The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has updated and published the official list of active MS/MPhil (Level 7) and PhD (Level 8) programs on its website.

The list is available at https://www.hec.gov.pk/site/MS-MPhil-PhD.

Recently, HEC held training sessions nationwide for PQR focal persons, the people at universities responsible for maintaining program data in the Pakistan Qualification Register (PQR).

These sessions emphasized how important it is for degree programs to be accurately entered and approved according to the National Qualifications Framework (NQF)

Thanks to these trainings, universities have cleaned up their PQR entries, and HEC has made the updated lists public.

This helps students easily check if a program is officially recognized before applying.

HEC strongly advises students to check both the PQR list and the NOC Issued List before applying.

Choosing a program not listed in the PQR could mean your degree won t be attested later

The PQR is an essential tool, it shows the status of programs (active, suspended, or closed), matches them to NQF levels, and helps students, universities, employers, and regulators in making informed decisions.

Publishing the updated list of active MS/MPhil and PhD programs marks a significant step toward transparency in Pakistan’s higher education system.

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By conducting PQR-focused training for HEI representatives, HEC has improved data accuracy essential for verifying and attesting degrees.

These updates benefit students, who can now make informed decisions and avoid unrecognized programs.

At the same time, universities gain clarity and compliance, reinforcing public trust in academic standards.

This initiative highlights HEC’s commitment to ensuring that only duly approved and up-to-date qualifications are offered strengthening the integrity of Pakistan’s academic framework.