More than 160,000 students have applied for intermediate admissions through OCAS in Punjab. The online system covers around 800 public colleges across the province.
The Online College Admissions System (OCAS) has made the admission process easier for students. Applicants can submit their forms online without visiting colleges multiple times.
The system was developed by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB). The Punjab Higher Education Department (PHED) also supported its development.
According to the latest data, more than 160,000 applications have been submitted through the platform. Female students account for more than 109,000 applications.
Women represent nearly 68 percent of all applications received through OCAS. Male students have submitted 51,632 applications, making up around 32 percent.
The figures show strong female participation in online college admissions. Nearly two out of every three applicants using the system are female.
FA and ICS are currently the most popular intermediate programmes. FA has received 57,096 applications through the online platform.
ICS has recorded 54,018 applications so far. Together, FA and ICS account for nearly 69 percent of total applications.
FSc Pre-Medical is the third most popular programme among applicants. It has received 28,780 applications through OCAS.
Female participation remains particularly high in several popular programmes. Women account for around 81 percent of Pre-Medical applicants.
Female students also represent about 74 percent of FA applicants. Their participation in ICS stands at approximately 61 percent.
FA-IT has received 7,337 applications. Female students account for nearly 65 percent of applicants in this programme.
Male participation is comparatively higher in some technical and commercial programmes. These include DIT and D.Com.
Lower application numbers have been reported in several specialised programmes. These include Home Economics and Medical Laboratory Technology.
Dental Hygiene Technology and Physiotherapy Technology have also received fewer applications. The data provides insight into students’ changing academic preferences.
PITB Chairman Faisal Yousaf said OCAS offers a convenient alternative to manual admissions. He highlighted the system’s role in reducing queues and unnecessary college visits.
He also said OCAS provides useful real-time admission data. This information can help officials understand education trends across Punjab.
Yousaf said the data could support evidence-based policy decisions. It may also help shape future education and economic planning.
Students can apply to participating public colleges through the OCAS portal. The system also supports digital payment options through its PayZen integration.
Applicants can pay fees using mobile banking, ATMs and debit cards. Credit cards, TCS offices and branchless banking services are also available.
The growing use of OCAS highlights the expansion of digital public services. The platform is helping make college admissions more accessible across Punjab.
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The latest figures also show strong demand for intermediate education. They highlight increasing participation by female students in the digital admission process.
