US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor: 1,000 PhD Scholarships for Pakistani Students to Study in the USA

The wait is over for Pakistani students and professionals aspiring to earn a PhD from a top-ranked US university. Under the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor (Phase-1, Revised) , the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan is offering 1,000 fully funded PhD scholarships to outstanding Pakistani nationals.

This initiative, approved by ECNEC (originally Jan 25, 2017, revised August 2020), aims to send 10,000 Pakistani scholars to US universities over ten years. The first phase targets 1,000 PhDs for Fall 2025, Spring/Summer 2026, and Fall 2026 admissions.

Objectives of the Scholarship

• Increase the quantity and quality of faculty in Pakistani higher education institutions.
• Enhance research and academic capacity by training manpower in innovative research.
• Train approximately 1,000 applicants annually for GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS under the “Talent Farming” component.
• Build collaboration between Pakistani and renowned US institutions to transfer research techniques focused on Pakistan’s needs.

Scholarship Categories & Eligibility

Category I – Top 50 QS World Ranked US Universities

You must have:

• Admission secured in a Top 50 QS World Ranked US University.
• Valid GRE General (minimum 300 total) OR HAT Score (minimum 60% ).

Category II – Top 51–100 QS World Ranked US Universities

You must have:

• Admission secured in a Top 51–100 QS World Ranked US University (overall ranking).
• Valid GRE General (minimum 300 total) OR HAT Score (minimum 60% ).

General Eligibility Criteria (Both Categories)

Government Criterion	Requirement
Nationality	Pakistani / AJK nationals
Education	Minimum 16 years of formal education (4-year bachelor’s degree: B.S., B.Sc., B.E., etc.)
Academic Record	No 2nd or 3rd division in entire academic career
Age Limit (Max)	40 years for regular government employees / public sector faculty / R&D researchers 35 years for all others
Other Scholarships	Must not be availing any other scholarship
Existing PhD	Not eligible

Want to Read More:
Queen Elizabath Common wealth Scholarship
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Priority Subject Areas for Fall 2025, Spring/Summer 2026 & Fall 2026

Scholarships are offered in the following broad subject areas with specific research focuses:

1	Life Sciences & Medicines	Crop Production, Soil & Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Biotech, Dairy/Veterinary Biotech, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Medical Biotech, Cancer Biology, Pharmacology, Nanomedicines, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Industrial Biotech
2	Natural Sciences	(Various – see university program)
3	Engineering & Technology	Water Management, Sustainable Energy, Urban Planning, Climate Change & Environmental Engineering, Bioengineering, Land & Water Resource Eng., Automotive, Metallurgical, Chemical, Software, Mining, Architecture, Computer Science, AI/Robotics
4	Social Sciences & Management	Rural Development, Urban Planning, Water Management, Sustainable Energy, Education, Public Policy
5	Arts & Humanities	Creative Art & Design

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Important Notes

• You must have secured admission to an eligible US university before applying (or simultaneously, but admission is required).
• GRE / HAT scores must be valid at the time of application.
• The program includes a “Talent Farming component” – HEC will train applicants for GRE/TOEFL/IELTS.

How to Apply & Next Steps

 Scholarships are Open – Click here for details (Check HEC official website for application portal, deadlines, and forms).

Suggested Action Plan:

1. Check priority subject areas and identify US universities (Top 100 QS) offering relevant PhD programs.
2. Take GRE General (minimum 300) or HAT (minimum 60%).
3. Secure admission to a Top 100 QS World Ranked US University.
4. Prepare your documents (degrees, transcripts, CNIC, research proposal, etc.).
5. Submit online application through the official HEC portal before the closing date.

Final Word

This is a life-changing opportunity for Pakistani academics, researchers, and professionals. With 1,000 scholarships available and priority given to subjects critical to Pakistan’s Vision 2025, don’t miss your chance to earn a PhD from a world-class US university.

Bookmark this page, share with friends and colleagues, and start your application today.

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For official notification and application form, always refer to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan website or the designated scholarship portal.https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/scholarshipsgrants/us-pakcorridor/pages/default.aspx