Doctoral education primarily concentrates on the cultivation of appropriate research skills to undertake an independent inquiry where eduaction is imparted through highly personalized arrangements supported by the supervisor and the supervisory committee. This goal imposes special responsibilities on the PhD student’s supervisors who must guide students towards the productive lines of research and ethical conduct and help build student’s professional career. 

The approved PhD supervisor program was initially started by the University Grant Commission. Eventually, Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST) became principal agency responsible for evaluating and approving faculty and researchers as PhD supervisor. However, PCST's emphasis was only on the discipline of Science and Technology. It was in February 2004 when the whole program was taken over by Higher Education Commission. The HEC Approved PhD Supervisor is the requirement for those scholars who have been awarded HEC scholarships.

The specific objective of this program is to identify the well-qualified, experienced and active Researchers/Scholars among the faculty member of HEC recognized Universities/Degree Awarding Institutions (DAI’s) and R&D Organizations faculty members to act as PhD supervisors for doctoral students funded under various HEC PhD Scholarship Programs

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL DISCIPLINES

1. PhD degree from HEC recognized National University/Degree Awarding Institutes (DAI’s) or reputed international University/Institution.
2. Faculty Member or Researcher at Public/Private University/DAI’s and researcher/Scientist of the R&D Organizations.
3. Adjunct faculty needs approval from head of Institution i.e. VC/ Rector for confirming their appointment.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR

“SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY”

1. At least two research publications in ISI (Institute of Scientific Information, USA) indexed journals with impact factor in the past five years.

OR

2. Cumulative Impact Factor of minimum 5.00 or more for the entire research publications record.

OR

3. PhD degree obtained within the last 05 years from a reputed foreign university.

   SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT FOR

“SOCIAL SCIENCE, ARTS & HUMANITIES, AND BUSINESS EDUCATION”

Category 1:

Candidates holding foreign Ph.D. Degree from reputed international university

Option a:        For candidates who have completed their Ph.D. in the last five years

Fresh Ph.D.’s with no Publications/ Supervisory Experience can supervise only two researchers at a time.  

 Option b:       For candidates who completed their Ph.D. more than five years ago

     Three Local publications in the last five years in at least ‘Y’ category HEC Recognized Journals.

OR

Three publications in journals listed in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Social SciSearch, Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI) and Arts & Humanities Search.

Category 2: 

Candidates holding indigenous PhD

      International teaching/ research/ fellowship experience at post-doc level for at least a semester and three publications in the last five years in at least ‘Y’ category HEC Recognized Journals.

OR

Three publications in journals listed in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Social SciSearch, Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI) and Arts & Humanities Search.

HEC Approved Ph.D. supervisors registration is an ongoing process and applications can be submitted at any time. In order to make the entire application process easier for Ph.D. supervisors, a Project Management Unit has been established at HEC to oversee day-to-day details and facilitate communications. Applications will be received on a rolling basis and approval is based on the recommendations of the Review Committee. Following steps are involved in an applications process at HEC:

• File formal application. 

• Acknowledgements are send on receiving of Application form on the prescribed Performa through Proper Channel to HEC.

• Scrutiny of applications as per approved eligibility criteria.

• Applicants who did not meet the eligibility criteria of HEC will be informed through email about their shortcomings.

• Approval of recommended applications by the Competent Authority.

• Issuance of confirmation letters and positing of names with key information on HEC website under the title of “Approved Ph.D. Supervisors”

• HEC will also post brief profiles of approved Ph.D. supervisors which will be accessible through the link on the list of the “Approved PhD Supervisors” 

Please also note that the scholars who have not been selected may submit their application for reconsideration for registration as soon as they fulfill any of the eligibility criteria.

• HEC Approved Supervisor’s Proforma

The Process for Annual Review of supervisors:

All scholars on the HEC Approved Ph.D. supervisors list will be evaluated on yearly basis in term of research publication advanced graduate students supervised and number of student completed their degree requirements during the reporting year.