No More University Admission Tests for MPhil, PhD as HEC rolls out Central Exam System

ISLAMABAD – Higher Education Commission (HEC) introduced major reform in M.Phil and Ph D admissions, announcing that from Fall 2026 all admissions across public and private universities will be based exclusively on centralized national testing system. According to official notification, all public and private universities have been restricted from holding independent admission tests for Level 7 (MPhil/MS or equivalent) and Level 8 (Ph D or equivalent) programs. From Fall 2026 onward, admissions will be conducted exclusively through the HEC’s Education Testing Council (ETC). Under revised policy, candidates seeking admission to graduate and doctoral programs will be required to take GRE/HAT General and relevant subject-based tests administered by ETC. Universities will no longer be permitted to substitute or supplement these tests with their own examination systems. HEC said the decision follows comprehensive review of existing admission practices aimed at standardizing procedures across the higher education sector. The commission said the move is intended to ensure transparency, merit-based selection, and uniform academic standards nationwide. As part of policy shift, universities have also been directed that no alternative admission tests may be conducted in place of the GRE/HAT framework, effectively consolidating all graduate-level entry assessments under a single national mechanism. The notification further noted key revisions to Graduate Education Policy 2023, including removal of previously required 50 percent passing threshold for MPhil-equivalent entry tests and the 60 percent passing condition for PhD admissions based on GRE/HAT equivalence. HEC instructed all higher education institutions to ensure strict compliance with the new framework. The policy has been approved by the competent authority and confirmed by HEC Chairman Dr. Niaz Ahmed. Similar Reads UHS revises eligibility criteria for MPhil, Master’s admissions HEC permits IUB to start PhD, MPhil