ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has opened applications for a six-month overseas research fellowship for Pakistani and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) PhD students, offering financial support of up to $1,500 per month depending on the country.
The fellowship is being offered under Batch 60 of the International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP). Applications can be submitted until October 30, 2026. The program is open to Pakistani and AJK nationals enrolled as full-time PhD students at HEC-recognized universities in Pakistan. Applicants must have completed at least 18 credit hours of PhD coursework and between 18 months and 3.5 years of their PhD studies.
For Batch 60, candidates should have started their PhD between Spring 2023 and Spring 2025. They must also have passed the GAT Subject Test or their university’s admission test, while their PhD research topic and synopsis must have been approved by the relevant university authority.
Applicants must secure an official acceptance or invitation letter from a university, research institute or laboratory in a developed country that meets HEC’s ranking requirements. The proposed foreign supervisor must be a full-time faculty member at the level of Assistant Professor or above and should be working in a research area related to the applicant’s PhD.
HEC will provide financial support for the six-month research stay, including an economy-class return air ticket of up to $1,300 and a monthly living allowance based on the host country. Scholars going to the United States can receive up to $1,500 per month, while those going to the United Kingdom can receive up to £750.
The monthly allowance is €975 for Austria, Germany and the Netherlands, and up to €900 for other European countries. Scholars travelling to China, Korea and Malaysia can receive up to $800 per month. HEC may also provide support for approved bench fees within the program’s limits.
Applicants need to submit documents including the foreign university’s acceptance letter, the foreign supervisor’s HEC proforma and updated CV, approval of their PhD research topic and synopsis, the approved research synopsis and a recommendation letter from their local PhD supervisor.
Applications must be submitted online through the HEC scholarship portal. Candidates should complete all sections and upload the required documents before submitting the form. The application status must show “Submitted”; applications left in “Saved” status will not be considered. Selected candidates may be asked to provide hard copies of their documents at a later stage.
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