HEC Announces Scholarships in Top 100 US Universities

The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, has announced PhD scholarships for 2027 admissions under the US–Pakistan Knowledge Corridor Program. The scholarships are available for Pakistani and AJK nationals who wish to continue PhD studies in top 100 QS World Ranked US universities.

According to the official advertisement, this scholarship is only for PhD programs. It does not cover Master’s, MS, or MS leading to PhD programs. Applicants are encouraged to secure admission in preferred subject areas mentioned by HEC before applying.

Scholarship Categories

The scholarship has been divided into two categories based on the overall QS World Ranking of U.S. universities.

Category I: Top 50 QS World Ranked U.S. Universities

Applicants who secure admission in a U.S. university ranked among the top 50 QS World Ranked U.S. universities may receive the following benefits:

• Tuition fee as per university invoice
• Annual stipend of USD 19,200
• Health insurance support of USD 2,000 per annum

To apply under this category, the applicant must have secured admission in a top 50 QS World Ranked U.S. university. The applicant must also have a valid GRE General score of minimum 300 in total or an HEC HAT score of minimum 60%.

Category II: 51–100 QS World Ranked US Universities

Applicants who secure admission in a US university ranked from 51 to 100 in the QS World Ranking may receive the following benefits:

• Tuition fee support of up to USD 12,000 per annum
• Annual stipend of USD 19,200
• Health insurance support of USD 2,000 per annum

For this category, applicants must have secured admission in a US university ranked from 51 to 100. They must also have a valid GRE General score of minimum 300 in total or an HEC HAT score of minimum 60%.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must fulfill the following general eligibility conditions:

• The applicant must be a Pakistani or AJK national.
• The applicant must have a minimum four-year bachelor’s degree such as BS, BSc, BE, or equivalent 16 years of formal education.
• The applicant must not have any 2nd or 3rd division in the entire academic career for Category I and Category II scholarships.
• The maximum age limit on the closing date is 40 years for regular government employees, regular faculty members of public sector universities or government colleges, and regular researchers of approved R&D organizations.
• The maximum age limit on the closing date is 35 years for all other applicants.
• The applicant must not be availing any other scholarship.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online through the HEC scholarship portal. Applicants should also visit the official HEC website for complete details, preferred subject areas, eligibility requirements, and application instructions.

The advertisement also advises applicants to secure university funding where possible, because any difference in tuition or funding may need to be managed by the applicant.

For more latest scholarship opportunities, students can also visit our Scholarships section and check other fully funded and partially funded programs for national and international admissions.