The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has postponed for one year the implementation of its new admission test policy for MPhil, MS and PhD programmes at public and private universities across the country due to a lack of preparedness on the part of universities.
Under the revised timeline, the new policy will now take effect from 2027, making GRE/HAT General and relevant subject tests mandatory for admissions to Level-7 (MS/MPhil or equivalent) and Level-8 (PhD or equivalent) programmes.
According to the policy, admissions to these programmes will only be granted on the basis of GRE/HAT General and subject-based tests conducted under the Education Testing Council (ETC). However, universities will continue to conduct their own separate or internal admission tests for MPhil, MS and PhD programmes during 2026.
The decision has provided temporary relief to universities that had expressed concerns over administrative and academic preparedness for the immediate implementation of the centralised testing mechanism.
