HEC Alerts The Students To Not Take Admission In Unauthorized 2-Year BA, BSc and MA, MSc Programs

The Higher Education Commission has alerted the students to not get enrolled in the unauthorized 2-year BA/BSc and MA/MSc degree programs. The commission has informed the students to not waste their time and money by getting admission to these offered degree programs by the educational institutes. These two-year degree programs have been phased out by the HEC due to quality concerns. Some universities have although announced admission in the two-year BA/BSc and MA/MSc programs however this will be of no interest for the students and the candidates will not be able to apply for the job. In 2004 the decision to phase out two years BA/BSc and MA/MSc degree programs were taken and replaced with the 4 year BS degree however the colleges and universities were allowed to offer admission in both systems for the transition period.

Introduction of Associate Degree

In 2011, the associate degree was announced by the commission as an alternative to the BA/BSc degree as it is equivalent to the 14 years of schooling and the candidates can get admission in the 5th semester of the respective BS programs after fulfilling the requirements mentioned by the university. In 2016, the transition period was concluded and the final decision was made to stop the admission in the BA/BSc programs on 31st December 2018 and MA/MSc programs on 31st December 2020 and the admission to the last batch of MA/MSc students will take the admission before 31st December 2020. These decisions regarding the abolishment of the 2-year degree programs were confirmed in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

2 Year Unauthorized Degree Programs

However, the flexibility was provided by the commission due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The universities and colleges of Pakistan were provided the grace period to complete the BA/BSc exams according to the instructions such as before 31st March 2021. Similarly, the last date to take admission in the MA/MSc degree programs was extended till 31st March 2021. Moreover, the holders of the BA/BSc degree holders were permitted to get admission in the 5th semester of the BS programs as per the guidelines issued by the concerned authorities. The fresh students can take admission to the 4-year degree program offered by recognized educational institutes of Pakistan. So the students are instructed to take the admission according to the criteria mentioned by the higher education commission because the phased-out degree programs will not be considered by the Higher Education Commission