The Higher Education Commission has centralised the admission process for MPhil and PhD programmes by making GRE/HAT tests conducted through its Education Testing Council compulsory for admissions from Fall 2026.
Under the revised policy, universities across Pakistan will no longer be allowed to conduct separate entry tests for Level-VII (MS/MPhil or equivalent) and Level-VIII (PhD or equivalent) programmes. Admissions will instead be based solely on GRE/HAT General and relevant subject tests administered by the HEC.
The policy was confirmed by HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmed following the issuance of an official notification.
Universities barred from conducting separate tests
According to the HEC, the revised policy aims to improve transparency, quality, uniformity and merit-based admissions in higher education institutions.
The commission reviewed the admission mechanism under the Graduate Education Policy 2023 and concluded that a standardised national-level testing system was needed for postgraduate admissions.
As part of the changes, universities will no longer conduct separate “rigorous admission tests” for MPhil programmes requiring a minimum 50 per cent passing score. Similarly, institutions will no longer be permitted to hold GRE/HAT-equivalent tests for PhD admissions with a 60 per cent qualifying threshold.
The HEC directed all universities and higher education institutions to implement the revised policy from Fall 2026 admissions onward.
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