Higher Education Commission emblemHigher Education CommissionNational Digital Library

Institutional Access

Bring the Digital Library to your institution.

One application can open institution-wide access to HEC's scholarly resources.

Apply for Digital Library Grant See the Four Steps Download Briefing PDF

01 / Application Path

From application to access.

Apply online, complete HEC's review, then activate access.

  1. 01

    Confirm Your Category

    Choose your HEC category and Basic or Premium access.

  2. 02

    Apply Online

    Submit institution, technical, and supporting details through the Digital Library Grant.

  3. 03

    Wait for Review

    HEC reviews eligibility, demand, license availability, and subscription requirements. Allow 2 to 3 working weeks for HEC to review a complete application and convey its decision.

  4. 04

    Clear the Cost-Sharing Bill

    Return the signed institutional agreement on a stamp paper of Rs. 100/-. Access follows clearance.

02 / Who Can Apply

Membership is granted to institutions, not individuals.

These categories follow HEC's cost-sharing tariff. Individual licenses are unavailable.

Eligible Institutions

  • Public-Sector Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Degree Awarding Institutions (DAIs).
  • Private-Sector Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Degree Awarding Institutions (DAIs).
  • Public & Private Affiliated Colleges - Affiliated with an HEC-Recognized University / In the process of receiving the Affiliation.
  • Government Institutions.
  • Constitutional Bodies.
  • Autonomous Bodies.
  • Semi-Autonomous Bodies.
  • Inter-Governmental Organizations.

03 / Cost Sharing

Current Applicable Cost Sharing Model

  • Public Sector HEIs / DAIs / Affiliated Colleges / Affiliation in Process

    Basic ResourcesRs. 200,000Per Year
    Premium Resources50%of Actual License Cost*

  • Private Sector HEIs / DAIs / Affiliated Colleges / Affiliation in Process

    Basic ResourcesRs. 1,000,000Per Year
    Premium Resources75%of Actual License Cost*

  • Government Institutions, Constitutional, Autonomous and Semi-Autonomous Bodies etc.

    Basic ResourcesRs. 200,000Per Year
    Premium Resources100%of Actual License Cost*

  • Inter-Governmental Organizations

    Basic ResourcesRs. 1,000,000Per Year
    Premium Resources100%of Actual License Cost*

Premium cost varies by resource and may increase each year. Before choosing a Premium resource, email the National Digital Library Programme at ndlp@hec.gov.pk for the current license cost and your institution's share.

Basic and Premium Options

Basic Resources 3

One annual bundle with every Basic resource listed below.

Premium Resources 10

Choose one Premium resource or several. Each is priced separately at your sector share of its license cost.

Open the full resource catalogue

Your institution's share helps keep this research service going.

The amount shown is your institution's contribution, not the full publisher price. HEC pays publishers under agreed licenses, while institutions contribute according to their category. Basic uses one annual bundle price. Premium is selected resource by resource, with your category's share calculated for each choice.

04 / Why Cost Sharing

Shared responsibility keeps access sustainable.

The National Digital Library is shared national research infrastructure. Cost sharing sustains publisher licenses and supports fair, responsible access.

The programme was free from 2002-03 to 2019. Since 2020, cost sharing has protected continuity while HEC continues substantial support, especially for Basic.

Before You Submit

Know these four conditions.

  • 01One-Year TermJanuary to December.
  • 02Full PaymentPay upfront; no pro-rating.
  • 03Institutional NetworkIP-based access through your institution.
  • 04Automatic RenewalTo stop renewal, notify HEC at least 90 days before the next January to December period.

Ready to begin?

Start your Digital Library Grant application.

Review the official HEC guidance, then apply through the Research Management System.

Open research.hec.gov.pk