The Pakistani Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved regulations for undergraduate and MPhil/PhD programs in universities and degree institutions across the nation. These regulations will take effect in 2023 and will apply to all new admissions.
The policies were accepted during the commission meeting before Eid, and precise details about the two-year associate degree (AD) and four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) programs were clarified. At both the undergraduate and Master of Philosophy (MPhil)/Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) levels, significant changes were made to the admissions process, framework, and program structure.
The examination results for the AD programs, which will henceforth be held at public and private institutions related to universities, will be based on CGPA rather than grades or division.
Furthermore, entrepreneurship will be required in general education for all associate degree and bachelor’s degree programs. For the first time, the four-year BS program allows for double specialization (double major) by crediting up to 168 hours.
If the university administers the admission exam, passing grades at the MPhil level have been raised to 60%, while passing marks at the Ph.D. level have been raised to 70%. If a student wishes to pursue a Ph.D. in an inter-disciplinary intra-qualification discipline, they must pass the admission exam with an average of 70% or above.
Under the undergraduate policy, mandatory General Education topics will be 30 credit hours and must be completed during the first four semesters of the BS on the Associate Degree model.
Passing scores for the admission exam have been increased in the MPhil/Ph.D. policy to 60% at the MPhil level and 70% at the Ph.D. level if the university conducts the entrance test.
The practical learning lab (sports, youth club, and entrepreneurship) has been withdrawn from the undergraduate policy, and a necessary 3-credit hour internship has been added to the field experience category in AD and BS degrees.
