HEC Overseas Scholarship for MS/MPhil Leading to PhD
HEC Pakistan's flagship pipeline sending Pakistani graduates to QS/THE Top-200 universities worldwide for a combined MS/MPhil-to-PhD track, with provincial quotas and a mandatory aptitude test. Cycle details change with every batch.
Quick Facts
Status
Applications OpenFunding
Fully FundedDeadline
Recent batch closed around August 28 - HEC runs this in numbered batches with shifting dates, verify the current batch directly
Country
Multiple (QS/THE Top-200 universities worldwide)About the HEC Overseas Scholarship for MS/MPhil Leading to PhD
This HEC Pakistan program, part of its Phase-III overseas scholarship initiative, funds a combined MS/MPhil leading to PhD track at universities ranked in the QS or THE Top 200 globally, across thematic priority areas including digital transformation and emerging technology, energy and climate, agriculture and food security, health and biotechnology, engineering, natural and physical sciences, and social sciences, business, and governance.
Selection includes the HEC Aptitude Test (HAT) and an interview, with provincial quotas applied across Pakistan's provinces and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Because HEC runs this program in numbered batches with shifting deadlines, fields, and specific partner arrangements, treat any specific date here as illustrative of a recent cycle rather than a fixed annual calendar, and verify the current batch's details directly on HEC's e-Services Portal.
Eligible Levels
Eligible Fields
Why Choose This Scholarship?
Access to a genuinely global pool of Top-200 universities, not a narrow fixed list
A structured, well-established pipeline with provincial quota representation across Pakistan
What the Scholarship Covers
Studying in Multiple (QS/THE Top-200 universities worldwide)
This program's QS/THE Top-200 requirement means the destination country itself is flexible, with the university's global ranking being the deciding factor rather than a fixed list of eligible countries.
Eligibility Requirements
5 requirements
Documents Checklist
5 documents required
How to Apply - Step by Step
Apply via the HEC e-Services Portal for the current open batch
Sit the HEC Aptitude Test (HAT)
Attend an interview
Secure admission at a QS/THE Top-200 university, since placement is not guaranteed by HEC selection alone
Application Timeline
Varies (recent batch closed around August 28)
Batch Application Window
Check HEC's current batch announcement
Following the application deadline
HAT and Interview
Insider Tips & Pro Tips
Do not assume last batch's deadline applies to your cycle - HEC restructures fields and dates with each numbered batch
University placement at a QS/THE Top-200 institution is required alongside HEC approval, so pursue both processes in parallel rather than waiting for one before starting the other
Frequently Asked Questions
2 questions - click any to expand
No, you still need to independently secure admission at a QS/THE Top-200 university. HEC approval and university admission are separate processes that need to align.
No, HEC runs this program in numbered batches with shifting deadlines and sometimes shifting thematic fields. Always check the current batch's specific announcement on hec.gov.pk.
Ready to Apply?
Head to the official portal and start your application today.
Apply on Official Website →More Scholarships to Explore
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Deadline: Recent batch closed around August 28 - HEC runs this in numbered batches with shifting dates, verify the current batch directly
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