ISLAMABAD — The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has officially opened applications for the HEC Research Awards 2026–27. The national competition invites scholars, academic faculty, and researchers across Pakistan to submit their work to recognize outstanding research, promote high-impact publications, and reward contributions to intellectual and socio-economic development.
Winners in selected categories will receive official certificates alongside cash prizes of up to Rs. 1,000,000 (Rs. 10 Lakh).
For more updates on higher education opportunities and academic recognitions, visit our HEC Recognized Universities section.
Award Categories & Prize Breakdown
The HEC Research Awards 2026–27 are split across three primary categories:
- Best Publication (Rs. 1,000,000 Cash Prize): Awarded to an outstanding scholarly book or research article that has made a lasting impact on future research or socio-economic development. The publication must be published in an HEC-recognized W-category journal or by a reputed academic press, have no more than three authors, and be no older than three years prior to January 1, 2026.
- Best Researcher (Rs. 500,000 Cash Prize): Recognizes established researchers for a cumulative body of high-quality research work and lifetime intellectual contributions. Applicants must have been residents of Pakistan for at least three years as of January 1, 2026.
- Best Young Researcher (Rs. 500,000 Cash Prize): Designed for early-career scholars under the age of 40 (as of January 1, 2026) who demonstrate exceptional potential and impact in their field. Applicants must have resided in Pakistan for at least one year by January 1, 2026.
Recognized Disciplinary Domains
Awards will be conferred separately across three broad academic streams:
- Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities, Law, Education, Management, and Public Policy.
- Physical Sciences, Engineering, Technology, Computer Science, Statistics, and Mathematics.
- Life Sciences, Biological Sciences, Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Agriculture, and Veterinary Sciences.
Key Eligibility & Rules
- Applicants and credited authors must not have been blacklisted by the HEC and must adhere strictly to HEC’s plagiarism policies.
- Research articles must have a minimum citation count of 100 for the Best Publication category.
- Applicants who qualify for both “Best Researcher” and “Best Young Researcher” can only apply for one of the two individual categories.
- Publications that have previously won or been submitted for the same award category are ineligible.
How to Apply & Deadline
Interested researchers and faculty members must complete and submit their application forms online via the official HEC portal.
- Application Portal: HEC Research Portal
- Official Guidelines & Info: HEC Research Awards Info Page
- Submission Deadline: Saturday, October 31, 2026 (11:59 PM PKT)
The HEC has stated that incomplete or late submissions will not be considered for administrative screening or technical review.
