HEC Announces Special HAT Test Date for Overseas Scholarships

The Higher Education Commission has scheduled a special HAT test for students applying for major international scholarships, with the exam scheduled for Sunday, August 30, 2026.

This round is for candidates going for Commonwealth Scholarships, Chinese Government Scholarships, and other international scholarship programs supported by HEC. It is conducted by the Education Testing Council, the same body that runs the HAT throughout the year.

Registration reopened on July 19. That window closed on August 3, so anyone who missed it will have to wait for the next testing cycle.

It is specifically aimed at those applying for MS, MPhil, and PhD or Doctorate scholarships, whether directly through HEC or through one of its international partner organizations.

The test will be conducted in major cities across Pakistan, although HEC has not yet made the full list of centres publicly available. Candidates who have registered should obtain their roll number slips closer to the exam date.

A valid HAT score is not optional here, it is one of the eligibility requirements for these scholarships. Scores are valid for two years, so students who already have a recent score on file do not need to retake it, as per the specific scholarship requirements.

HEC has simultaneous applications open for its overseas scholarships for MS/MPhil and PhD at top 200 universities in the world as per QS or Times Higher Education rankings. That application window is closing on August 28, just two days before this special HAT.

Students interested in applying should check both deadlines carefully, as the scholarship application and the eligibility test run on separate but closely scheduled schedules. HEC has said that updates on both will continue to be posted on its official website and through the ETC portal.