Commonwealth Scholarship 2027 Through HEC: Apply on Both Portals by 20 October

To get a UK Commonwealth Scholarship from Pakistan for 2027, you must apply twice by 20 October 2026: once to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) on CSC Central, and once to HEC at scholarship.hec.gov.pk. HEC's portal closes at 4:00 PM Pakistan time. You also need a HEC HAT score of at least 60 out of 100.

Miss either form and you are out. HEC's own announcement says so in plain words: if you fail to submit on one of the two websites, HEC is unable to accept your application.

We read HEC's announcement for the 2027-28 Commonwealth Scholarship Programme, HEC's Commonwealth eligibility page, and the CSC's own Master's and PhD pages on 27 September 2026.

Who can apply from Pakistan for 2027

Pakistani and AJ&K nationals who live permanently in Pakistan or AJ&K can apply. Master's applicants need a first division 16-year bachelor's degree. PhD applicants need a first division 17 or 18-year MS or MPhil. Dual nationals are not eligible, and there is no age limit.

You must pass both HEC's rules and the CSC's.

Result-awaiting candidates may apply if they submit the final degree before the session starts in August or September 2027.

The CSC adds a few limits of its own. It would not normally fund a second Master's, and anyone who already studied a Master's in the UK, or already held a Commonwealth Master's award, is not eligible. PhD applicants must not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to one, before September or October 2026.

HEC nominates only 56 candidates, ranked by HAT score

HEC will nominate 26 candidates for Master's and 30 for the general PhD. Merit is decided strictly by HAT score. If two applicants tie, the higher percentage in the last completed degree wins. At least 45 per cent of nominees will be women.

That is a small number for the whole country, so the HAT score is where the real contest happens. Only HAT-I, II, III and IV count. HAT tests held for university admissions do not.

The HAT on 25 October 2026 still counts

A HAT score from a test on or after 25 October 2024 can be used. HEC says the HAT scheduled for 25 October 2026 is eligible for these nominations, even though it falls after the 20 October deadline. HEC will add that score itself once results are out.

HEC's test calendar was revised on 25 August 2026 "to align registration timelines with the Commonwealth Scholarship Portal". On that calendar, registration for the 25 October HAT closes on Friday 2 October 2026, roll number slips come on 16 October, and results are due on 16 November.

So if you have no score yet, or your score is below 60, you have until 2 October to register at etc.hec.gov.pk. Still submit both scholarship forms by 20 October. HEC says those waiting on results do not need to enter the marks by hand.

HEC's older eligibility page still says 16 October 2023. Go by the 2027-28 announcement, which says 25 October 2024.

How to apply: CSC first, then HEC

HEC lists the CSC form as step one and its own portal as step two. Both must be submitted by 20 October 2026. The HEC portal opened on 8 September 2026. The CSC does not charge any fee to apply.

1. Apply for admission to your chosen UK universities now. The CSC says it may not be able to proceed if you have not applied and been accepted.
2. Register on CSC Central at portal.csccentralonline.org.uk. It uses two-factor login, so keep a smartphone or a second email ready. Save the reference number and 22-character passcode email.
3. Fill the CSC form, upload every document, and submit. You cannot edit it after submitting.
4. Update your HEC profile at scholarship.hec.gov.pk with your current email and mobile number, then choose "Learning Opportunities Abroad".
5. Submit the HEC application and download a copy. A "saved" application is not accepted.

Do not post hard copies to HEC. Write your CSC answers in a separate file first, because refreshing the browser loses unsaved work.

Deadlines and results for the 2027 intake

HEC closes at 4:00 PM Pakistan time on 20 October 2026. The CSC closes at 16:00 UK time on the same day, which is 8:00 PM in Pakistan. Nominations go to the CSC in December 2026, and results come by July 2027.

Treat 4:00 PM as your real deadline. HEC warns that its system gets very busy in the last days. From July, check your spam folder, because the CSC may withdraw an offer if you do not reply in time.

Documents and subjects the CSC asks for

Upload a valid passport or CNIC copy, full transcripts for every degree, and at least two signed references on letterhead, all as PDFs on CSC Central. PhD applicants also need a signed supporting statement from a proposed UK supervisor. Missing pages make the application ineligible.

The form itself asks for your employment history, up to 10 publications and prizes, a study plan, a personal statement, and a four-part development impact statement. That last one carries weight, because the CSC scores three things: your merit, the quality of your plan, and your likely impact on development at home.

Your subject must fit one of the CSC's six development themes:

• Science and technology for development
• Strengthening health systems and capacity
• Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship
• Strengthening global peace, security and governance
• Strengthening resilience and response to crises
• Access, inclusion and opportunity

The Master's award covers one-year taught courses only, and never an MBA. The PhD runs for 36 months, and four-year PhDs are not supported. List three universities in order, since the CSC will not change them after selection.

What the Commonwealth Scholarship pays

The award is fully funded. It pays full tuition fees, a return airfare, and a monthly stipend of £1,712, or £2,000 in London, at current rates. It adds a study travel grant, and family allowances for a spouse or children who live with you in the UK.

The CSC says family allowances are only a contribution to real costs. It does not pay fares for your family. You cannot hold another award that covers the same costs at the same time.

You must come back to Pakistan after the award

Every Commonwealth Scholar commits to returning home when the scholarship ends. The CSC says switching to a Graduate visa, or any other visa to stay in the UK, is not permitted. If you plan to work in Britain after your degree, this is the wrong award.

That rule is the biggest difference from Chevening for Pakistanis, which is also UK government funded. If the United States suits your plans better, the Fulbright scholarship through USEFP is the other big fully funded route, with its own return rule.

Common questions

Can I apply only on the CSC portal and skip HEC?

No. The CSC does not accept direct applications for these awards, and HEC is Pakistan's nominating agency. HEC says it cannot accept you unless both forms are submitted by 20 October 2026.

Is IELTS required for the Commonwealth Scholarship?

Not by the CSC. Its pages say it does not require any IELTS test. Your UK university may still ask for proof of English for admission, so check each course.

My HAT score is 55. Can I still apply?

Not with that score. HEC will not process applications below 60 out of 100. You can register for the 25 October 2026 HAT by 2 October and apply by 20 October anyway, and HEC will add the new score.

How many Pakistanis get the award?

HEC nominates 26 for Master's and 30 for PhD this round. The CSC then chooses from those, and it has not published how many Pakistanis it will select for 2027.

Where do I get help?

HEC's Scholarship Division lists its helpline as 051-111-119-432 or 0334-1119432, and online help at onlinehelp.hec.gov.pk.

Last checked and sources

We last checked this on 27 September 2026. We read HEC's Commonwealth Scholarship Programme 2027-28 announcement for nominations, the HAT rule, deadlines and the two-step process, and HEC's Commonwealth eligibility page, which still carries some 2026 wording. We read the CSC's Commonwealth Master's Scholarships page and its PhD page for eligibility, documents, the return rule and the stipend rates, which the CSC calls current levels and may change. HAT dates come from HEC's revised 2026 test calendar. We did not log in to CSC Central or the HEC portal, because both need an account.