Check the HEC Law Graduates Scholarship for Balochistan: Up to US$15,000 Tuition Abroad
HEC's Law Graduates Scholarship for Balochistan pays tuition up to US$15,000 abroad. See Batch-IV rules, age limits, payments, cut-offs and how to prepare.
Short answer: HEC runs a Law Graduates Scholarship for people with a Balochistan domicile, for study in Pakistan or abroad. The last batch on the HEC site, Batch-IV, closed on 13 January 2026 and has a provisional merit list. Foreign LLM pays tuition up to US$15,000 a year. The test fee was Rs 1,000.
HEC says the scheme grew out of a deadly blast in August 2016 that killed senior lawyers in Balochistan. The Prime Minister then asked for a programme to strengthen the province's judicial system. A law graduate from Quetta, Turbat or Zhob can still read the rules now and be ready for the next batch.
We read the HEC programme pages on 14 October 2026: the introduction, the criteria, financial support, how to apply and the Batch-IV provisional merit list. We could not find a new batch, so this guide is for planning. It is not an open application.
The scheme offers 100 scholarships over five years
HEC says the Government of Pakistan approved the project in September 2018. It will award 100 scholarships in batches over five years. The goal is to help Balochistan's law students study at national and international institutions, with money from the project.
The page links a Batch-IV provisional merit list but shows no new application date. HEC also says it may postpone or cancel the process at any stage without giving a reason. Do not plan around a date that has not been announced.
Batch-IV rules set the standard to meet
For Batch-IV you needed a Balochistan domicile or local certificate, an LLB or LLM from an HEC-recognised institution with at least 50 percent marks in the bachelor degree, and at least 50 percent in the aptitude test. The age limit was 30 for LLM and 35 for PhD.
| Rule | Batch-IV condition on the HEC page |
|---|---|
| Domicile | Domicile or local certificate of Balochistan |
| Age at closing date | 30 years for LLM, 35 years for PhD |
| Degree | LLB or LLM from an HEC-recognised institution, at least 50% in the bachelor degree |
| Test | At least 50% in the aptitude test |
| Closing date | 13 January 2026 for the degree to be complete |
| Not allowed | Result-waiting students and holders of another scholarship |
HEC adds that foreign LLM and PhD candidates need an admission offer from a university in the top 500 of the QS World University Rankings. Serving employees need a No Objection Certificate and study leave. Employers in a non-law field are reviewed by the Scholarship Management Committee.
Payments cover tuition, living and travel
HEC pays the actual cost or the maximum limit, whichever is lower. Tuition goes straight to the university. For study in Pakistan, LLB and LLM tuition is capped at Rs 180,000 a year. For foreign study, tuition is capped at US$15,000 a year.
| Programme | Tuition cap | Monthly maintenance | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLB in Pakistan, 5 years | Rs 180,000 a year | Rs 10,000 | Rs 10,000 a year |
| LLM in Pakistan | Rs 180,000 a year | Rs 18,000 | Rs 10,000 a year |
| LLM abroad | US$15,000 a year | US$1,200 | US$100, once |
| PhD in Law abroad | US$15,000 a year | US$1,250 | US$300, once |
In Pakistan, travel is up to Rs 30,000 a year and hostel up to Rs 6,500 a month. Abroad, travel is Rs 100,000 each for departure and return. HEC lists no hostel line for foreign study.
Batch-IV cut-off scores show the level needed
The provisional merit list shows cut-off scores: 72.55 for PhD foreign, 76.87 for LLM foreign and 74.46 for LLM local. Use these as a guide to how competitive it was, not as a promise for the next batch. HEC says selection depends on checking your scores and papers.
To see your own status, enter your CNIC without dashes on the merit list page. If HEC finds false information, the offer is cancelled under the published criteria.
How to be ready for the next batch
Applications go through the HEC scholarship portal. HEC wants no paper copies at the first stage. You pay a Rs 1,000 test fee through a 1Link bill, press Verify Online Payment on your dashboard and then submit the completed form. Saved or incomplete applications are not considered.
- Confirm you hold a Balochistan domicile and a recognised LLB or LLM.
- Check your age against the limit for your level.
- Prepare for the aptitude test with the content weightages PDF on the HEC page, and see how the HEC LAT law test is registered.
- Collect an admission offer if you plan to study abroad.
- Watch the HEC scholarship portal for the next call.
Lawyers from Balochistan can also read how to apply for the BEEF foreign LLM and Bar-at-Law funding, and graduates in other fields may look at the HEC Coastal Region scholarship and the BEEF foreign PhD scholarship.
Common questions
Is the HEC law scholarship for Balochistan open now?
We found no open call. The last batch on the page, Batch-IV, closed on 13 January 2026.
Who can apply?
Law graduates with a Balochistan domicile and an LLB or LLM from an HEC-recognised institution.
What is the age limit?
Thirty years for LLM and 35 years for PhD, counted on the closing date of applications.
How much does HEC pay for study abroad?
Tuition up to US$15,000 a year, plus monthly maintenance of US$1,200 for LLM or US$1,250 for PhD.
Is there a test fee?
Yes. HEC listed Rs 1,000, paid by 1Link bill, non-refundable and non-transferable.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 14 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read the HEC Law Graduates Scholarship Program page and its criteria, financial support, how to apply and Batch-IV merit list pages. We could not find a new batch or date, and the pages carry no posting dates. Check the HEC portal for the current call.
About the author
Tax, Bills and Technology Writer
Ali Akhtar is a young and curious voice here at Pakistan Era. He is currently pursuing his A-Levels and has a growing interest in Pakistan’s changing industrial landscape and educational trends. Ali likes to write in a way that helps him explain and explore the world around him. His writing reflects the perspective of the new generation navigating the evolving trends of Pakistan where technology, youth innovation, and shifting opportunities are reshaping the country’s future.
