TWAS-CUI Postgraduate Fellowship Programme

Please use the “apply now” button at the bottom of this page to start your application once the call is open.

Opening date of this fellowship: 8 May 2026

Closing date of this fellowship: 15 June 2026

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the preliminary acceptance letter from CUI as early as possible. Keeping in mind that only acceptance letters dated the same year as the year of application are eligible.

Programme details

• TWAS-CUI Postgraduate Fellowships are tenable in the departments and laboratories of the campuses of the COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI).
• FULL-TIME Fellowships (for those not registered for a PhD in their home country): The Fellowship may granted for a period of up to 3 years. Candidates will register for their PhD in the relevant department at one of the campuses of CUI, Pakistan.

• CUI-TWAS Fellowships are offered in the following areas of the natural and related applied sciences: 

  Computer Science
  Computer Engineering
  Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials (IRCBM)
  Mathematics
  Environmental Sciences
  Biotechnology
  Chemistry
  Pharmacy

• CUI-TWAS Fellowships are also offered in the following social and economic sciences: 

  Management Science, Development Studies

• CUI will provide a monthly stipend which should be used to cover living costs such as food, accommodation and health insurance. The monthly stipend will not be convertible into foreign currency.
• Successful applicants will be able to join from the Autumn semester in September 2026 or the Spring semester, in February 2027 with exception of the Abbottabad campus where Spring semester starts in March (depending availability of PhD programmes).
• The language of instruction is English.

Eligibility

Applicants for these fellowships must meet the following criteria:

• be nationals of a developing country (other than Pakistan);
• must not be on site in Pakistan;
• must not hold any visa for temporary or permanent residency in Pakistan or any developed country;
• hold an MSc degree (with research) in a field of natural sciences;
• IF applying in a field of eligible social sciences, hold a MSc degree in a field of social sciences;
• be a maximum age of 35 years by 31 December in the year of application;

• FULL-TIME Fellowships applicants:
  a) must be willing to register at CUI, Pakistan;

  b) must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent degree, with thesis of 06 credit hours and with no less than 3.0/4.0 CGPA or 60% marks, and without “D” grades throughout the academic career; 

  c) must pass a Graduate Record Examinations- GRE (Subject) test as per policy of the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan (HEC) or must sit the Graduate Assessment Test (GAT subject) managed by the National Testing Service, Pakistan (NTS) within the first semester of studies at CUI and score a minimum mark of 60;

  d) must apply online for admission at CUI through the CUI International Admissions Portal portal at http://international.admissions.comsats.edu.pk/. In applying online, candidates must select the option "CUI-TWAS fellowship" and must also submit the scanned copy of all academic certificates (transcripts and degrees). If accepted, candidates will be issued an Acceptance Letter from CUI and then they MUST apply via the TWAS online portal for the CUI-TWAS fellowship.

  e) For any inquiry, please contact Mr. Kashif Masood, Deputy Registrar (International) by email at cuitwasfellowships@comsats.edu.pk

• provide evidence of proficiency in English, if medium of education was not English;
• provide evidence that s/he will return to her/his home country on completion of the fellowship;
• not take up other assignments during the period of her/his fellowship;
• be financially responsible for any accompanying family members and for any delay incurred in completing the fellowship.

Submitting your application

• No sandwich PhD option is available for the call in 2026.
• The call for applications is open until 15 June 2026.
• Applicants must submit an Acceptance Letter from CUI when applying, or by the deadline at the latest. Without preliminary acceptance the application will not be considered for selection.
• Reference letters must be on letter-headed paper and signed and submitted via the online portal only!  N.B. Only signed reference letters can be accepted.
• Applications can only be accepted via the online portal using the apply now button at the bottom of this page.

Contact details

• TWAS Fellowships Office
ICTP Campus
Strada Costiera 11
34151 Trieste, Italy
Phone: +39 040 2240-3555
E-mail: fellowships@twas.org

• COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI)
Mr. Kashif Masood
Deputy Registrar (International)
Park Road, Tarlai Kalan
Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
Tel: (+9251) 9049 5272
Fax: (+9251) 924 7010
E-mail: cuitwasfellowships@comsats.edu.pk