The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced the HEC Research Awards 2026-27 and invited applications from researchers, faculty members and scholars across Pakistan.
According to the HEC, the awards aim to recognise and encourage researchers who have made significant contributions to intellectual, academic and social development. The HEC Research Awards have been divided into three main categories: Best Researcher, Best Young Researcher and Best Publication.
The recipient of the Best Publication Award will receive a cash prize of Rs1 million, while the Best Researcher and Best Young Researcher, for researchers under the age of 40, will each receive Rs500,000 along with a certificate.
The awards will be presented across three broad disciplinary groups. The first group covers Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Law, Education, Management and Public Policy. The second includes Physical Sciences, Engineering, Technology, Computer Science, Statistics and Mathematics.
The third group comprises Life Sciences, Biological Sciences, Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences.
Eligible Pakistani researchers can submit their applications through the online portal by 11:59 p.m. on October 31, 2026. Applications will undergo an initial administrative screening, after which eligible submissions will be evaluated by subject-matter experts and review panels.