The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has directed universities, degree-awarding institutions and affiliated colleges to stop offering Associate Degree Programs (ADPs) through the annual examination system and private-candidate mode.
The directive was issued through a notification dated September 25, 2026, after HEC found that some institutions were continuing to run ADPs in ways that did not comply with its Undergraduate Education Policy. According to HEC, some institutions had changed the names of traditional BA and BSc programs to “Associate Degree” without making the required changes to the structure, academic delivery and examination system.
No New Admissions in Annual and Private ADPs
HEC has made it clear that institutions must not admit new students to Associate Degree programs offered through the annual system or as private candidates.
Institutions that continue such admissions or offer these programs in violation of HEC policy may face regulatory action under the applicable laws and regulations. HEC has also directed universities and colleges to ensure that their admission advertisements, prospectuses and academic offerings comply with the Undergraduate Education Policy.
The latest directive is particularly important for students who are considering an ADP as an alternative to the old private BA or BSc route.
HEC Seeks Details of Existing Students
The commission has also asked higher education institutions to provide consolidated information about students already enrolled in such programs.
The data is required on a program-wise and session-wise basis and must include:
- Program title
- Mode of study
- Enrollment session or year
- Number of enrolled students
- Number of graduates
The information is to be verified by the Registrar and Controller of Examinations, while the Vice Chancellor or head of the institution must countersign the submitted data.
HEC has raised concerns because non-compliant programs could create problems for graduates later, particularly in matters relating to degree attestation, equivalence, further education and employment.
Why HEC Is Taking Action Against These ADPs
The current action is linked to HEC's longer-term reform of Pakistan's undergraduate education system.
The traditional two-year BA and BSc programs were formally phased out under HEC's earlier policy framework. A July 2019 HEC notification stated that the two-year BA/BSc programs had been terminated through an earlier notification dated March 15, 2017, and that universities and affiliated colleges should instead offer Associate Degree programs.
HEC allowed a transition period for students already enrolled in the old BA/BSc system. According to the 2019 notification, students enrolled or registered in BA/BSc programs on or before December 31, 2018 were allowed until December 31, 2020 to complete their programs and receive the relevant degrees. Students admitted after December 31, 2018 were to be admitted to Associate Degree programs instead.
The purpose of the new Associate Degree was not simply to rename the old BA or BSc. HEC described it as a degree combining general education with marketable skills, with the aim of giving students both broad academic knowledge and skills relevant to employment or business.
What Is a HEC-Compliant Associate Degree?
Under HEC's current Undergraduate Education Policy Version 1.1, effective from Fall 2023, institutions are required to implement the policy through their statutory bodies.
The policy defines an Associate Degree as a two-year post-HSSC undergraduate qualification. It is structured around four regular semesters and normally comprises 60 to 72 credit hours. The policy also allows an Associate Degree holder to seek admission to the fifth semester of a relevant undergraduate degree, subject to the applicable university rules and course exemptions.
The ADP structure includes 30 credit hours of general education and 30 to 42 credit hours of major or disciplinary courses. HEC's policy also requires Associate Degree programs to follow the semester system of examination.
This is one of the major differences between a properly structured ADP and the older BA/BSc-style annual examination model.
ADP Can Provide a Pathway to BS
One of the important features of the Associate Degree system is that it can provide a pathway toward a four-year undergraduate qualification.
Under HEC's framework, students completing an Associate Degree can be considered for admission to the fifth semester of a relevant undergraduate/equivalent program. The courses completed during the ADP may be exempted according to the policy and the admitting university's assessment.
HEC's equivalence guidance also states that a two-year Associate Degree completed after 12 years of schooling can generally be considered equivalent to the old BA/BSc level involving 14 years of schooling, provided it meets the approved requirements. HEC notes that equivalence is determined individually through its formal process.
What Students Should Check Before Taking Admission
Students looking for a two-year degree should not assume that every program carrying the title “Associate Degree” is automatically compliant with HEC requirements.
Before paying an admission fee, students should check whether the program is being offered by an HEC-recognized university or its authorized affiliated college, whether it follows the required semester system and whether the program is structured according to HEC's current undergraduate education framework.
Students should also be cautious about advertisements offering an “ADP private,” “private Associate Degree,” or annual examination-based ADP. HEC's latest directive specifically prohibits new admissions through these modes.
A Long-Running Transition in Pakistan's Higher Education System
The latest HEC action is therefore part of a transition that has been underway for several years rather than an entirely new change.
The reform began with the phasing out of conventional two-year BA/BSc degrees, followed by the introduction of Associate Degrees and the development of the Undergraduate Education Policy. HEC later moved toward a more structured semester-based framework, with the current Undergraduate Education Policy Version 1.1 taking effect from Fall 2023.
The September 2026 directive indicates that HEC is now taking further action against institutions that continue to operate ADPs in the old annual or private-candidate format.
For students, the key point is simple: an ADP is still a recognized pathway under HEC policy, but new admissions to ADPs offered through the annual examination system or private-candidate mode are no longer allowed.
