HEC Bans New Admissions in Annual, Private-Mode Associate Degree Programs

Meanwhile, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has directed higher education institutions (HEIs) to stop offering Associate Degree Programs (ADPs) through annual and private-candidate modes after worries over non-compliance with its undergraduate education policy.

Key points

• 5 Fully-Funded Master's and MSc Scholarships in Australia Closing in September 2026.
• Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
• Add as a preferredSource on Google Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp.
• The commission additionally directed institutions to ensure that their admission, prospectuses and academic offerings comply with the HEC Undergraduate Education Policy.
• The data must include the program title, mode of study, session or year of enrollment, number of enrolled students and number of graduates.

In a notification issued on September 25, HEC remarked some institutions had continued offering ADPs through annual and private-candidate systems after the phase-out of conventional BA and BSc programs. According to The commission, some institutions had only changed the titles of former BA/BSc programs to ADPs without aligning their structure and delivery methods with HEC policy.

HEC remarked such practices could create difficulties for graduates in degree attestation, equivalence, further education and employment. The commission directed all HEIs to submit program-wise and session-wise consolidated data of students enrolled in such ADPs.

Meanwhile, the data must include the program title, mode of study, session or year of enrollment, number of enrolled students and number of graduates. While vice chancellors or heads of institutions must countersign it, registrars and Controllers of Examinations must verify the information.

HEC clarified that institutions must not create any new admissions to ADPs offered through annual or private-candidate modes. Institutions that continue such admissions or offerings in violation of HEC policy could face regulatory action under applicable laws and regulations. FGEHA Signs MoU for New 1, 600-Kanal Housing Project.

In practice, the commission additionally directed institutions to ensure that their admission, prospectuses and academic offerings comply with the HEC Undergraduate Education Policy. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

Obtain the latest education news, admissions updates, and scholarship alerts wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover.

For now, HEC Bans New Admissions in Annual, Private remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.