Criteria for Selecting Academic Institution | Selection Criteria and Procedure | Admissions criteria and requirements | Professional bodies | Professional Program Accreditation

Criteria for Selecting Academic Institution

Getting admission in a good academic institution requires extensive research. While researching and selecting universities, the following criteria should be kept in mind;

• HEC Recognition: You should select the university that is recognized by Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. HEC is a government body that recognizes the universities based on their quality of education. HEC has categorized the Pakistani public and private universities into Categories W, X, Y and Z. Category W universities are considered as good universities in term of quality of education. You can browse the list of universities at the official website of HEC that is http://www.hec.gov.pk

• Accreditation with Professional Bodies: Accreditation is a status granted to the university and college by professional bodies authorized by the government. Accreditation is a guarantee that a school/ college/ university have met certain minimum standards during a thorough review by a professional body. While selecting a university, you should make sure that the university is accredited because it helps you to obtain a valid degree once you complete your education. The degree/license in turn will authorize you to work as a professional. The following are the professional bodies which accredit the universities / colleges:
  • Medicine and Dentistry – Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC)
  • Engineering – Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC)
  • Pharmacy – Pakistan Pharmacy Council
  • Nursing – Pakistan Nursing Council
  • Chartered Accountancy - Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP)
    
    
• Selection Criteria & Process: Universities having high merit criteria with a rigorous selection process (requiring excellent academic grades, aptitude tests and interviews) are regarded as high-quality institutions. Be careful of the universities having a greater intake of students with low percentage.
  
  
• Faculty profile: While researching the university, you should look at the faculty profile. Universities having an experienced and PhD qualified faculty are consider good academic institutions.
  

• Cost and availability of financial aid: The cost of education is very high especially for private universities. While selecting the university, you should check the availability of financial aid and scholarship options. Some universities like Aga Khan University, Institute of Business Administration, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lahore University of Management Sciences etc offer needs-blind admission and provide fee-waivers and stipends to the high achievers. So, before taking admission in the university, look into the university’s financial assistance programme and loan / scholarship options offered by other funding agencies/ institutions.

• Student/faculty ratio. It is advantageous for the student to be in a smaller class. For example, a student in a class of 20 people will experience more professor-student interaction than a student in a large class of 200 people.

• Academic strength: One of the most important criterions for selecting a university is the academic strength of a department or a school. For example, if you are selecting National University of Computer and Emerging Science (NUCES-Fast) its academic strength is in the field of Computer Science rather than in the field of Business Management. While selecting the university, look for the departmental academic strength in addition to the overall academic strength.

• Academic facilities: Academic facilities such as library, computer access, labs, student common room, sport facilities, resource center etc, should be taken into account when selecting the university.

• Housing Facilities: Students intending to apply to universities located in regions other than their home town are required to look into the housing facilities available at the university. While choosing the university, students should be aware of appropriate on-campus or off-campus housing facilities.

• Employment opportunities for Graduates: Universities whose graduates get good jobs after completing their studies are considered good universities. To assess the job market for the graduate of a particular university, consult with current students and past graduates and look at the classified section of the newspaper.