The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has announced a new scholarship program for students seeking PhD admission in top-ranked universities in the United States. The opportunity is offered under the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor initiative for the 2027 academic intake.
According to HEC, the scholarship is available for Pakistani and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) nationals. Applicants must secure admission to an eligible US university before applying for financial support.
The program is limited to PhD studies only. It does not cover Master’s degrees or MS programs that lead to a PhD.
HEC said applicants must gain admission to one of the top 100 universities in the United States listed in the QS World University Rankings. The amount of financial support will depend on the university’s ranking.
Students admitted to universities ranked among the top 50 in the QS rankings will receive full tuition fee coverage based on the university’s invoice. They will also receive an annual living stipend of $19,200.
In addition, these students will receive health insurance support worth $2,000 per year during their studies.
Applicants admitted to universities ranked between 51 and 100 will also receive financial assistance. HEC will provide tuition support of up to $12,000 per year.
These students will also receive the same annual stipend of $19,200 and health insurance worth $2,000 each year.
HEC has also announced the eligibility criteria for the scholarship program. Applicants must be Pakistani or AJK nationals and hold at least a four-year bachelor’s degree or 16 years of education.
Candidates must also have maintained at least a second or third division throughout their academic career, depending on the scholarship category.
The age limit is different for various applicants. Government employees, faculty members of public-sector universities, and employees of approved public-sector research organizations can apply up to the age of 40 years.
For all other applicants, the maximum age limit is 35 years.
HEC also stated that applicants must not be receiving any other scholarship at the time of application. Securing admission to a qualifying US university is mandatory before applying through the HEC portal.
Applications must be submitted online through the official HEC scholarship portal. The commission also advised students to arrange additional funding if required, as the scholarship may not cover all study-related expenses.
The application deadline for the Spring and Summer 2027 intake is October 30, 2026. For the Fall 2027 intake, applications must be submitted by March 30, 2027.
In other news read more about KP Revives Ehsaas Scholarship Program to Support Deserving University Students
The latest scholarship initiative aims to help talented Pakistani students pursue advanced education at internationally recognized universities. HEC says the program is designed to strengthen research, academic collaboration, and higher education opportunities between Pakistan and the United States.
