Talented students from Pakistan now have a big chance to pursue their PhD dreams in top-ranked US universities. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has announced a new round of fully funded scholarships for 2025, covering tuition, living expenses, and health insurance for selected PhD candidates.
This scholarship program is specially designed for Pakistani and Azad Kashmir nationals who wish to study at some of the world’s best universities. Students aiming for a place at any university ranked among the top 300 in the QS World Rankings can apply, but preference will be given to those with admission offers from the top 100 universities or those with high subject rankings.
To qualify, applicants must have at least 16 years of education such as a bachelor’s degree (BS, BSc, BE) with no second or third divisions throughout their academic career if applying for the top category. For the highest-ranked universities, applicants also need to show a valid GRE General score of at least 300 or a strong HEC HAT test score.
These scholarships cover full tuition fees, a monthly stipend, and health insurance. For universities ranked between 51 and 300, the tuition fee covered can be up to USD 12,000 per year.
HEC has also set clear rules: candidates must not be receiving any other scholarship at the same time and must stay within the age limit — 35 years for most applicants and up to 40 years for regular government employees, public university teachers, or researchers.
Students interested in applying should carefully check their eligibility and submit their applications online through HEC’s scholarship portal before the deadlines: 20th July 2025 for Fall 2025, 15th November 2025 for Spring/Summer 2026, and 10th April 2026 for Fall 2026 admissions.
This initiative opens new doors for ambitious Pakistani students to get top-quality education abroad and bring back valuable knowledge and skills to strengthen the country’s future.
More details can be found on HEC’s official website or by contacting their helpline for guidance.
