The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has reiterated its warning regarding the discontinuation of two-year Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Master of Arts (MA), and Master of Science (MSc) degree programs. These programs are deemed not equivalent to four-year bachelor’s degrees and Master of Science (MS) programs in terms of credit hours and market relevance, as emphasized by the HEC.
Initiated in 2019, the phase-out process for these two-year programs had an extended deadline until June 30, 2022. Despite this timeline, certain educational institutions have continued to admit students into these outdated programs. Consequently, the HEC has made it clear that degrees obtained from these programs after the specified deadline will not be recognized or attested by the commission.
According to the HEC’s ordinance, institutions offering these programs are no longer affiliated with the state educational system. This lack of affiliation means that degrees granted from these programs do not hold validity in the eyes of Pakistan’s statutory body for higher education.
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The HEC has urged students, parents, and educational stakeholders to avoid enrolling in these discontinued programs. They stressed the importance of verifying the recognition status of educational institutions before seeking admission, highlighting the potential negative impacts on students’ academic and professional futures if they graduate from unrecognized programs.
For an updated list of colleges and institutions recognized by the HEC, stakeholders are advised to consult the official HEC website. This resource provides comprehensive information to ensure that prospective students make informed decisions about their educational paths.
