Admissions Closed 28 Aug 2026

HEC Overseas Scholarships (OSS Phase-III) for MS/MPhil & PhD — Apply by 2026-08-28

HEC Overseas Scholarships (OSS Phase-III) for MS/MPhil & PhD · Islamabad · The News International, 09 Aug 2026

Admission advertisement published in The News International on Sunday, 9 August 2026, listed under Islamabad. Issued by HEC Overseas Scholarships (OSS Phase-III) for MS/MPhil & PhD. The last date printed on the advertisement was Friday, 28 August 2026 and has passed.

Newspaper clipping: HEC Overseas Scholarships (OSS Phase-III) for MS/MPhil & PhD — Apply by 2026-08-28, The News International, 09 Aug 2026

Original clipping · The News International · 09 Aug 2026 · tap to zoom

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The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan invites outstanding Pakistani/AJK nationals to apply for Overseas Scholarships (OSS Phase-III) for MS/MPhil and PhD studies at Top 200 QS/THE ranked universities. Scholarships cover selected thematic areas; selection is based on HEC Aptitude Test (HAT) scores and interview (with exemptions for qualifying unconditional admissions to Top 200 universities).

Issuer	Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan
Programs	Overseas scholarships for MS/MPhil and PhD studies
Thematic Areas	1. Digital Transformation & Emerging Technologies 2. Energy, Climate Change & Environment 3. Agriculture, Food Security & Agri-Tech 4. Health, Biotechnology & Life Sciences 5. Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing 6. Natural & Physical Sciences 7. Social Sciences, Business & Governance 8. Interdisciplinary & Strategic Areas
Eligibility (key points)	Applicant must be a Pakistani / AJK national. PhD: Minimum 18 years of education (MS/MPhil or equivalent); candidates with 17-year foreign MSc/MS may be eligible subject to equivalence. PhD: Minimum CGPA 3.0/4.0 (semester) or first division (annual) in MS/MPhil; maximum one second division/equivalent allowed prior to terminal degree. MS: BS/BS(Hons) or equivalent (16 years) with minimum CGPA 3.0/4.0 (semester) or first division (annual); maximum one second division/equivalent allowed. Employees of public sector universities / colleges / R&D / government / semi-government organizations must submit a NOC from their organization. Age limits (as shown): PhD — max 40 years (public sector employees), 35 years (others). MS — max 35 years (public sector employees), 30 years (others). Applicants who previously received an HEC-funded MS/MPhil scholarship may apply only after completing a minimum two (02) year return/service period in Pakistan and must submit a NOC.
Selection Criteria	Selection on merit based on HEC Aptitude Test (HAT) scores and interview. Candidates must opt for Top 200 QS/THE ranked universities in the online form. Candidates with unconditional admission for the upcoming semester (e.g., Fall 2026) in a Top 200 QS/THE university may be exempt from test/interview subject to eligibility.
HAT (HEC Aptitude Test)	Conducted by Education Testing Council (ETC) under HEC. Test scores valid for two years; applicants must have a valid test score by the closing date where required.
How to Apply	Apply online via HEC e-Services Portal: https://eservices.hec.gov.pk. Application processing fee: Rs. 3,000 (to be deposited through 1LINK payment services).
Important Notes	HEC reserves the right to reallocate university/country choices, postpone or cancel the initiative. Selected candidates must fulfill host university admission/visa/test requirements (GRE, TOEFL, IELTS as applicable).
Contact & More Info	Project Director: Saima Naurin, Higher Education Commission, Sector H-9, Islamabad. Helpline: 051-111-119-432 or 0334-111-9432. Scholarship details: https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/scholarshipsgrants/OSSPhase-III. Online help: https://onlinehelp.hec.gov.pk
Application Deadline	2026-08-28 (16:00 hours)

Applicants are advised to complete online registration and e-submission within the prescribed timeline and to follow the full eligibility and application instructions on the HEC website.

Published in The News International on Sunday, 9 August 2026. DailyAds.pk indexes newspaper advertisements; the original notice and the issuing organisation remain the source for final terms and eligibility.

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