HEC & PIEAS Foster Scientific Excellence

In a collaborative effort, the Higher Education Commission HEC and the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences PIEAS have joined forces to organize the 21st National Science Talent Contest NSTC. This contest aims to identify and select the brightest students from schools and colleges across Pakistan, offering them the opportunity to represent the nation at the International Science Olympiads. The candidates can note the latest updates of 21st NSTC Collaboration: HEC & PIEAS Foster Scientific Excellence.

Call for Participation

Intelligent students from both government and private educational institutions are invited to participate in the 21st NSTC. Applications can be submitted online through their respective schools. This initiative not only encourages healthy competition but also nurtures a spirit of scientific inquiry among the youth.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must currently be enrolled in pre-9th, 9th, 10th, or 11th grade matric/O-Level or FSc-1 A-Level-1.


• Students should have achieved an aggregate of 60% or more in core subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics in their previous exams.


• Contestants should be under 20 years old as of June 30, 2025.


• Students enrolled in FSc-II or A-level Part 2, as well as university students, are not eligible to participate.

Screening Test Centers

The screening test for the 21st NSTC will take place in various cities across Pakistan, allowing candidates to choose a center near their hometown. The designated screening test centers include Faisalabad, Lahore, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Karachi, Quetta, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, DI Khan, Sargodha, Abbottabad, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hyderabad, Chitral, Swat, and others.

Registration Details and Contest Date

Candidates can complete the free online registration on the official website by the closing date of February 18, 2024. The contest itself is scheduled to be held on March 3, 2024, providing a platform for students to showcase their scientific acumen.

International Science Olympiads

Successful participants in the NSTC will have the chance to represent Pakistan at various International Science Olympiads held worldwide. The 66th International Mathematical Olympiad is set to take place in Australia, the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad in the UAE, the 36th International Biology Olympiad in the Philippines, and the 55th International Physics Olympiad in France.

Recognition and Awards

Winners of the NSTC will be recognized and rewarded for their exceptional performance. The first-place achiever will receive a gold medal along with a cash prize of Rs.220,000. The second and third positions will be awarded silver and bronze medals, accompanied by cash prizes of Rs.80,000 and Rs.60,000, respectively. Additionally, participants will receive Honorable Mention and Participation awards with cash prizes of Rs.50,000 and Rs.20,000, respectively.

Certifications and PIEAS Opportunity

The top 500 participants in each subject will be awarded participation certificates. Notably, PIEAS offers a unique opportunity, stating that members of the Olympiads teams will be granted admission to the BS programs at the institute without the need for entrance exams. This serves as an added incentive for participants to strive for excellence in the NSTC and beyond.

21st NSTC Collaboration: HEC & PIEAS Foster Scientific Excellence