The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan has announced the opening of applications for the 2026 International Elite Pioneer Program at Fudan University, one of China’s leading research universities, under an academic cooperation framework linked to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The application window runs from December 25, 2025, to February 22, 2026, with enrollment expected in late August or September, subject to official admission notices from Fudan University, reports Gwadar Pro on Thursday.

According to the HEC, the program is being implemented through collaboration between the Higher Education Commission, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Unit, and the Pakistan Study Centre at Fudan University, as part of the CPEC Consortium of Universities and Collaborative Initiatives.

The initiative is designed to cultivate high-level international talent from Belt and Road partner countries, including Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Laos and Hungary, with plans for future expansion to additional countries. Under the program, Pakistani students can apply for English-taught master’s and doctoral degree programs in a wide range of disciplines.

Master’s programs include finance, international business, big data, software engineering, journalism and Chinese politics, while doctoral fields cover physics, biology, environmental science, mathematics, public management and artificial intelligence, among others.

Fudan University, based in Shanghai, is known for its strong disciplinary advantages in science and engineering, including computer science, information technology, advanced materials, microelectronics and environmental studies. The university said the program aims to align its high-quality educational resources with outstanding students from Belt and Road countries.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China