Minimum Criteria for MS/M.Phil and Ph.D. Programs in Pakistan

Minimum Criteria for MS/M.Phil and Ph.D. Programs

Minimum requirements for MS/M.Phil and PhD Programs are as follows:

MS/M.Phil Program:

1. Sixteen years of schooling or 4 year education (130 credit hours) after HSSC/F.A. /F.Sc/Grade 12 equivalent will be required for admission in the M.Phil/MS.

2. The GAT-General (www.nts.org.pk/gat/gat.asp) conducted by the National Testing Service with a minimum 50% cumulative score will be required at the time of admission to M.Phil/M.S. The GAT-General test is valid for a period of two years.

3. For award of M.Phil/M.S/Equivalent degree, candidates will either need to complete 30 credit hours of course work or complete 24 credit hours of course work along with a minimum of 6 credit hours for research work/thesis.

PhD Program:

Admission requirement:

1. For admission into the PhD minimum CGPA 3.0 (out of 4.0 in the Semester System) or First Division (in the Annual System) in M.Phil/M.S/Equivalent is required. Subject Test:

2. A subject test conducted by the National Testing Service (NTS) or ETS, USA in the area of specialization chosen at the PhD level must be cleared prior to admission for the PhD Program.

a. In the case of GAT Subject test (http://www.nts.org.pk/GAT/GATSubject.asp) a minimum of 60% marks is required to pass the test.

b. In the case GRE subject test, the minimum score will be acceptable as follows:

   i. 45% Percentile Score: Valid for Admissions until December 31, 2010

   ii. 50% Percentile Score: Valid for Admissions until December 31, 2011.

   iii. 60% Percentile Score: Valid for Admissions thereafter.

c. If the Test is not available in NTS subject list, then a University Committee consisting of at least

3. PhD faculty members in the subject area and approved by the HEC will conduct the Test at par with GRE Subject Test and qualifying score for this will be 70% score.

d. Only in the case of PhD students admitted prior to January 1, 2011 the students must attempt and pass the GAT Subject or GRE Subject in the first two consecutive offerings of the test. 

Course Work:

3. Course work of 18 credit hours preferably in the first year is required to be completed and followed

by a comprehensive examination for granting candidacy as PhD researcher.

Foreign Expert Evaluation:

4. The Ph.D. Dissertation must be evaluated by at least two Ph.D. experts from

technologically/academically advanced foreign countries in addition to local Committee members.

Open defense:

5. An open defense of Dissertation is essential part of PhD Program after positive evaluation.

Research Paper:

6. Acceptance/publication of at least one research paper in an HEC approved “X” category journal is a requirement for the award of Ph.D. degree (“Y” in case of Social Sciences only).

Plagiarism Test:

7. The Plagiarism Test must be conducted on the Dissertation before its submission to the two foreign experts, as described below.

Copy of PhD Dissertation to HEC:

8. A copy of Ph.D. Dissertation (both hard and soft) must be submitted to HEC for record in Ph.D. Country Directory and for attestation of the PhD degree by the HEC in future. 

Conduct of PhD Program:

9. There should be at least 3 relevant full time Ph.D. Faculty members in a department to launch the Ph.D. program.

10. The maximum number of Ph.D. students under the supervision of a full time faculty member is five which may be increased to eight under special circumstances in certain teaching departments subject to prior approval of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).