Pakistan's Higher Education Commission (HEC) has invited applications from Pakistani and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) nationals for fully funded PhD scholarships at universities ranked among the world's top 100 in the QS rankings, under the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor Project. The scholarships, for the 2027 academic session, are divided into two tiers based on university ranking. Students admitted to universities ranked in the global top 50 will receive full tuition coverage, an annual stipend of $19,000, and health insurance worth up to $2,000. Those admitted to universities ranked between 51 and 100 will receive tuition support of up to $12,000 a year along with a stipend and health insurance, though HEC has not specified the insurance amount for this tier. Both categories can be funded for up to five years. To qualify, applicants must have completed at least 16 years of education, including a four-year bachelor's degree such as a BS, BSc or BE, with no second or third division at any stage. The general age limit is 35, extended to 40 for regular government employees, faculty at public sector universities and colleges, and researchers at approved R&D organisations. Applicants must not already hold a PhD or another scholarship at the time of application, and admission to a qualifying US university is required before securing the award. They must also score at least 300 on the GRE General Test or 60 percent on HEC's own HAT test; IELTS or TOEFL is not required by HEC, though individual universities may ask for it separately. Interested candidates can apply through HEC's online portal, scholarship.hec.gov.pk, where they must register using their CNIC, a mobile number, and an email address before completing academic and personal profiles and submitting the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor application under the Scholarships and Grants section. Required documents include degrees and transcripts, CNIC and passport details, GRE or HAT scores, proof of admission, a research proposal, and employment certificates where applicable. HEC has flagged life sciences, natural sciences, engineering and technology, social sciences and management, and arts and humanities as priority fields, though it has advised applicants to confirm which specific fields qualify for the 2027 cycle. The application deadline for the Spring/Summer 2027 intake is October 30, 2026, while the Fall 2027 intake deadline is March 30, 2027. Scholars accepted under the programme are required to return to Pakistan and serve in the country after completing their doctoral studies, as per the scholarship's service agreement.