HEC IRSIP Batch 60: 6-Month PhD Research Abroad (Apply by 30 Oct)
By Faham Baloch · October 26, 2026 · 4 min read
If you are a full-time PhD student at a Pakistani university, HEC will pay for six months of research abroad through its International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP). Applications for Batch 60 are open on the HEC scholarship portal from October 1 to October 30, 2026.
That leaves only a few days. This guide covers the eligibility rules, the exact fellowship package HEC publishes, the documents you need, and the mistakes that get applications thrown out. Everything here comes from HEC's own IRSIP pages.
Global Career Hub has no link to HEC. Apply only at scholarship.hec.gov.pk.
IRSIP Batch 60 at a glance
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Offered by | Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan |
| What it is | Six-month research fellowship at a foreign university, during your Pakistani PhD |
| Application window | October 1 – October 30, 2026 |
| Who can apply | Pakistani/AJK full-time PhD students, enrolled between Spring 2023 and Spring 2025 |
| Funding | Return airfare up to USD 1,300, monthly living allowance (e.g. USD 1,500 in USA, £750 in UK), bench fee up to USD 3,500 or equivalent |
| Apply at | scholarship.hec.gov.pk |
Who can apply
HEC's eligibility page for IRSIP lists these conditions:
- You are a Pakistani or AJK national, enrolled as a full-time PhD student at a recognized Pakistani university.
- You have finished at least 18 credit hours of PhD coursework.
- You have at least 18 months of PhD enrolment and no more than 3.5 years in the programme when you apply.
- For Batch 60, your PhD enrolment date must fall between Spring 2023 and Spring 2025, inclusive.
- You passed the local GAT Subject Test or the university admission test when you enrolled.
- Your research topic and synopsis are approved by BASR, DASR or an equivalent university body.
- You have an official acceptance/invitation letter from a foreign university or research institute. The host must be in a developed country and highly ranked (overall or by subject) in THE or QS rankings.
- The foreign supervisor must be full-time faculty (Assistant Professor or above) and must not be the former supervisor of your local supervisor.
If you already hold another HEC scholarship, you can still apply with an NOC from your HEC dealing officer. Two students with the same local supervisor need different foreign supervisors or different universities.
What the fellowship pays (HEC package)
Travel: one economy return airfare, up to USD 1,300. HEC arranges the ticket.
Monthly living allowance:
| Country | Per month |
|---|---|
| UK | £750 |
| Austria, Germany, Netherlands | €975 |
| Rest of Europe | €900 |
| USA | $1,500 |
| Korea, China, Malaysia | $800 |
| Rest of world | $1,200 |
Bench fee (maximum): USD 3,500, GBP 1,750, EUR 2,550, AUD 4,100 or CAD 3,700. HEC only pays a bench fee if the amount is written in your original acceptance letter. Demands made after selection are not accepted, and HEC says a bench-fee waiver is appreciated.
HEC's FAQ adds that it does not pay visa fees or health insurance. The six-month stipend is paid in advance by crossed cheque, but only after your visa is endorsed.
Documents you need
- Acceptance/invitation letter(s) on official letterhead, in order of preference
- HEC proforma filled and signed by the foreign supervisor, plus their CV
- BASR/DASR approval of your topic and synopsis, and the complete synopsis
- Recommendation letter from your local supervisor (signed and stamped), plus their CV
- NOC from your HEC officer (if you hold another HEC scholarship) and from your employer/department (if employed or on study leave)
- Your CV and a passport copy (or the token slip if it is still being processed)
- Academic documents from bachelor's onwards, including your PhD coursework transcript with credit hours and grades
- Your GAT Subject Test or university admission test result
The acceptance letter must come from a head of department or a senior professor or associate, not a lecturer or lab instructor. It should describe the work plan, the lab facilities, the duration in months, any bench fee, and the professor's full contact details.
Mistakes that sink applications
- Leaving the form in "Saved". HEC only considers applications showing "Submitted".
- A weak acceptance letter with no duration or work plan, or a bench fee left out.
- Enrolment outside the Spring 2023 – Spring 2025 range for this batch.
- Waiting until 30 October. HEC does not give a closing hour, so submit at least a day early.
After you apply
HEC says processing takes about 3 to 6 months. A selection committee meets quarterly. Selected scholars usually get about a month to submit a surety bond, the bench-fee invoice and university account details, and the award must be used within six months. Scholars must return and finish their PhD at their parent university. A student can get IRSIP only once.
Related HEC options
If you want a full PhD abroad rather than a six-month visit, read our guide to the HEC US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor PhD scholarship, which also closes on 30 October for Spring/Summer 2027. Our official scholarship map lists other national schemes.
Official links
Last checked on HEC's website: 26 October 2026.