The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has opened the Quaid-e-Azam Memorial Fellowship 2026 for Pakistani PhD scholars who want to carry out research at a top foreign university. The program marks the 150th birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and supports research on his life, vision, leadership and political and constitutional thought. Applications are open from 6 October to 30 October 2026 through an online Google form.
Key details
| Organisation | Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Program | Quaid-e-Azam Memorial Fellowship Program |
| Who can apply | Full-time PhD students at recognised Pakistani universities |
| Research theme | Life, vision, thought, leadership and contributions of Quaid-e-Azam |
| Host institution | Top-ranked foreign university (QS or THE rankings, overall or by subject) |
| Airfare | Economy return ticket up to USD 1,300, arranged by HEC |
| Application fee | Not mentioned by HEC |
| Applications open | 6 October 2026 |
| Last date | 30 October 2026 |
| Official website | hec.gov.pk |
Who can apply for the Quaid-e-Azam Memorial Fellowship 2026
HEC has set strict conditions, so check each one before you start collecting documents. You must:
- Be a Pakistani or AJK national enrolled as a full-time PhD student at a recognised university in Pakistan.
- Have completed at least 18 credit hours of PhD coursework.
- Have completed at least 18 months, and not more than 3.5 years, of PhD enrolment. For this batch, your enrolment date must fall between Spring 2023 and Spring 2025.
- Have passed the GAT Subject Test or your university’s admission test when you joined the PhD.
- Have an approved PhD topic and synopsis from BASR, DASR or an equivalent university body.
- Hold an official acceptance or invitation letter for research from a foreign university, institute or lab ranked among the top universities in the QS or THE rankings.
- Have a proposed foreign supervisor who is a full-time Assistant Professor or above, and who has not supervised your local PhD supervisor.
The fellowship is meant for research on Quaid-e-Azam, so your PhD topic should connect with his life, thought, leadership or legacy.
HEC fellowship benefits: living allowance and bench fee
Selected scholars get a return economy airfare (up to USD 1,300, once) and a monthly living allowance based on the host country:
| Country | Living allowance per month |
|---|---|
| UK | £750 |
| Austria, Germany, Netherlands | €975 |
| Rest of Europe | €900 |
| USA | $1,500 |
| Korea, China, Malaysia | $800 |
| Rest of the world | $1,200 |
HEC also reimburses a bench fee (up to $3,500, £1,750 or €2,550, depending on currency) but only if the fee is written in your original acceptance letter. You pay it first and HEC refunds it after you submit the paid invoice.
How to apply
- Get an acceptance letter from the head of department or a senior professor at the foreign university. Letters from lecturers or lab staff are not accepted.
- Ask your foreign supervisor to fill the HEC Foreign Supervisor’s Proforma.
- Collect the remaining documents listed below and scan them clearly.
- Fill the official Google form linked on the HEC How to Apply page and upload your documents before 30 October 2026.
Documents required
- Foreign acceptance letter(s), in order of preference, with the research plan, duration, bench fee (if any) and the professor’s contact details
- Filled HEC proforma and CV of the foreign supervisor
- BASR/DASR approval of your PhD topic and the complete synopsis
- Signed and stamped recommendation letter and CV of your local supervisor
- NOC from HEC (if you already hold an HEC scholarship) and from your employer (if employed or on study leave)
- Your CV, passport copy (or passport token slip), PhD coursework transcript and GAT/GRE/admission test result
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Selected scholars must sign a bond with HEC, return to Pakistan to finish their PhD, and use the award within six months of the award letter.
See more funding options in our Scholarships section, including the HEC IRSIP 2026 research fellowship.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date for the Quaid-e-Azam Memorial Fellowship?
HEC is accepting applications from 6 October to 30 October 2026.
Can MPhil or MS students apply?
No. Only full-time PhD students who have finished at least 18 credit hours of coursework and 18 months of enrolment can apply.
Does HEC pay the foreign university’s bench fee?
Yes, within the set limits, but only if the bench fee is mentioned in the original acceptance letter. HEC reimburses it after you pay.
Note: Always confirm details on the official website before you apply or pay any fee. Great Pak Times is not affiliated with any government body.
Source: Higher Education Commission, Quaid-e-Azam Memorial Fellowship Program. Checked 6 October 2026.