HEC US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor PhD Scholarship 2027
By Faham Baloch · October 26, 2026 · 4 min read
The HEC US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor PhD Scholarship pays for a PhD at a top-100 QS-ranked university in the United States. For a Spring/Summer 2027 start, the last date is October 30, 2026. For Fall 2027, it is March 30, 2027.
This scholarship works differently from most. You need a confirmed US PhD admission first, and then HEC funds it. Below are the eligibility rules, both funding categories, and how to apply, all taken from HEC's Knowledge Corridor pages.
Global Career Hub has no link to HEC. Apply only at scholarship.hec.gov.pk.
At a glance
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Offered by | Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan |
| Level | Full PhD in the USA (up to 5 years) |
| Deadlines | October 30, 2026 (Spring/Summer 2027) · March 30, 2027 (Fall 2027) |
| Who can apply | Pakistani/AJK nationals with 16 years of education and an admission at a QS top-100 US university |
| Test | GRE General 300+ or HEC HAT 60%+ |
| Funding | Tuition (full or up to USD 12,000/yr), USD 19,200/yr stipend, health insurance up to USD 2,000/yr, PKR 250,000 return airfare |
Who can apply
HEC lists these general conditions:
- Pakistani or AJK national
- At least a four-year bachelor's degree (BS/BSc/BE or 16 years of formal education). HEC's FAQ says a master's is usually not required.
- No more than one second division (or equivalent) in your whole academic record
- Maximum age on the closing date: 40 for regular government employees, regular faculty of public universities and government colleges, and regular researchers at approved R&D organizations. 35 for everyone else.
- Not holding any other scholarship, and no PhD already
HEC also asks all applicants to commit to serving in Pakistan after their studies. The FAQ says only a J-1 visa is accepted. TOEFL or IELTS is not an HEC requirement, though your US university may still ask for one.
The two funding categories
| Category I: QS 1–50 US universities | Category II: QS 51–100 US universities | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Fully funded | Up to USD 12,000 per year |
| Stipend | USD 19,200 per year | USD 19,200 per year |
| Health insurance | USD 2,000/yr or actual, whichever is lower | USD 2,000/yr or actual, whichever is lower |
| Return airfare | PKR 250,000 | PKR 250,000 |
| Test | GRE 300+ or HAT 60%+ | GRE 300+ or HAT 60%+ |
The rankings are overall QS World University Rankings, and HEC publishes the list on its site. Many US universities charge more than USD 12,000 a year in tuition, so Category II students may need extra funding from their university to cover the rest. The GRE/HAT score is a scholarship rule. Your university admission does not waive it.
Documents for the Provisional Award Letter
HEC's FAQ lists the minimum documents for a Provisional Award Letter (PAL):
- Confirmed admission letter
- GRE score of 300+ or HEC-HAT of 60%+
- All academic documents, attested by a gazetted officer
- CNIC, domicile and passport copies, attested
- Email contacts of the graduate school and your advisor/supervisor
- Employment or experience certificate, where needed
How to apply
- Register at scholarship.hec.gov.pk using your CNIC (without dashes) as your user ID, then verify your mobile number and email.
- Complete your profile section by section.
- Go to Scholarships and Grants → US-PAK Knowledge Corridor Application, then fill in and submit the form.
- Email scanned copies of the application and documents (attested by a Grade-17 or higher officer) to pmu@hec.gov.pk, as HEC's How to Apply page instructs.
- Download the filled form for your record. Hard copies and HEC-attested documents are asked for only later, from shortlisted candidates.
HEC's FAQ says that if you applied in an earlier round, you must apply again.
Don't have an admission yet?
Then 30 October is not your deadline. Aim for the Fall 2027 cut-off of 30 March 2027. Use the coming months to apply to US PhD programmes (many close in December–January), take the GRE or HAT, and write a strong statement of purpose. Our scholarship document file guide shows how to get your papers ready.
Already in a Pakistani PhD? HEC's six-month IRSIP research visit also closes on 30 October.
Official links
- Knowledge Corridor introduction (HEC)
- Eligibility criteria
- How to apply
- FAQs (deadlines and funding)
Last checked on HEC's website: 26 October 2026.