HEC Scholarship for Balochistan and FATA Students 2026-27

HEC runs a dedicated undergraduate scholarship for students from Balochistan and the erstwhile FATA (the merged tribal districts) to study at HEC-recognised universities anywhere in Pakistan. It pays tuition and hostel up to Rs 2 lakh a year and a living allowance of Rs 12 thousand a month, and each batch has 1,000 awards split equally between the two regions. The 2026-27 call is not out yet: HEC said on 6 March 2026 that 1,000 scholarships "will be advertised for the Academic Session 2026-27", and the last batch closed on 23 October 2025.

This guide explains who qualifies, what the scholarship covers, how selection works and how to get ready. We read every fact on 2 November 2026 on HEC's own pages: the Phase-III page, its FAQs, the eligibility page and HEC's March 2026 news release. The next advertisement is the final word, and its rules may change.

Is the 2026-27 round open?

Not yet, as of 2 November 2026. HEC's Phase-III page still shows the last round (Batch-IV), whose online applications closed on 23 October 2025 after an extension. HEC's news release of 6 March 2026 said:

• Phase III was approved in January 2023 for 5,000 undergraduate scholarships, and 3,000 had been awarded.
• Selection for the 2025-26 batch of 1,000 was in its final stage.
• Another 1,000 undergraduate scholarships will be advertised for 2026-27.

HEC has not published the 2026-27 dates. Last year's round closed in late October, but we can't say when this year's will open. Check the Phase-III page and our deadlines page, and get your documents ready now (see below).

Who can apply?

HEC's FAQs and eligibility page list these rules:

• Domicile: you and your father must both have a valid domicile or local certificate from Balochistan or the erstwhile FATA, verified by the district administration. A domicile from anywhere else is not accepted.
• Marks: 12 years of education (FA, FSc, ICS, ICom, DAE or equivalent) with at least 60% marks. O and A level students need an IBCC equivalence certificate.
• Age: at most 22 on the closing date, with no relaxation.
• Results in hand: your qualification must be complete by the closing date. Students waiting for a result, a re-totalling or an improvement result can't apply.
• Already at university? Students already enrolled in a bachelor's can apply if they meet the rules.
• No other scholarship: anyone already receiving financial help or a scholarship from HEC, a university or any other source is not eligible.

IN and OUT categories

HEC gives 90% of the seats to "IN" candidates, who did their FA or FSc at an institution inside Balochistan's districts or the erstwhile FATA tribal districts, shared out by population. The other 10% go to "OUT" candidates, who studied elsewhere. Pick the right category: HEC says data can't be changed after you submit.

What does it pay?

HEC's FAQs list:

The award is for one year at a time, extended each year for the length of the degree (four to five years) if your results are satisfactory. It is for undergraduate study at HEC-recognised public or private universities in Pakistan, not abroad.

HEC also keeps a limited number of reserved seats at public universities for its Balochistan and FATA scholars, given on open merit among those selected. HEC says it does not guarantee a university place, and the minimum entry rules for medical and engineering admission still apply. Students already in MBBS, BDS or engineering programmes are not considered for reserved seats, but can still be considered for the scholarship.

How selection works

• Aptitude test: every applicant sits HEC's own aptitude test through the Education Testing Council (ETC), even with an NTS, USAT or MDCAT score. The pass mark is 50%. You choose the test category from your intermediate subjects.
• Merit: academic record counts 50% (matric 20%, intermediate 30%) and the test 50%.
• Quota: awards follow merit within district quotas, not open merit alone. When scores tie, HEC prefers the older candidate.

Our guide to HEC's HAT and USAT rules explains HEC's other tests, which are separate from this one.

How to apply, and what it costs

Last round, HEC's FAQs said:

1. Apply online on HEC's portal only. Hard copies, couriers and hand delivery are not accepted.
2. Upload a CNIC (front and back), your and your father's or guardian's domicile attested by the district administration, and board-attested certificates, each as a PDF of up to 5 MB.
3. Pay HEC's Rs 500 application and test fee (non-refundable) through 1Link 1Bill at a bank, ATM or mobile banking, using the consumer number the portal gives you.
4. Click "Submit Application / Verify Payment" and make sure you receive the acknowledgement email. Saved or incomplete forms are not considered, and nothing can be edited after you submit.

If selected, you sign a legal bond on judicial stamp paper and return a signed acceptance form within one month, or the award goes to the next person on the waiting list. HEC says anyone who accepted in an earlier batch can't receive it again. False statements or forged documents lead to rejection or cancellation.

Use our paperwork checklist to gather the domicile, CNIC and attested results early, because district attestation can take time.

A word on fees and agents

The only payment HEC asks for is its own Rs 500 fee, paid through the 1Bill consumer number generated on HEC's portal. Apply only on HEC's website or through your university's financial aid office. Never pay an agent, a "consultant" or anyone offering a "processing fee" or a guaranteed seat: HEC says awards are on merit and quota, and it guarantees no placement. Our guide to avoiding scholarship scams lists the warning signs. For questions, HEC's FAQs give the email bf3@hec.gov.pk.

Other help for Balochistan students

If you don't qualify, or are waiting for the call, look at the HEC Need-Based Scholarship, which universities run with their own last dates, the Balochistan Education Endowment Fund on our scholarship page, and interest-free student loans. You can't hold this scholarship alongside another one, so check each scheme's rules before accepting.

Your next step

Save HEC's Phase-III page and our scholarship page, get your and your father's domicile verified now, and prepare for the aptitude test. When HEC posts the 2026-27 advertisement, read it in full, because dates, amounts and rules can change from batch to batch, and apply well before the closing date.