HEC Changes PhD Admission Process With National Mandatory Test

In practice, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) is introducing a new national standardised test that will be mandatory for admission to PhD programmes throughout Pakistan.

Key points

• ETC Chief Executive Officer Dr Muhammad Imtiaz Haider remarked subject committees have been established for 89 disciplines to develop HAAT assessments.
• The initiative reached a major milestone after the ETC finalised assessment designs for 48 PhD disciplines during the first phase of its HAAT Subject Committee Session.
• More than 250 academics, subject specialists and university representatives from 81 public and private universities participated in the session.
• The ETC began developing HAAT in May 2026 as part of efforts to standardise the assessment process for doctoral admissions.
• Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, who inaugurated the session, stressed the need for a transparent, merit-based and uniform assessment system for graduate admissions nationwide.

Known as the Higher Education Aptitude and Achievement Test (HAAT), the assessment is being developed by HEC's Education Testing Council (ETC) to create a uniform system for evaluating candidates seeking admission to doctoral programmes. Test Designs Finalised for 48 PhD Disciplines.

Notably, the initiative reached a major milestone after the ETC finalised assessment designs for 48 PhD disciplines during the first phase of its HAAT Subject Committee Session.

More than 250 academics, subject specialists and university representatives from 81 public and private universities participated in the session. HEC Announces Mandatory Skill Test for CS and IT Students.

HEC Chairman Prof. Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, who inaugurated the session, stressed the need for a transparent, merit-based and uniform assessment system for graduate admissions nationwide. HAAT to Cover 89 Disciplines.

According to He additionally, the new test will be mandatory for PhD admissions throughout Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the ETC began developing HAAT in May 2026 as part of efforts to standardise the assessment process for doctoral admissions. NUML Announces Spring 2027 Admissions Throughout Multiple Campuses.

During the first phase, subject committees approved test designs and Tables of Specifications for 48 PhD disciplines after reviewing their academic relevance and alignment with graduate-level research requirements.

Notably, the remaining disciplines are projected to be covered as HEC continues the development of the national assessment framework. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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In short, HEC Changes PhD Admission Process With National Mandatory Test is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.