HEC invites applications for Research Awards 2026–27

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has invited researchers and scholars to apply for its Research Awards 2026–27, with applications closing on 31 October.

The awards aim to recognise research excellence, contributions to intellectual development and publications that have had a significant or lasting impact, according to HEC.

The competition has three categories: Best Researcher, Best Young Researcher and Best Publication.

Winners will receive certificates along with cash prizes. The Best Researcher and Best Young Researcher awards each carry Rs500,000, while the Best Publication award carries Rs1 million. The Best Researcher Award is intended to recognise researchers whose body of published work demonstrates significant contributions to intellectual and social development.

The Best Young Researcher Award is for early-career researchers aged under 40. HEC says the category considers both research achievements and the potential for further contributions.

The Best Publication Award is open to scholarly books and journal articles judged to have a significant potential impact on research, human welfare or socio-economic development.

Applicants who are eligible for both the Best Researcher and Best Young Researcher categories must choose one of the two, according to HEC’s guidance.

The awards are offered across three broad disciplinary groups.

These include social sciences, arts and humanities, law, education, management and public policy; physical sciences, engineering, technology, computer science, statistics and mathematics; and life sciences, biological sciences, health sciences, pharmacy, agriculture and veterinary sciences.

Application deadline

HEC says the deadline for the current call is 31 October 2026.

Applicants are required to submit their applications through the HEC Research Awards system and provide the supporting material specified in the application guidance.

The commission says applications will first undergo administrative screening before eligible submissions are assessed by relevant review panels and subject experts.

Applicants should check the official HEC requirements carefully before submitting their forms, particularly the eligibility criteria and supporting-document requirements.

HEC Research Awards details