HEC Announces International Research Support Initiative Program For Ph.D. Scholars

The higher education commission of Pakistan has announced the international research support initiative program for Ph.D. scholars. The objective of this program is to provide better opportunities for students to work at the advanced research labs and to maintain the standard of local doctoral research according to the international standards. In this way, the connection between Pakistan and foreign institutions can be enhanced to explore avenues for further collaboration.

Eligibility criteria for IRSIP

Following is the eligibility criteria for the applicants to apply for the international research support initiative program.

• The full-time scholars of Ph.D. who are nationals of Pakistan/AJK are eligible to apply.
• The applicants can apply minimum after the completion of two years or maximum up to 3.5 years of degree. 
• The candidates must have passed the Ph.D. admission test according to the rules of the higher education commission of Pakistan. 
• The applicants should have an approved Ph.D. research topic and synopsis by the Board of Advanced Studies and Research of the Directorate of Advanced Studies or equivalent body of the university.
• The candidates have to submit an official acceptance letter for research from a foreign institute.
• According to the Times ranking of world universities, the institution must be ranked in the top 200 universities. 
• The foreign supervisor in the relevant subject should not be an ex-supervisor of the Local University. 
• The Ph.D. Scholars availing of any other HEC Scholarship can also apply in IRSIP and they have to submit NOC from concerned authorities.

Application Procedure for HEC IRSIP 

For the submission of the application form the instructions are mentioned below.

• Applications for the HEC IRSIP can be submitted around the year. 
• Applicants can apply after fulfilling the basic eligibility criteria announced by HEC.
• Incomplete applications for this program are not entertained in any case.
• Along with the application the candidates have to submit the required documents such as CV, copy of passport, copies of academic documents including Ph.D. coursework transcript that shows credit hours and grades attained in each course, and a copy of GRE result certificate.