ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has opened applications for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2027. The scholarship will allow Pakistani and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) students to study for master’s and PhD degrees in the United Kingdom without paying tuition fees.
The scholarships are available for the 2027–28 academic year through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), with HEC serving as Pakistan’s nominating agency. According to the provided information, the scholarships cover tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, return air travel between Pakistan and the UK, and other eligible expenses.
These may include a warm clothing allowance, study travel grants and a thesis grant for eligible PhD scholars. The monthly stipend is listed as £1,347 for students studying outside London and £1,652 for those based in London. Applicants should confirm the current rates and benefits through the official scholarship guidance.
To qualify, applicants must be Pakistani or AJK nationals and meet the academic requirements for their chosen programmes. Master’s applicants generally need 16 years of education with a first division or equivalent CGPA, while PhD candidates must meet the prescribed postgraduate qualification requirements.
Applicants are also required to take the Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) and obtain at least 60 marks, according to the provided eligibility criteria. Their proposed studies or research must align with the Commonwealth’s development priorities.
Candidates must apply through both the HEC scholarship portal at https://scholarship.hec.gov.pk and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s official website.
Applicants should prepare their academic transcripts, identification documents, references and research proposals where required. They are advised to check the official guidelines for complete eligibility requirements and application procedures. The application deadline is October 20, 2026.
