Admissions in Pakistan

Since 2006 Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) was processing the Admissions of foreign students and Pakistani dual nationality holders; now it authorized the local Universities/Colleges to directly process the international students admissions from the session 2021-22 and onwards. Now students can apply directly to the local universities. Some universities in Pakistan has some SAT specific seats in graduate and undergraduate programs for international students and Pakistanis having dual nationality. Further, foreign nationality holders (Non Pakistanis) could also apply directly to these universities and can opt to entry test as well.

Admission application processing for international studies in Pakistan can have the following steps:

Application process:

Students who hold foreign nationality by birth are considered as foreigner Students. They can apply as international students.

Selection of a Degree Program

International students seeking admission in degree program in Pakistan shall go through the list of programs offered by Pakistani Universities. Once they have decided on their desired program the following step should be taken for a smooth application process:

Filling Online Application form

Most of the universities in Pakistan offering online application form for international students. Several of them have waived off the application fee for foreign students. Student can apply online; may have to register their user before proceeding to the application. For applying online applicant is advised to keep ready the soft copies of the following documents.

Check List for Application:

Statement of purpose
Application processing fee (If applicable)
Scans of degrees and transcript of all post-secondary degrees (with English translation where it is required).
Passport size photograph with blue background (taken in last 6 months)
Scan copy of the valid passport.
For undergraduate: Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) / General Certificate of Education (GCE)/General, Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) /A Levels / Equivalent certificate is required.
For Master’s level studies a bachelor’s degree in relevant subject /Equivalent
For PhD/ M.Phil studies: Bachelors/ Masters / MS/M.Phil Degree or equivalent in relevant subject with minimum 16 years of Education
English Proficiency Proof: IELTS minimum score 5.0 band or TOEFL minimum score 70 or English proficiency certificate from the last attended institution (Exempt for the student who’s medium of study is English)
Equivalence Certificate (foreign qualification/ degree) from Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) Islamabad where applicable.
Fill out government of Pakistani Permission form “Students’ Information Sheet”
NOC issued by the home country for studying in Pakistan

Scrutiny of Application

Once the application is received by the university, it is scrutinized by their admission office; if any document is missing or additional document required applicant would be informed through the registered email, and could submit asked document to the given email timely.

Evaluation of the Application

Once complete application is received, it is forwarded to concerned academic department for its evaluation. Departmental committee take the decision on the application and once decision is communicated, the applicant is informed through email, and a provisional admission letter would be issued to the successful applicants.

Fee Submission

After the confirmation of provisional admission, fee invoice (Challan) would be issued to the all successful candidates. Universities fee charges could same for local and international students and i could be bit higher as well. These fee invoice would be forwarded to international students by email or they can download them from their application user dashboards. Students should deposit these fees before the deadline. There are usually multiple options for students to pay these fees conveniently.

Issuance of NoC

After admission confirmation for international students most of the universities assist the applicants in securing the No Objection Certificate (NoC); for that they forwarded a list of applicant documents to the Higher Education Commission Islamabad, Pakistan (HEC):

Applicant passport copy
Photographs
Admission letter
NoC of applicant Embassy or M/o Foreign Affairs
Student’s Information Sheet

The HEC would confirm and endorse applicant admission to the Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan. Ministry of Interior would send visa advice to Pakistani Embassy/High Commission of the country of applicant origin for issuance of study visa.

Study Visa Application

Upon confirmation of provisional admission letter, students could apply for a study visa in Pakistan. Universities International Offices usually assist applicants with all required documentation for securing their student visa to Pakistan and issuance of Noc. A valid student visa is required for them to travel to Pakistan.

The applicant can apply for a study visa online. They can also visit Pakistan Embassy/Mission in their home country. Following documents are required for visa:

Photocopy of Passport
Photographs
Admission/Bonafide letter.
Educational Documents
NOC from HEC/Economic Affairs Division/IPC/Health Ministry/Education Ministry.
For Entry visa: NOC from the concerned Government.

Here is URL to apply visa online : https://visa.nadra.gov.pk/student-visa/

Hostel Booking:

After confirmation of applicant admissions in the university, the student should ensure the hostel space in-advanced; it would be very convenient for student to move directly to their hostel’s room once arrived in Pakistan. It could get tough sometimes to find suitable room while you arrive in Pakistan.

Entry Test:

The following entry tests may require for the foreign students to get admitted programs in Pakistan:

Bachelor’s Level Studies:
SAT / ACT or a University Admission Test or interview is required for all Bachelors. Its except for undergraduate studies in several universities as well.

Further, If university department require, the student should have to take remedial courses in his/her 1st semester of studies to cover up study deficiency.

Master’s Level: A Graduate Assessment Test (General) (GAT) or Graduate Record Examinations Test (General) (GRE) is usually required for Master’s studies; some universities required SAT test instead.

PhD / M.Phil Level: Entry tests are usually exempt for M.Phil /PhD programs – Graduate Record Examinations Test (General) (GRE) score may require, GAT (general) is usually not required.

Equivalence:

All foreigner students and Overseas Pakistani students would need to obtain a proper equivalence of their foreign studies certificates/degree from the Inter-board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) Pakistan or Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan office located in Islamabad city. This would be with the required percentage of marks/CGPA, and should be submitted to the Overseas Admissions Office within 6 months after joining their Universities. Failing to obtain the equivalence would hold them to continue with their studies.

EQUIVALENCE PROCEDURE: Filling up the application form; can be downloaded from IBCC website at http://ibcc.edu.pk

Original certificates along with Copies (English Version should be translated from concerned University/Embassy or NUML)
Year-wise Transcript or Diploma Supplement copies or Graduation Statement/Record of study indicating admission and completion dates of degree

iii. Passport copies indicating visa, entry and exit in respective country for study duration.

CNIC copy
Equivalence Fee (3000 pkr non-refundable) for each degree/diploma through online bank account or a bank draft or pay order in favor of the Secretary IBCC, Islamabad.

Original document should be endorsed “Seen Original and verified” from IBCC.

Applicants provide verification on genuineness of their degrees from concerned universities.

Higher Education Commission of Pakistan website: https://hec.gov.pk/