Faculty Development Program for Pakistani Universities (HEC)

What the Faculty Development Program covers

You get funding to earn a PhD in Pakistan. Your tuition fees are paid, and you receive a monthly living allowance (stipend) for up to four years. This is a Split-PhD: you do most of your research at a Pakistani university, plus a required stay of up to 12 months at a foreign university ranked in the QS World Top 500. The programme also covers the costs of the year abroad. The stipend follows HEC's official rates. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan runs the programme to help university teachers who do not yet hold a doctorate to complete one.

Who can apply

• Job: You hold a full-time, regular teaching post at a public sector university or degree-awarding institution in Pakistan. Visiting or part-time staff cannot apply.
• Teaching experience: You have taught at your current university for at least two years without a break.
• Degree: You hold an MS, MPhil or an equivalent qualification worth 18 years of education.
• Nationality: You are a citizen of Pakistan or Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
• Age: You are no older than 45 on the application deadline.
• Grades: You have at least 60% marks (annual system) or a CGPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 (semester system) in your final degree. You have no third division or D grade anywhere in your academic record.
• Test score: You have a HAT or GRE General result of at least 60%, taken within the accepted time window.
• Not already funded: You are not enrolled in a PhD and do not receive another HEC, government or university scholarship.
• Where you study: You will do the PhD at an HEC-recognised university other than your own.

How to apply

You apply online through the HEC scholarship portal and pay a processing fee of PKR 1,000 through the 1Link 1Bill service. The deadline is fixed for each round, so check the current date before you apply. Selection is based on your academic record, the HEC Aptitude Test and an interview with subject experts.

How realistic are your chances?

This programme is cut narrowly. It is only for serving full-time teachers at public Pakistani universities who meet firm grade, test and age limits. So the eligible group is far smaller than for open scholarships. If you clearly meet every requirement and interview well, your prospects are solid. Watch the deadline closely, because HEC opens the programme in batches and closes each round on a fixed date.