Scholarship Overview
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has introduced PhD scholarship opportunities under the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor Project for the 2027 academic year. Designed for Pakistani and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) candidates, this initiative provides financial aid for doctoral studies at United States universities ranked among the top 100 in the overall QS World University Rankings. Funding is strictly designated for PhD programs and does not extend to standalone master's degrees, MS courses, or joint MS-to-PhD programs. Preferred fields of research include Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Social Sciences and Management, and Arts and Humanities.
Benefits
Financial assistance depends on the ranking category of the host US university:
- Top 50 QS Universities: Recipients receive complete tuition coverage, an annual living stipend of $19,000, and up to $2,000 in health insurance support.
- Universities Ranked 51 to 100: Scholars receive up to $12,000 per year for tuition fees, alongside a stipend and health insurance support.
Who Can Apply
- Nationality: Open to Pakistani and AJK citizens.
- Academic Qualifications: Applicants must hold a 4-year bachelor's degree (such as a BS, BSc, or BE) representing at least 16 years of formal education from a recognized institution. Candidates must have no second or third divisions throughout their entire educational history.
- Age Limits: General applicants must be 35 years old or younger. A higher age limit of 40 applies to regular government employees, public college or university faculty members, and researchers at approved R&D organizations.
- Testing Requirements: Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 300 on the GRE General Test or at least 60% on the Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT). HEC does not enforce IELTS or TOEFL, though individual host universities might require them.
- Ineligibility: Individuals who already hold a PhD or are currently receiving another scholarship cannot apply. Admission to an eligible US university must be secured.
How to Apply
- Register on the official HEC online portal using a CNIC number (without dashes), a valid email address, and a mobile number.
- Complete your profile and locate the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor application form under the Scholarships and Grants section.
- Enter details regarding academic background, research experience, and proposed doctoral studies.
- Submit scanned copies of application forms and supporting credentials (degrees, transcripts, CNIC, domicile, passport details, test results, and admission offer) via the specified scholarship email procedure. Hard copies are not required during initial submission.
- Application Deadlines: Submit by October 30, 2026, for the Spring/Summer 2027 intake, or by March 30, 2027, for the Fall 2027 intake.
Source: fully funded scholarships 2026 - BingNews · Published October 13, 2026 · Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash
Always confirm deadlines and eligibility on the official scholarship website.