HEC Introduces Major Admission Change for MS, MPhil, PhD in Pakistan from Fall 2026

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced a major overhaul of postgraduate admission rules in Pakistan, making GRE/HEC ETC General and subject-based tests compulsory for MS, MPhil, and PhD programs starting from Fall 2026 admissions.

The decision will apply to all public and private universities and is targeted to provide uniformity, transparency, and merit-based selection in university admissions nationwide.

GRE/HEC ETC Now the Only Valid Entry Route for Postgraduate Programs

According to the official notification issued by the HEC Coordination Division, admissions to:

• MS / MPhil (Level 7)
• PhD (Level 8)

will now be based solely on:

• GRE General or HEC ETC General Test
• Relevant Subject Test conducted under the Education Testing Council (ETC)

Applicants who pass these standardized tests will be considered for admission.

Universities No Longer Allowed to Conduct Their Own Entry Tests

HEC has announced a new policy to prohibit universities from holding their own internal tests for admission to MS, MPhil and PhD programs.

Key changes include:

• University-level entry tests will no longer be accepted
• Internal admission exams are no longer valid for postgraduate admissions
• University-designed tests cannot replace GRE/HEC ETC standards

This move effectively centralizes the postgraduate admission testing system under HEC.

Graduate Education Policy 2023 Revised

The new policy also revises key provisions of the Graduate Education Policy 2023, including:

• Removal of the clause allowing universities to conduct entry tests with a 50% passing requirement
• Withdrawal of university-level GRE/HEC equivalent test provisions with a 60% passing score

These changes take effect immediately under the latest notification.

Why HEC Introduced This Policy Change

According to HEC, the objective of the new system is to:

• Ensure transparency in admissions
• Standardize evaluation criteria across universities
• Strengthen merit-based selection
• Improve overall quality of postgraduate education in Pakistan

Officials believe a centralized testing system will reduce inconsistencies in university admission practices.

Academic Reaction: Mixed Opinions Expected

The decision has sparked mixed responses in the academic world. Some say this is a positive step towards fairness and standardization, while others believe it could limit universities’ flexibility in implementing their own systems for admission.

Additionally, some institutions will be expected to update their admission processes in advance of the Fall 2026 deadline.

What Happens Next?

The HEC notification states that the policy is approved by the Competent Authority and it will be effective from now onwards, but will be fully enforced from the Fall 2026 admission cycle.

The students aiming to apply for MS, MPhil and PhD admissions are encouraged to be well prepared for the GRE/HEC ETC based testing requirements.