ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced this year’s PhD fellowship under which 1,000 students will be awarded scholarships to complete their doctorates covering a wide range of subjects.

The HEC had initiated a fellowship programme under which 5,000 fellowships would be given— 1,000 each year— to those students who want to carry on their studies at this level, said an official statement.

The HEC has also underlined priority areas of research in the disciplines of engineering, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, information technology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology and other basic sciences, humanities, social sciences, literature, economics, management sciences, agricultural sciences and health sciences.

The HEC announced that every candidate will be required to appear in Graduate Record Examination (GRE)-type test to be conducted by the commission.

A subject-wise merit list would be made on the basis of the GRE-type test and the academic record of the student, and fellowship in each subject would be awarded strictly on merit.

Those who would be awarded fellowship will have to execute a bond with the government of Pakistan to serve the country for a period of five years after completion of their study, preferably in an institution of higher education.