Fully Funded US PhD via HEC Knowledge Corridor

Higher Education Commission HEC of Pakistan has opened applications for its fully funded PhD scholarships under the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor initiative. This program provides an excellent chance for talented Pakistani students to pursue doctoral degrees at some of the top-ranked universities in the United States, such as MIT, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and more than 250 institutions featured in global university rankings. The students can get latest updates of Study in USA on Fully Funded PhD Scholarship via HEC’s US-Pak Knowledge Corridor.

About the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor Program

This bilateral educational initiative is designed to send up to 1,000 Pakistani students to the US for PhD studies, with a long-term goal of strengthening faculty development and academic research in Pakistan. In the program’s initial rollout, HEC aims to support 1,500 PhD scholars at highly ranked institutions across the US. This strategic investment is part of Pakistan’s broader plan to enhance human capital and foster innovation through quality higher education.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

Recipients of the scholarship will be awarded full financial support, including:

100% tuition fee based on university billing

Monthly stipend for living costs

Medical insurance

Return airfare from Pakistan to the US

One-time relocation allowance upon arrival in the US

Who Can Apply? – Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered:

Be a citizen of Pakistan or Azad Jammu & Kashmir AJK

Hold either a 4-year Bachelors degree or an MS/MPhil minimum 16 years of education from an HEC-recognized institution

Age Criteria:

Up to 40 years for full-time faculty or researchers at public universities or government R&D organizations

Up to 35 years for all other candidates

Provide valid GRE General and TOEFL/IELTS scores as per the admissions policy of US universities

Academic record must not include more than two second divisions, no third division or Grade D, and minimum 50% marks throughout education

Additional Guidelines & Preferences

Applicants with admission to any of the top 235 US universities or the 23 accredited US university systems will be prioritized

HEC will use its Academic Evaluation Formula AEF to assess applicants

Candidates with GRE General scores of 308 or above are especially encouraged to apply

How to Apply?

Submit your application online via the HEC e-portal:

https://scholarships.hec.gov.pk

Upload a complete set of attested documents attested by a Grade-17 or above officer

No need to submit physical copies at this stage

Applications that are late or incomplete will be rejected

Please note: Obtaining university admission and handling visa procedures is the applicant’s own responsibility

Useful Links & Resources

University ranking reference: https://www.topuniversities.com

For a list of eligible US universities, funding details, and application timelines, visit the HEC program page:

https://www.hec.gov.pk/site/US-PAK-KCSA

Important Application Deadlines

Fall 2025 Session: Submit by 31 July 2025

Spring/Summer 2026 Intake: Deadline is 15 November 2025

Fall 2026 Session: Last date to apply is 30 April 2026