Higher Education Options | Pakistan's Higher Education System | Quality in Higher Education | ANALYSIS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN

Higher Education Options Qualification System After intermediate and A-levels, the degree structure for university-level higher education includes: A 2-year Bachelor’s (Pass) degree with three subjects in humanities (arts), commerce and natural sciences. A 3-year Bachelor’s (Honours) degree in one subject within humanities, commerce and natural sciences. A 4-5-year professional degree in areas such as agriculture, engineering, dentistry, medicine, etc. The subsequent Master’s degree in humanities, commerce and natural sciences was 1 year or 2 year depending on the duration of the earlier Bachelor’s degree. The new degree structure established by the Higher Education Commission in 2002 includes a 4-year Bachelor’s degree followed by a one – two-year Master’s degree. The Higher Education Commission has also revised the core curriculum in a range of subjects. They have introduced reflective elements, critical assessment and research methodology in a range of courses with a view to matching education courses in other countries. Many Bachelor’s courses now include a Bachelor’s project or major task, and in some cases the Master’s degree course can include 6 months to 1 year of a Master’s project based on a minor piece of research work, sometimes replacing coursework. The Master of Philosophy (M Phil) and the Ph.D. are 2-years and 3-years research degrees respectively, subsequent to a Master’s degree. According to new structures since 2002, the M.Phil. and the Master’s degree can have equal status in terms of entry to Ph.D. programme. The new 4-year Bachelor's degree should also give entry to Ph.D. studies. Undergraduate and Postgraduate Qualifications Bachelor’s Degrees (Pass) are generally awarded after a two-year programme in arts, commerce or science courses. Entry usually requires the HSC or Intermediate exams. Bachelor’s Degrees (Honours) in arts, commerce and science are usually three years in length. Honours Bachelor's Degrees in agriculture, dentistry, engineering, pharmacy and veterinary medicine all require four years of study, whilst degrees in architecture and medicine are five years long. Postgraduate Bachelor’s degrees, such as the Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) is a three year post graduate qualification. Entrance is based on completion of any Bachelor's (pass) degree. The Bachelor's of Education (B.Ed) is a one year post graduate qualification following any Bachelor’s (pass) degree. The Bachelor's of Library Science (B.LibSc) is a one year post graduate qualification following any Bachelor’s (pass) degree. Postgraduate Diplomas are offered by many universities and generally require one year of study. Entry is usually based on a first degree in a related field. The Master’s Degree in arts, commerce or science is awarded two years after the Pass degree or one year after the Honours degree. Master’s degree courses are usually based on coursework and examination and typically do not involve the presentation of a thesis. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is usually taken after a two year degree in a different field within arts, commerce or science. The MBA programme is therefore comparable to an undergraduate degree. The Master of Education (M.Ed) is a two year course, following the Bachelor of Education. Master’s degrees typically require a 1st or 2nd division or class in the relevant Bachelor’s degree required for entry. Entry requires a Master’s Degree, but many require a Master's of Philosophy or Professional Master’s Degree. The Master's of Philosophy (M.Phil) is a research-based course that also requires a thesis. The PhD (Doctorate of Philosophy) is a research degree which requires on average, three years study after the M.Phil degree and 4 to 5 years of study after the Master’s Degree. The Degrees of Doctor of Literature (D.Litt), Doctor of Science (D.Sc) and Doctor of Law (LLD) are awarded after five years of study. Higher Education Options in Pakistan

Area of study in Intermediate Options for higher studies Universities Pre-Medical Bachelor's of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) – 5 years Bachelor's of Dental Surgery (BDS) – 4 years Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) - 5 years Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BScN) – 4 years Bachelor's of Science (BSc./ BS) – 3 to 4 years/ Master of Science (MSc/ MS) – 1-2 years in Mathematics / Zoology /  Botany / Genetics / Microbiology /Biotechnology/ Agriculture/ Food Sciences / Environmental Studies etc. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) – 5 Years   Public: Army Medical College, Rawalpindi Ayub Medical College, Abbotabad Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi Fatima Jinnah Medical College for Women, Lahore Government College University, Lahore Karachi Medical and Dental College, Karachi King Edward Medical University, Lahore Liaquat University of Medical & Health Science, Jamshoro Sindh Agricultural University, Tandojam University of Karachi, Karachi University of Punjab, Lahore University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore   Private: Baqai Medical University, Karachi The Aga Khan University, Karachi Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi Pre-Engineering . Bachelor's of Engineering (BE) – 4 years/ Master of Engineering (ME) – 1 – 2 ½  years in: Mechanical Manufacturing Telecommunication Information & Communication Systems Metallurgy and Materials Systems Nuclear Thermal Petroleum Aerospace Mechatronics Computer Electronic Biomedical Electrical Civil Avionics Process   Public: Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad/Karachi NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi NWFP University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad   Private: Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering and Technology, Swabi Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi University of Engineering & Technology, Taxila University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Bachelor's of Computer Science / IT – 4 years   Public: National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad University of Karachi, Karachi   Private: COMSAT Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Karachi,  Lahore & Islamabad Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad Bachelor's of Architecture (BArch) – 5 years   Public: National College of Arts, Lahore NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi   Private: Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi BE Textile Engineering – 4 years BSc in Textile Sciences / Textile Design Technology – 4 years   Public: NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi   Private: National Textile University, Faisalabad Textile Institute of Pakistan, Karachi Commerce Associate of Cost and Management Accountancy (ACMA)– 2 years   Private: Institute of Cost and Management    Association of Pakistan, Karachi Chartered Accountancy (CA) – 5 ½ - 6 years   Private: Institute of Chartered Accountants of  Pakistan, Karachi Associate Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) - 6 years   Private: Al Hamd Academy-, Karachi College of Accounting and Management Science, Karachi/ Hyderabad National college of Business Administration & Economics, Lahore Tabani’s School of Accountancy, Karachi Bachelor's of Business Administration BA/ Bachelor's of Studies in Economics - 4 years   Public: Institute of Business Administration, Karachi   Private: Bahria University, Karachi / Islamabad Institute of Business Management, Karachi Lahore School of Economics, Lahore Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology, Karachi Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar Arts and Humanities Bachelor's of Education / Master's of Education – 1-4 years   Private: Hamdard University, Karachi Institute of Education Development – The Aga Khan University, Karachi (M.Ed. only) Notre Dame Institute of Education, Karachi Bachelor's of Arts - 3-4 years: Islamic Studies International Relations Mass Communication Film & Television Communication Design Psychology Linguistics Philosophy Economic History Fine Arts Liberal Arts Ceramics Design Geography Textile Design Sociology Musicology Literature   Public: National College of Arts, Lahore University of Karachi, Karachi University of Peshawar, Peshawar University of Punjab, Lahore   Private: Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad