HEC Announces Quaid-e-Azam Memorial Fellowship for Pakistani Students

HEC Announces Quaid-e-Azam Memorial Fellowship for Pakistani and AJK PhD Scholars

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has officially launched the prestigious Quaid-e-Azam Memorial Fellowship, providing a golden window of opportunity for doctoral students across Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). Unveiled to commemorate the landmark 150th birth anniversary of the founder of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, this initiative aims to cultivate elite academic research on his profound political, social, and constitutional ideologies.

Opening doors to top-tier global academic environments, the 6-month international research fellowship allows eligible scholars to expand their doctoral horizons at leading foreign universities, institutions, and laboratories. With the application window officially going live on October 6, 2026, aspiring applicants have until October 30, 2026, to complete their online submissions.

Honoring a Legacy Through Scholarly Excellence

To mark Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s 150th birth anniversary, HEC has designed this program to foster rigorous, internationally recognized research that highlights Jinnah's historical impact. Scholars can submit proposals focusing on core thematic pillars, including:

• Vision and Thought: Exploring the foundational concepts behind Pakistan's creation.

• Leadership and Statesmanship: Analyzing Jinnah's unmatched political acumen and tactical brilliance.

• Constitutional and Political Thought: Evaluating his parliamentary approaches, democratic ideals, and legal framework strategies.

• Social Thought and Legacy: Reviewing his ideals on minority rights, social justice, and national integration.

Detailed Eligibility Criteria for the Fellowship

To ensure the highest standard of academic output, HEC has laid out strict eligibility parameters for applicants:

1. Nationality & Enrollment: Candidates must hold Pakistani or AJK citizenship and be enrolled as full-time PhD students at an HEC-recognized university in Pakistan.

2. Coursework Milestone: Applicants must have completed a minimum of 18 credit hours of formal PhD coursework.

3. Enrollment Duration: Scholars must have completed at least 18 months of their PhD tenure, but not more than 3.5 years at the time of application.

4. Testing Standards: Candidates must provide proof of passing either the GAT Subject Test or the relevant university admission test cleared during their initial PhD entry.

5. Approved Synopsis: An officially approved PhD research topic and synopsis endorsed by the university’s advanced studies board (such as BASR or DASR) is mandatory.

Furthermore, the foreign host university must hold a prominent standing, ranking among top institutions globally—either overall or subject-wise—according to the QS World University Rankings or the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Comprehensive Financial Support Package

The Quaid-e-Azam Memorial Fellowship covers key travel and living expenditures to ensure scholars can focus entirely on their research endeavors abroad:

• Airfare Support: Up to $1,300 for a return economy class air ticket.

• Monthly Living Allowance: Tailored stipend structured around the host country's cost of living indices.

Eligible bench fees requested by foreign laboratories or departments can also qualify for reimbursement subject to HEC guidelines and original offer documentation.

Required Documents and How to Apply

Prospective candidates must assemble a robust file of credentials before hitting submit. Key documents include:

• Official acceptance/invitation letter from an authorized head of department or senior professor at a leading foreign university.

• Completed HEC foreign supervisor proforma and the foreign professor’s CV.

• Approved PhD research synopsis and local supervisor recommendation letter (duly signed and stamped).

• Academic transcripts, updated applicant CV, copy of passport, and GAT/admission test scores.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the designated HEC Google Form before the deadline closes on October 30, 2026. Incomplete submissions or applications missing vital credentials will be automatically disqualified.