Education | July 2026 | 4 min read
Quick Takeaways
- HEC has invited applications for a fully funded six-month research fellowship in China.
- The call is open to full-time MS, MPhil and PhD scholars at HEC-recognised Pakistani universities.
- Applicants need an approved research topic and an acceptance letter from a Chinese host supervisor.
- Priority areas include AI, cybersecurity, climate, renewable energy, agriculture, health and CPEC-related research.
- The online application opened on July 26, 2026, and the deadline is August 14, 2026.
Pakistani postgraduate researchers now have a short-term route to conduct part of their degree work in China under a fully funded HEC fellowship linked to the CPEC Consortium of Universities.
| Duration | Eligible Level | Deadline |
| Up to 6 months | MS, MPhil and PhD | August 14, 2026 |
HEC Opens Research Fellowship in China
The Higher Education Commission has invited applications for a six-month research fellowship in China under the Academic Collaboration programme of the CPEC Consortium of Universities. The opportunity is meant for full-time MS, MPhil and PhD scholars enrolled at recognised universities in Pakistan.
Selected researchers will be able to work at Chinese universities, research institutes or laboratories while completing part of their approved degree research. The fellowship is designed to support international research exposure, academic networking and collaboration between Pakistani and Chinese institutions.
| Research Benefit The programme allows selected scholars to conduct part of their degree research in China for up to six months under a fully funded placement. |
Who Can Apply
Applicants must be Pakistani or AJK nationals, enrolled as full-time MS, MPhil or PhD scholars, and studying at an HEC-recognised Pakistani university. They must remain enrolled throughout the application, selection and research period.
The proposed research work in China must be directly linked to the applicant’s degree programme and achievable within the six-month placement. Both the applicant’s Pakistani university and the proposed Chinese host institution must be members of the CPEC Consortium of Universities.
Degree Stage Requirements
PhD applicants must have completed required coursework and should be in the research stage of their degree. They must have completed at least 18 months of enrolment and should not have exceeded three-and-a-half years in the PhD programme by the closing date.
For PhD scholars, the research topic and synopsis must be approved by the Board of Advanced Studies and Research, Directorate of Advanced Studies and Research, or an equivalent university body. MS and MPhil applicants must have completed at least 18 credit hours of coursework and should be in the thesis or research stage with an approved topic.
| Applicant Area | Main Requirement | Application Note | |
| PhD scholars | Coursework completed; at least 18 months enrolled; research topic and synopsis approved | Check enrolment duration before applying | |
| MS/MPhil scholars | At least 18 credit hours completed and thesis or research stage confirmed | Approval should come from the relevant academic body | |
| Host placement | Official acceptance or invitation letter from a Chinese supervisor | Letter should identify the host supervisor and research placement | |
| Documents | Combined PDF with identity, enrolment, transcripts, synopsis, CVs, proforma and recommendation | Saved applications are incomplete until marked Submitted | |
| Important Condition A host acceptance or invitation letter is required, and the Chinese host institution must be part of the CPEC Consortium of Universities. | |||
Priority Research Areas
HEC will give priority to proposals in national and emerging fields. These include artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, cybersecurity, robotics, automation, water management, climate change, environmental engineering, renewable energy, green technologies, advanced manufacturing, material sciences, agriculture, food security, biotechnology, infrastructure, transport, logistics, health and life sciences.
Economics, trade, Chinese studies and CPEC-related research are also included among the priority areas. Applicants from related disciplines may apply where their research proposal clearly matches the programme objectives and can be completed within the fellowship timeline.
Documents Required
Applicants must upload the required documents as one combined PDF file. The list includes CNIC, proof of Pakistani or AJK nationality, current full-time enrolment certificate, matric and intermediate certificates, bachelor’s and master’s degrees and transcripts, approved research topic and synopsis, and a research statement explaining the feasibility and future use of the work.
They must also include the official acceptance or invitation letter from the Chinese host supervisor, the Chinese supervisor’s CV, HEC foreign university acceptance proforma, the applicant’s updated CV and a recommendation letter from the local supervisor.
| Deadline Warning Applications left in Saved status will be treated as incomplete. Candidates should confirm the portal shows Submitted before the deadline. |
How to Apply
Eligible candidates must visit the official HEC programme page and open the online application form provided for the fellowship. They should complete all required sections, upload the supporting documents in a single PDF file and confirm that the final status is shown as Submitted.
A hard copy is not required at the initial application stage. HEC may ask selected candidates to submit a signed printed application and supporting documents later. The online application form opened on July 26, 2026, and the last date to apply for the HEC six-month research fellowship in China is August 14, 2026.
Disclaimer
This article is based on the supplied fellowship announcement and the official HEC programme listing visible at the time of writing. Applicants should confirm final eligibility, host-university membership, document formats and deadlines from HEC before submission.
