HEC Postdoctoral Fellowship Phase III – Foreign Universities (Guidelines & Application Details)

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan invites applications for its Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Foreign Universities (Phase III). This initiative provides researchers an opportunity to pursue advanced postdoctoral research at leading international institutions.

The program offers a total of 1,000 fellowships, awarded on open merit over a period of five years. The allocation of fellowships is structured as follows:

• 70% for faculty members of public sector universities and degree-awarding institutions
• 15% for faculty members of private sector universities
• 15% reserved for researchers from public sector R&D organizations

Currently, Phase III of the program is open for applications. Eligible candidates are required to submit their applications along with all supporting documents by 26 September 2021.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully review the requirements, even if the deadline is near, as subsequent phases of the program are expected to be announced in the future. Early preparation will facilitate a smoother application process.

Required Documents for Application:

Applicants must prepare and submit the following documents:

• Research proposal (as per prescribed format)
• Acceptance/invitation letter from a foreign university (top 200 QS-ranked institutions only), on official letterhead, signed by the authorized supervisor/official, valid for at least six months
• CV of the host supervisor
• Updated CV of the applicant
• Complete HEC online profile (education, employment history, publications, etc.)
• Evidence of five years of recognized experience (for foreign PhD holders)
• NOC from HEC (if applicable for prior funding/scholarships/research grants)
• Attested PhD degree (local) or HEC Equivalence Certificate (foreign degree holders)
• Foreign PhD degree and transcript with certified translation (if applicable)
• Duty resumption notification (for candidates who completed PhD during service after study leave)
• Experience certificates (for foreign PhD holders claiming relevant work experience)
• Employer/institution NOC (can be submitted later as per HEC deadline flexibility guidelines)

Note: Applications must be submitted exclusively through the HEC online portal: research.hec.gov.pk. Only submitted applications will be processed; saved applications will not be considered.

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Possess a PhD degree from an HEC-recognized national or international university
• Be a regular employee of a public/private sector university, degree-awarding institution, or public sector R&D organization recognized by HEC
• Have not previously availed any postdoctoral fellowship (local or foreign, funded or self-funded)
• Be 45 years of age or younger at the time of application deadline
• Hold five years of recognized post-PhD experience (for foreign PhD holders)
• Have an acceptance/placement letter from a QS top 200 university or research institute with a relevant supervisor
• Fulfill all academic qualifications on or before the application closing date

Applicants are required to submit their application via the HEC portal after carefully completing all required fields. All documents must be uploaded in a single PDF file before final submission.

A non-refundable application processing fee of PKR 1,000 must be deposited in favour of the Director General Finance, HEC (Habib Bank Limited Account No. 1742-79001334-01).

Financial Support

Selected fellows will receive financial assistance for the entire duration of the fellowship, including:

• Living Allowance: USD 1,600 per month
• Health Insurance: USD 2,000 (one-time)
• Research/Lab/Experimentation Cost: USD 6,000 (one-time)
• Return Air Ticket: PKR 250,000 (one-time)

Documents to be Combined in One PDF File

• Updated CV of the applicant
• Research proposal (as per format)
• Acceptance letter (postdoc/visiting research fellow; max two pages, on official letterhead) including project details, relevance, and host commitment
• Host supervisor’s detailed CV (including qualifications, positions, publications, and relevant academic activities)
• NOC from current employer/institution
• PhD degree documents (as applicable)
• Equivalence certificate (foreign PhD holders)
• Duty resumption notification (where applicable)
• Experience certificates (foreign PhD holders)
• NOC for HEC-funded projects/scholarships (completed or ongoing, as PI or Co-PI)

This program is designed to provide researchers with international exposure and advanced research opportunities. Applicants are advised to carefully follow HEC guidelines and prepare their documents well in advance to ensure successful submission. For further details, candidates may visit the official HEC website.