HEC centralizes MPhil and PhD admissions, ends university entry tests

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has introduced a major reform in Pakistan’s higher education system by

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has introduced a major reform in Pakistan’s higher education system by ending the practice of universities conducting their own entry tests for MPhil and PhD admissions.

Under the new policy, all admissions to MS/MPhil (Level-VII) and PhD (Level-VIII) programmes from Fall 2026 will be based only on standardized tests administered by HEC.

These include the GRE or HAT General and subject-specific tests conducted through the HEC Education Testing Council (ETC). Universities will no longer be allowed to hold separate admission tests as an alternative.

Officials say the move is aimed at improving uniformity, transparency, and merit in postgraduate admissions across the country. The HEC believes a single national testing system will reduce inconsistencies between institutions and ensure a more standardized evaluation process for candidates.

The commission has formally issued a notification confirming the change. HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmed has also endorsed the new policy framework, confirming its implementation from the upcoming admission cycle.

According to the notification, the policy has been introduced after reviewing the existing Graduate Education Policy 2023. The commission concluded that a centralized and reliable testing mechanism was necessary to maintain academic standards at the graduate level.

As part of the revision, several earlier provisions have been withdrawn immediately. These include rules that previously allowed universities to conduct their own “rigorous admission tests” with separate passing criteria for MPhil and PhD programmes.

Under the old system, universities could set their own entry requirements and conduct independent tests. That flexibility has now been removed.

HEC has directed all public and private universities to fully implement the new system starting from Fall 2026 admissions. Institutions have been instructed to align their admission processes strictly with HEC-administered GRE/HAT results.

Officials say the decision is part of broader efforts to strengthen quality assurance in higher education and bring Pakistani universities closer to international admission standards.