The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has announced applications for the US–Pakistan Knowledge Corridor PhD Scholarship Program 2027, offering Pakistani and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) nationals the opportunity to pursue doctoral studies at some of the world’s leading universities in the United States. The initiative aims to strengthen Pakistan’s research capacity by supporting students admitted to top-ranked U.S. institutions.
The scholarship is exclusively available for PhD programs and does not cover Master’s, MS, or MS leading to PhD degrees. Applicants are encouraged to first secure admission in one of the preferred academic disciplines identified by HEC before submitting their scholarship applications. The program is specifically designed for students admitted to U.S. universities ranked among the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings.
HEC has divided the scholarship into two categories based on the QS rankings of U.S. universities. Category I is for students admitted to universities ranked among the Top 50. Successful applicants under this category will receive full tuition coverage according to the university invoice, an annual living stipend of USD 19,200, and USD 2,000 per year for health insurance. Applicants must have secured admission in a Top 50 university and possess either a minimum GRE General score of 300 or an HEC HAT score of at least 60 percent.
Category II is reserved for students admitted to universities ranked between 51 and 100 in the QS rankings. Under this category, HEC will provide tuition support of up to USD 12,000 per year, along with the same annual stipend of USD 19,200 and USD 2,000 for health insurance. Applicants must also meet the minimum GRE or HAT score requirements and obtain admission to an eligible university before applying.
To qualify for the scholarship, candidates must be Pakistani or AJK nationals and hold a minimum 16 years of education, such as a BS, BSc, BE, or an equivalent four-year bachelor’s degree. Applicants are not allowed to have any second or third division throughout their academic career. The maximum age limit is 40 years for regular government employees, faculty members of public-sector universities or government colleges, and approved R&D researchers, while all other applicants must be 35 years or younger. Candidates currently receiving another scholarship are not eligible to apply.
Interested applicants must submit their applications through the HEC online scholarship portal and carefully review the official guidelines regarding preferred subject areas, eligibility requirements, and required documents. HEC has also advised students to seek additional university funding wherever possible, as any tuition costs beyond the scholarship limits may need to be covered by the applicant. The scholarship offers a valuable opportunity for talented Pakistani students to pursue advanced research at globally recognized U.S. universities.
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