HEC approves 54 Pakistani institutions for foreign university programmes

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved 54 educational institutions across Pakistan to offer foreign university programmes

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved 54 educational institutions across Pakistan to offer foreign university programmes under its Transnational Education (TNE) Policy 2024.

According to the HEC list, the approved institutions are located in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan, Hyderabad, Gujranwala, Abbottabad and other cities. The approvals allow these institutions to offer programmes linked with foreign universities and awarding bodies for specified periods.

The programmes cover a wide range of disciplines, including computer science, artificial intelligence, cyber security, business, accounting, law, psychology, engineering, data science, nursing, fashion, hospitality, journalism and other fields. Foreign partners include universities and educational organisations from the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and other countries.

Among the institutions included in the HEC list are University of Bolton Islamabad Campus, Beaconhouse International College, International College for Legal Studies Lahore, Denning Law School, The Millennium Universal College, Indus University Karachi, TMUC, The IVY College of Management Sciences, University of Lahore, Roots IVY International College, International College Lahore, Lahore Grammar School International Degree Programme and Kallipollis College of Advanced Studies.

The list also includes Centre for Learning Law and Business Peshawar, Blackstone School of Law and Business Lahore, SKANS School of Accountancy Lahore, School of International Law Islamabad, Universal College Lahore and several campuses of Denning Law School and TMUC.

Several institutions received fresh approvals during 2026. Imperial Tutorial College Karachi was approved from July 24, 2026, to December 31, 2028, while IVY College of Management Sciences Islamabad received approval from July 24, 2026, to June 30, 2028. Islamabad School of Law was approved from July 27, 2026, to July 31, 2027.

International College of Excellence Islamabad is listed for programmes associated with Pearson UK and Buckinghamshire New University, covering business, computing, software engineering, computer games development, artificial intelligence, cyber security, fashion and textile studies. Its approval runs from July 28, 2026, to June 30, 2028.

Other recent approvals include SEEDS School of Excellence in Educational and Developmental Studies Peshawar, Lord’s College International Islamabad, Roots IVY International College Islamabad, Denning Law School campuses in Qasimabad Hyderabad, North Nazimabad Karachi, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi, LGS International Degree Programme Gujrat, University of Faisalabad, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology Peshawar, Universal College Islamabad and National Excellence Institute Rawalpindi.

Sarhad University has been approved to offer programmes linked with London Metropolitan University in areas including business management, accounting and finance, banking and finance, adult nursing, law, computer science, artificial intelligence, cyber security, pharmaceutical sciences and physiotherapy. Its approval is valid from August 18, 2026, to August 31, 2027.

National Excellence Institute in B-17 Rawalpindi is listed with Idea College Malta for programmes in nursing sciences, computing, early childhood education, travel and tourism, and accounting with management and analytics. Its approval runs from September 10, 2026, to August 31, 2027.

The HEC document clarifies that approval under the TNE policy does not replace requirements imposed by other professional regulators. In particular, law programmes remain subject to recognition or prior approval by the Pakistan Bar Council, while other professional programmes may require clearance from their respective regulatory bodies.

The document also contains a separate list of institutions approved under the previous TNE policy. Some earlier programmes are marked as closed, suspended or no longer accepting new admissions.