Commonwealth Scholarship Pakistan 2027 – HEC Apply Online

The Commonwealth Scholarship Pakistan 2027–28 is now open for eligible Pakistani and AJ&K students who want to study for a Master’s or PhD degree in the United Kingdom. The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan is accepting applications as Pakistan’s national nominating agency, while the final scholarship selection is made by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK.

The main deadline is 20 October 2026. Pakistani applicants must complete applications on both the HEC and Commonwealth Scholarship Commission portals. Applying through only one of the two systems is not sufficient for the HEC nomination route.

Commonwealth Scholarship 2027 at a Glance

HEC expects nominations to be completed around December 2026, while applicants can expect the final Commonwealth selection outcome around July 2027.

Who Can Apply from Pakistan?

HEC requires applicants to be Pakistani or AJ&K nationals and permanent residents of Pakistan or AJ&K. Dual nationals are not eligible through HEC’s nomination process.

There is no upper age limit stated for the 2027–28 scholarship cycle.

For a Master’s scholarship, the applicant must have a first division in a relevant 16-year Bachelor’s degree.

For a PhD scholarship, the applicant must have a first division in a relevant 17 or 18-year Master’s, MS or MPhil qualification.

HEC also states that the applicant must not have a Second or Third Division in the terminal or latest degree. Result-awaiting candidates may apply, provided they obtain and submit their final degree and transcript before the academic session begins.

Is HAT Required for Commonwealth Scholarship 2027?

Yes. HAT is a mandatory part of the HEC nomination process for Pakistani applicants.

The minimum qualifying score is 60 out of 100. HEC accepts the general HAT categories HAT-I, HAT-II, HAT-III and HAT-IV for this programme.

For the current 2027–28 cycle, HEC says candidates who have taken an eligible HAT test on or after 25 October 2024 may submit that score.

HEC has also stated that the HAT scheduled tentatively for 25 October 2026 can be considered for Commonwealth nominations. If its result is released after the scholarship application deadline, HEC says eligible applicants do not need to manually add the score because the valid result can be added during the nomination process.

HEC says merit for nomination will be determined primarily through the HAT score. Where applicants have the same HAT score, the percentage in the last completed degree may be used as a tie-breaker.

How Many Commonwealth Nominations Are Available?

For the 2027–28 cycle, HEC has announced:

26 nominations for Master’s scholarships

30 nominations for General PhD scholarships

These figures refer to nominations made through HEC. An HEC nomination is not the final scholarship award. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission makes the final selection.

How to Apply for Commonwealth Scholarship Pakistan 2027

Pakistani candidates using the HEC nomination route must complete two separate online applications.

Step 1: Apply to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

Master’s applicants should complete the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship application through the CSC application system.

PhD applicants should use the relevant Commonwealth PhD Scholarship application route.

The CSC does not accept applications submitted outside its designated online system.

Step 2: Apply through HEC Pakistan

Create or update your profile on the HEC scholarship portal and select Learning Opportunities Abroad.

Complete the Commonwealth Scholarship application and submit it online. After submission, keep a downloaded copy for your record.

HEC specifically warns applicants that completing only one portal is not enough. Both the HEC and CSC applications must be submitted before their respective deadlines.

Commonwealth Scholarship 2027 Deadline

The HEC application deadline is:

20 October 2026 at 4:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission deadline is:

20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST

Applicants should not leave either application until the final hours because both systems must show a successfully submitted application. Saved or incomplete HEC applications are not treated as completed applications.

What Does the Commonwealth Scholarship Cover?

Commonwealth Scholarships are designed as funded awards for study in the UK. For Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, CSC currently states that approved tuition fees are covered and provides approved return airfare and a living allowance.

The CSC’s 2027–28 Master’s page currently lists a living allowance of £1,712 per month, rising to £2,000 per month for scholars studying at universities in the London metropolitan area. It also lists eligible study-related travel support and certain family allowances where the relevant conditions are met. These rates and conditions can change, so applicants should verify the award terms before accepting an offer.

Funding conditions can differ by Commonwealth programme, so Master’s and PhD candidates should read the terms for their specific scholarship rather than assuming every allowance is identical.

Is IELTS Required?

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission itself states that it does not require candidates to take IELTS for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship.

That does not mean every applicant can study in the UK without proving English proficiency. A selected university may impose its own English-language admission conditions, so candidates should separately check the requirements of each UK course and institution they select.

Documents Applicants Should Prepare

The CSC Master’s application requires proof of citizenship or eligible status, complete higher-education transcripts and at least two references uploaded in the required format.

Applicants also provide detailed information covering qualifications, employment history where applicable, development impact, career plans, study plans, personal background, voluntary activities and leadership experience.

PhD candidates have additional research-related requirements. The Commonwealth PhD application includes a research proposal and requires supporting material connected with the proposed UK research and supervisor arrangements. Candidates should therefore read the current PhD instructions carefully rather than relying on the Master’s document list.

Commonwealth Scholarship Development Themes

Applicants are expected to connect their proposed study with one of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s development themes.

The six areas cover science and technology for development, health systems and capacity, innovation and entrepreneurship, peace, security and governance, resilience and response to crises, and access, inclusion and opportunity.

A strong application should therefore do more than explain why the applicant wants a UK degree. It should clearly show how the planned study relates to a development problem and how the knowledge or research could contribute after the scholar returns home.

What Happens After You Apply?

HEC will evaluate applications and nominate candidates according to its eligibility and merit requirements. HEC expects the nomination stage around December 2026.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission then makes the final selection. Applicants are expected to receive outcomes by around July 2027, with successful scholars normally beginning study in the UK in September or October 2027.

An HEC nomination should therefore not be described as a confirmed scholarship award.

Important Application Warning

Do not send hard copies to HEC unless HEC specifically requests them by email. Applicants are responsible for monitoring the official HEC and CSC websites and ensuring that both online applications are properly submitted.

Also avoid relying on old Commonwealth Scholarship guides for HAT validity, stipend amounts or deadlines. These details can change from one application cycle to another.

Official Application Links

Applicants should use the HEC Scholarship Portal for the Pakistan nomination application and the appropriate Commonwealth Scholarship Commission page for the Master’s or PhD application.

The 2027–28 Commonwealth Scholarship cycle is already open, so eligible applicants should work from the current HEC and CSC instructions rather than previous-year application dates.