The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has issued a significant update regarding the proposed centralized admission testing policy.
Universities may continue to apply their existing admission test policies during this interim period.
Aspirants are advised to carefully review the requirements of their target institutions, as policies may still vary at the university level.
Key Update:
The implementation of mandatory GRE/HAT-General (for MS/MPhil/Level 7) and GRE/HAT-Subject (for PhD/Level 8) through the Education Testing Council (ETC) has been deferred.
Revised Timeline:
The rollout has now been postponed from Fall 2026 to Fall 2027 admissions.
Why the Change?
According to the official notification, the decision has been deferred following requests from multiple universities and Degree Awarding Institutes (DAIs), allowing additional time for institutional readiness and smooth transition.
What this means for students:
Students applying for Fall 2026 admissions will not be immediately affected by the centralized ETC testing requirement.
Universities may continue to apply their existing admission test policies during this interim period.
Aspirants are advised to carefully review the requirements of their target institutions, as policies may still vary at the university level.
Final Note:- This extension provides a temporary adjustment window for both institutions and applicants. Use this time wisely to strengthen your academic preparation and stay aligned with evolving admission frameworks.
Official notification attached (signed by Director Coordination, HEC)
