Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan has announced a great scholarship program for Pakistani and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) citizens to study in Masters, MS/MPhil and PhD programs at top universities of the world.
The scholarships are being provided in the course of the Overseas Scholarships for MS/MPhil & PhD Studies, Phase-III, Batch-IV. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to study at universities which are amongst the top 200 universities in the QS World University Rankings or The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.
The deadline for online application submission is 28 August 2026 at 4 pm.
Study at Top 200 Universities Worldwide
Selected candidates can be assigned to any of the universities under the Top 200 list of the universities from any of the following countries under the HEC overseas scholarship programme:
- QS World University Rankings
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
During the online application process, applicants will have to make their choice of the foreign Universities they prefer or foreign countries.
The selected University should however fulfill the ranking criteria set by HEC and HEC may change the allocation of candidates to another eligible University or country as per its need.
Priority Thematic Areas
Only academic and research fields will be awarded the scholarships. These include:
- Digital Transformation and Emerging Technologies
- Energy, Climate Change and Environment
- Agriculture, Food Security and Agri-Tech
- Health, Biotechnology and Life Sciences
- Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing
- Natural and Physical Sciences
- Social Sciences, Business and Governance
- Interdisciplinary and Strategic Areas
Applicants are advised to make sure that the field they wish to apply for is within the approved thematic areas.
Eligibility Criteria for PhD Scholarships
The overseas PhD scholarship candidates are required to meet the required academic and nationality criteria.
Educational Qualification
Applicants should be Pakistani or AJK nationals with at least 18 years education (bachelor) normal.
- MS degree
- MPhil degree
- Equivalent qualification
Candidates with a 17-year foreign qualification from MS/MSc can also be considered but need to gain equivalence from the relevant HEC division.
Academic Requirements
Applicants must have:
- At least 3.0 CGPA out of 4.0 under the semester system, or
- First division under the annual examination system
A maximum of one second division or equivalent grade is allowed during the applicant’s academic career before the terminal degree.
Age Limit for PhD Applicants
The maximum age limit is:
- 40 years for employees of public-sector universities, colleges, R&D organizations, government and semi-government organizations
- 35 years for all other applicants
Eligibility Criteria for MS/MPhil Scholarships
This programme also offers scholarships to students from abroad who wish to study for an MS or MPhil.
Educational Qualification
The candidates must be a Pakistani/AJK national who has successfully completed 16 years of education or more in relevant field.
Eligible qualifications may include:
- BS degree
- BE degree
- Master’s degree
- Equivalent qualification
Academic Requirements
Candidates must have:
- A minimum 3.0 CGPA out of 4.0, or
- First division under the annual system
Age Limit for MS/MPhil Applicants
The maximum age limit is:
- 35 years for eligible employees of public-sector universities, government, semi-government, and R&D organizations
- 30 years for all other applicants
HAT Test and Selection Process
Selection under the HEC Overseas Scholarships program will be made on merit.
The selection process will consider:
- HEC Aptitude Test (HAT) scores
- Interview performance
- Applicable provincial quotas approved by the Government of Pakistan
- Other requirements and conditions prescribed by HEC
Applicants should provide accurate information, as incorrect or incomplete details may affect their eligibility.
Important Application Deadline
Last Date to Apply: August 28, 2026
Application Closing Time: 4:00 PM
In order to give a chance to the deserving students of Pakistan and AJK nationals to study higher education at some of the top Universities in the world, HEC has announced overseas Scholarship Schemes for MS/MPhil & PhD Studies, Phase-III, Batch-IV.
The programme provides opportunities for talented students and researchers to gain international academic experience through placements with institutions that are among the Top 200 in the QS or Times Higher Education rankings.
Interested applicants are requested to carefully read the guidelines and submit their application online before August 28, 2026 before 4 PM.
