KEY POINTS
- The programme covers tuition fees, monthly stipends, and health insurance
- Application deadlines for Spring/Summer 2026 are Nov 15 and Fall 2026 are April 30
- Selected scholars must return and serve in Pakistan’s higher education sector after completing their studies
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced a new round of fully funded PhD scholarships under the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor Project, offering Pakistani students the opportunity to pursue doctoral studies at leading universities in the United States.
The initiative, aimed at enhancing academic and research capacity in Pakistan, enables students to apply for PhD programmes at Top 300 QS World-Ranked US Universities, with generous financial support covering tuition, monthly stipend, and health insurance.
Interested applicants can apply for the Spring/Summer 2026 intake by November 15, 2025, while the deadline for the Fall 2026 intake is April 30, 2026.
US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor
Launched in 2015 under the US-Pakistan Bilateral Strategic Dialogue, the Knowledge Corridor aims to send 10,000 Pakistani scholars to the US over a decade, with the goal of strengthening the higher education faculty base in Pakistan.
The project also includes training for international exams like GRE and TOEFL/IELTS under a “Talent Farming” initiative.
Scholarship Categories
According to HEC official, the scholarships are divided into two categories based on university rankings. Category I is for students admitted to the Top 50 QS World-Ranked US Universities, offering a full tuition fee waiver, monthly living stipend, and health insurance.
Category II covers those admitted to Top 300 QS World-Ranked US Universities, providing tuition support of up to USD 12,000 per annum, along with a monthly stipend and health insurance.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must hold Pakistani nationality and have completed a minimum of 16 years of education (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent).
They must have no 2nd or 3rd division in their entire academic career and should not be availing any other scholarship.
The age limit is 40 years for regular government employees, faculty members at public universities, or researchers in approved R&D organizations, and 35 years for all other applicants.
Additional Requirements include securing admission in a Top 50 QS US university along with a minimum GRE score of 300 or HAT score of 60% for Category I, and admission in a Top 300 QS US university with the same GRE or HAT score requirement for Category II.
According to HEC officials, interested candidates can submit their applications online through the HEC scholarship portal at https://scholarships.hec.gov.pk.
As part of the program’s commitment to national development, all selected scholars are required to return to Pakistan after completing their PhD and contribute to the country’s higher education sector.
