grantee will be required to pay anything as long as they fulfill their contractual/ bond obligation

List of top ranked universities in US can be viewed here.