Commonwealth Scholarship 2027 through HEC: HAT Score, the Two Portal Application and the 20 October Deadline

What the scholarship pays for

• Tuition fees in full, through agreements between the Commission and UK universities.
• Return airfare from Pakistan to the UK.
• A living stipend of £1,712 a month, or £2,000 a month at universities in the London area.
• A study travel grant for study related travel in the UK or overseas.
• A child allowance if eligible: £622 a month for the first child and £154 a month for each further child.

Study starts in September or October 2027, and the Commission expects to announce results in July 2027.

Who can apply from Pakistan

• A Pakistani or AJ&K national and permanent resident of Pakistan or AJ&K. Dual nationals are not eligible.
• For a master’s: a first division in a 16 year bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• For a PhD: a first division in a 17 or 18 year master’s, MS or MPhil in a relevant field.
• HAT score of at least 60 out of 100 in HAT categories I to IV, from a test taken on or after 25 October 2024. University admission tests are not accepted.
• No upper age limit.
• The Commission also asks that you could not afford UK study without the scholarship and are available to start in September 2027.

The two portal application, step by step

1. Take the HAT now if you do not have a valid score of 60 or more. This is the step most applicants leave too late.
2. Apply on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission portal (CSC Central) for the master’s or PhD scholarship.
3. Apply on the HEC portal at scholarship.hec.gov.pk under “Learning Opportunities Abroad”. An application on only one portal is not enough.
4. Submit both by 20 October 2026. HEC closes at 4:00 pm Pakistan time. The Commission closes at 16:00 UK time, which is later. Work to the HEC time.
5. HEC shortlists and nominates; the Commission makes the final selection.

What makes an application stand out

The Commission judges three things: your academic merit, the quality of your study plan (or research proposal for a PhD), and the likely impact on development in Pakistan. The last point is where many strong graduates are vague.

• Name the problem in Pakistan your study will help with, and how you will use the degree when you return.
• Link it to your experience so far: a job, a project, research or community work.
• Choose UK courses that clearly fit that plan.
• Write every answer yourself. Misrepresented information or documents can lead HEC to cancel your application.

A realistic timeline to 20 October

If you are still waiting for your final result, HEC requires the final degree and transcript before August or September 2027.

How Westside helps scholarship applicants

We review your eligibility honestly, help you shape a clear study plan and development impact statement in your own words, and check both portal applications before you submit. If you are selected, we then guide your UK Student visa application.

Frequently asked questions

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