INTRODUCTION:
The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) is pleased to announce the First batch of undergraduate Semester Exchange Program under the project 'Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships for Bangladesh, Central Asian and Friendly Countries study in Pakistan'. The program will offer over a period of five years, covering the study costs for 450 inbound undergraduate semester exchange scholarships for international students coming to Pakistan, and 600 outbound undergraduate semester exchange scholarships for Pakistani students going abroad globally (300 for central Asian and 300 for whole world).
OBJECTIVES:
- The project will help strengthen ties with Bangladesh, Central Asian and other countries to build a positive soft image of Pakistan through scholarships and student exchanges.
- The initiative will help create goodwill among the people and establish professional linkages between institutions of other countries and Pakistan.
- The project will foster people-to-people contact and expand cultural and educational cooperation.
- It will provide an opportunity for Pakistani universities to attract foreign students and showcase the quality of higher education in Pakistan.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
- Applicants must be citizens of the country of application.
- Applicants should be enrolled as full-time undergraduate students in good standing at an accredited university or college in their home country. "No Objection Certificate" (NOC) or a "Bonafide Certificate" from the home institution to ensure the student is currently active and not on academic probation, will be required.
- Applicants should demonstrate strong academic performance. Participating universities want to establish a short-term (one-semester) student exchange program, should follow a structured process to ensure smooth academic recognition, based on articulation agreement, that outlines how academic credits earned at one institution will be accepted and applied toward a degree program at another institution.
- The nominating institution shall certify that the student meets the required standard of English language proficiency for participation in the exchange program through official confirmation that the medium of instruction at the home institution is English.
- Applicants should be typically between 19 and 25 years old.
- Applicants may apply while enrolled in their second semester; however, they must have successfully completed at least two (2) semesters prior to commencement of the exchange program and must have attained a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
- The exchange semester may only be undertaken during the third (3rd), fourth (4th), fifth (5th), or sixth (6th) semester of a four-year undergraduate degree program. Students in their final academic year (7th and 8th semesters) shall not be eligible to participate."
- Applicants should demonstrate leadership potential, active involvement in community service or extracurricular activities, and a commitment to making a positive impact in their home communities.
- Before departure, students must submit a formal Learning Agreement (Study Plan) approved by their Departmental Head, specifying the exact courses to be taken and their credit-hour equivalency at the home institution.
- The program will be open to students from various academic disciplines. For Medical and Engineering, participating universities will ensure that the exchange is prescribed rules and regulation of the regulatory bodies.
- Applicants must submit the required academic documents along with an Acceptance Letter from the host university and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) / Bonafide Certificate from their parent / home university.
- Participants must comply with the laws of the host country and the academic and disciplinary regulations of the host institution. Violation may result in termination of scholarship and repatriation.
- Participants should return to their home country upon completion of the program and continue their studies or contribute to their communities.
- The semester visit can be individual or in a group of students and can be at one or more than one university.
SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS:
The scholarship provides full financial support, including:
- Enrollment Fee (one time)
- Monthly Stipend & Living Allowance
- Air travel – Economy Class (Round trip)
SCHOLARSHIP COVERAGE:
Click here to Download Scholarship Coverage Document
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Apply online at HEC - Scholarship Portal to submit the application through the prescribed Application Form.
Following documents should also be attached along with the application form in PDF format:
- Acceptance Letter from the host university
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) / Bonafide Certificate from the parent university
- Academic documents (transcripts, etc)
