AIMS Overseas Doctoral Scholarship
Award-specific financial and academic support for selected candidates pursuing a PhD at an eligible international university.
Component-based support, not automatically fully funded.Tuition, bench fees and desk fees are excluded unless the signed award letter expressly includes them. The signed individual award remains controlling.
Programme overview
The AIMS Overseas Doctoral Scholarship provides award-specific financial and academic support for selected candidates pursuing a PhD at an eligible international university.
For international awards under the current framework, the host university should be placed within the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings overall table in the edition used when the award is approved. AIMS records the ranking edition and evidence date in each award file.
| Status | Active for existing awards New candidates by invitation or institutional nomination |
|---|---|
| Study level | PhD / doctoral degree |
| Location | Eligible international universities |
| University criterion | Top 200 in the applicable QS World University Rankings overall table |
| Standard duration | Up to four years, reviewed annually |
| Extension | Possible only after academic, host, and financial approval |
| Application method | Invitation or authorised institutional nomination |
| Public application deadline | No open public deadline at present |
| Award activation | Begins after verified joining or enrolment and completion of required administration |
Candidate profile
A suitable candidate should normally:
- have a strong relevant academic record;
- be academically prepared for doctoral research;
- hold or be pursuing a formal offer from an eligible university;
- provide a credible research proposal and study plan;
- meet the host university’s academic and language requirements;
- disclose other scholarships, employment, and financial support;
- demonstrate the ability to complete the degree and contribute through teaching, mentoring, research, or institutional service;
- agree to progress monitoring and obtain approval before material changes.
AIMS may request transcripts, degree certificates, curriculum vitae, research proposal, admission or supervisor correspondence, host cost information, ranking evidence, references, identity evidence, funding declarations, and other documents reasonably required for assessment.
Standard 2026 award framework
The following public description generalises the terms used in the current doctoral-award model. The signed individual award remains controlling.
Tuition and institutional fees
AIMS doctoral sponsorship does not automatically cover tuition fees, bench fees, desk fees, laboratory fees, or other charges imposed by the host university. If AIMS agrees to any such payment, the amount, recipient, schedule, and conditions must appear expressly in the award letter or an authorised amendment.
Maintenance allowance
The standard 2026 maintenance reference is EUR 2,100 per month for the scholar. Where an accompanying spouse is expressly approved under the award, the total monthly maintenance reference may increase to EUR 3,200 per month from the approved eligibility date.
AIMS may adjust the maintenance basis where the host country, immigration authority, university, or approved award terms require a different amount. No adjustment is valid until AIMS confirms it in writing.
Medical or health insurance
An award may reimburse eligible medical or health-insurance costs for the approved degree period up to PKR 100,000 in total, subject to the award letter, proof of payment, policy evidence, and finance review. Costs above the approved cap are the scholar’s responsibility unless AIMS issues a written amendment.
Spouse and dependants
Spouse-related maintenance applies only when expressly included in the award and after AIMS receives the required evidence. The standard framework does not provide support for parents, siblings, children, or other dependants unless an individual award states otherwise.
Travel, visa, residence, and research costs
International travel, visa or residence-permit charges, relocation, equipment, fieldwork, conferences, publication fees, and research costs are not automatically included. These items require express written approval and an identified budget.
Duration and annual renewal
An award may support up to four years of doctoral study. The first approval period is normally one year. Renewal for later years depends on satisfactory progress, active registration, compliance with award conditions, and continued financial approval.
Start of funding
Funding starts from the approved joining or enrolment date after AIMS receives acceptable confirmation from the host university. An admission offer alone does not activate payment.
Progress reporting
The scholar must submit:
- joining or enrolment confirmation after arrival or registration;
- an annual progress report;
- supervisor or doctoral-school confirmation where requested;
- an updated completion plan if milestones change;
- notice of leave, interruption, delayed progress, disciplinary issues, or changed immigration status;
- a final completion report and degree evidence.
Change of programme or university
The scholar may not change the approved university, degree, principal subject, study mode, or material research plan without prior written AIMS approval. AIMS will consider academic suitability, ranking, cost, time, immigration, and available funding. Approval is not guaranteed.
Teaching and academic contribution
A doctoral award may require the scholar to contribute up to one day per week to approved teaching, mentoring, research-support, or academic-development activity. The duty must be compatible with the host university’s rules, the scholar’s visa or residence conditions, and satisfactory doctoral progress. The scholar should provide an agreed schedule after consultation with the supervisor.
Post-study service
Where included in the award, the scholar must complete one year of service or an approved equivalent contribution to AIMS after completing the PhD. The service should normally begin within eight years of degree completion. AIMS may approve an equivalent arrangement involving teaching, mentoring, research collaboration, curriculum development, or knowledge transfer.
Suspension and termination
AIMS may suspend, revise, or end an award where:
- the scholar does not join the approved programme;
- registration or satisfactory progress is not maintained;
- reports or required evidence are not provided;
- information is materially false or incomplete;
- the scholar changes the programme or university without approval;
- another funding arrangement creates prohibited double funding;
- the host institution suspends or terminates the scholar;
- visa, legal, ethical, disciplinary, or financial circumstances prevent continuation;
- the scholar seriously breaches the accepted award terms.
Before an adverse decision, AIMS should give the scholar written notice and an opportunity to respond, except where urgent suspension is required to prevent fraud, unlawful payment, or serious risk.
Selection workflow
- Candidate identified through invitation or authorised nomination.
- Documents and eligibility reviewed.
- Academic and research assessment completed.
- Interview or research presentation held where needed.
- Admission, ranking, identity, and funding information verified.
- Conflicts of interest recorded.
- Scholarship recommendation prepared.
- Finance confirms the proposed commitment.
- Authorised AIMS officer issues a conditional award.
- Scholar accepts the terms and completes activation requirements.
- Funding begins after verified joining or enrolment.