Postgraduate Courses in Pakistan – Programs & Fields of Study

Postgraduate Courses in Pakistan 2026: List, Duration and Eligibility

A postgraduate course in Pakistan is any program you take after a bachelor's degree. The main routes are MS/MPhil (usually two years), PhD, M.Ed for teachers, and clinical qualifications such as FCPS, MCPS, MD and Diploma for doctors. Dermatology specialization runs through FCPS (about four years), MCPS and Diploma (two years each), or MD. Eligibility depends on your first degree, and for medical routes also on your PMC registration and house job.

What Is a Postgraduate Course?

A postgraduate course is a program you enter after finishing a bachelor's degree. It covers master's degrees, MS and MPhil research degrees, PhDs, diplomas and certificates. If you are comparing it with what comes before, our postgraduate meaning guide explains the difference between undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Most programs come in three kinds:

• Taught degrees: MA, MSc, M.Ed.
• Research degrees: MS, MPhil, PhD.
• Professional qualifications: FCPS, MCPS, MD, MS (clinical), diplomas.

Types of Postgraduate Courses in Pakistan

Durations differ between institutions. Check the official notice for your intake before you plan.

Postgraduate Courses by Field

Medical and Health Sciences

The University of Health Sciences Lahore offers MPhil and PhD programs in basic sciences such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology and microbiology. It also offers family medicine, health professional education, nursing and physiotherapy programs. PGMI Lahore adds MD, MS and a long list of diplomas. Clinical specialists mostly train through FCPS, which is run by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan.

Engineering and Technology

Engineering universities run ME and MS degrees in fields such as communication systems, software engineering, structural, environmental and electrical power engineering. MUET Jamshoro, for example, has offered postgraduate engineering courses since 1978. Some programs run in the evening for working professionals, and some may be dropped in a given year if too few students enroll.

Business, Sciences and Social Sciences

Universities across Pakistan offer MBA, MSc, MPhil and MS programs in these areas. Entry usually combines your bachelor's result with a university test, GAT or NTS-style testing, and an interview. Open the postgraduate admission page to see which universities are accepting applications.

Dermatology Postgraduate Course in Pakistan

Dermatology is one of the most searched specialties among new doctors. The route depends on how long you want to train and how you want to enter.

FCPS Dermatology

FCPS is the main specialist route. After MBBS and a one-year house job, a doctor passes FCPS-I, trains under a CPSP-approved supervisor and then sits FCPS-II. Hospitals such as Shalamar are CPSP-approved for dermatology training. Institution lists show FCPS-II Dermatology as a four-year program. For requirements and exam schedules, go to the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan.

MCPS Dermatology

MCPS is a shorter CPSP qualification. LUMHS lists MCPS Dermatology at two years, and it requires a valid PMC registration. Some third-party listings show four years, so verify the duration with CPSP before you apply.

MD Dermatology

Some teaching institutions, including PGMI Lahore, offer MD Dermatology. In Punjab, MD and MS admissions go through the Central Induction Policy, not a university's own test.

Diploma in Dermatology (DDerm)

Dow University of Health Sciences offers a two-year Diploma in Dermatology. Its 2023-24 criteria required MBBS, valid PM&DC registration, a completed house job and six months of medicine experience. The criteria also included Sindh domicile and age limits of 40 for private candidates and 45 for government servants. Other institutions set their own rules, so treat this as an example, not a national standard.

Postgraduate Education Courses

Postgraduate education courses suit teachers who want promotion, leadership roles or university lecturing. The usual options are:

• M.Ed or MA Education, usually after B.Ed.
• MS/MPhil Education, with a research thesis.
• PhD Education, for faculty and policy researchers.
• Postgraduate certificates or diplomas in education for short, focused upskilling.

Universities such as AIOU and the University of Education run these programs, some through distance learning. Check each university's admission notice for the current intake, as eligibility and entry tests vary.

How to Choose the Right Postgraduate Course

Start with the career you want, not the course name. Then check four things:

• Is the degree recognized by HEC (or CPSP and PMC for medical qualifications)?
• Does the program match your first degree and work experience?
• Can you afford the time and fees? Postgraduate study demands both.
• Does the department offer the facilities your field needs, such as labs, libraries, clinical exposure or internship placements?

Before you apply, check HEC recognition on the Higher Education Commission website.