ISLAMABAD: Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has announced to offer 180 scholarships in the next five years to Pakistani students who are wishing to get admission in PhD research programmes. Under an agreement signed by the two sides at QMUL’s Mile End Campus recently, 36 scholarships are going to be offered to students per year. The first batch of students is likely to join QMUL in September. HEC Chairman Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and QMUL President and Principal Prof Simon Gaskell signed the agreement for mutual collaboration. HEC will provide a maintenance allowance of £ 9,000 per year while QMUL will cover the cost of the students’ tuition fee for a maximum period of 48 months. Students will be expected to cover any extra costs stipulated by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to meet the living costs for duration of their studies. HEC and QMUL will mutually select the candidates for the final award of scholarships. The scholarships will be offered for the QMUL schools including School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, School of Engineering and Materials Sciences, School of Mathematical Sciences, School of Physics and Astronomy, School of Business and Management, School of Economics and Finance, School of Geography, School of Languages, Linguistics and Film and School of Law (Centre for Commercial Law Studies). HEC will prioritise subject area every year according to socio-economic needs of the country. Applicants must fulfill QMUL’s normal admission requirements as well as certain criteria set out by the HEC. While speaking on the occasion, HEC Chairman Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed expressed the hope that this agreement will further enhance relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom through education and research bonds. He said, “These 180 scholars will have a long lasting impact on the both the countries. We look forward to the day when these scholars will return home with their doctorate degrees to make a positive impact on our society.” QMUL President and Principal Prof Simon Gaskell said, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the HEC in Pakistan.” These students will undoubtedly enrich research at QMUL and we trust that in the long term they would help us build on our varied links with the region, he added. “Thanks to the services and high-level support offered by our schools, institutes and the doctoral college to all of our PhD students, we hope that our new HEC scholars enjoy being part of our lively and innovative inter-disciplinary community of researchers,” he said.