Public and private universities across Pakistan have been granted a one-year exemption from implementing the new MPhil and PhD admission testing policy.
The Higher Education Commission has postponed the new testing policy for admissions to MPhil, MS, and PhD programs for one year due to a lack of preparedness among universities.
Under the new policy, starting from 2027, GRE/HAT General and relevant subject tests will become mandatory. Admissions to Level 7 (MS/MPhil or equivalent) and Level 8 (PhD or equivalent) programs will only be granted on the basis of GRE/HAT General and subject tests conducted under the Education Testing Council (ETC).
However, during 2026, universities will still be allowed to conduct their own separate or internal admission tests for MPhil, MS, and PhD programs.
Earlier through an official notification the HEC had made it mandatory that applicants for Level 7 and Level 8 degree programmes would be required to pass either the GRE or HAT examinations, while universities would no longer be allowed to conduct separate entry tests for admissions.
The commission had stated the new policy would ensure standardisation, transparency, quality, uniformity and merit in higher education admissions nationwide.
This one-year exemption is expected to provide relief to thousands of students preparing for MPhil, MS, and PhD programs, as universities will continue conducting their prevailing admission procedures for another year before the new centralized testing system becomes mandatory in 2027
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