ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC), a statutory body established by the government of Pakistan, has introduced a new selection process for awarding scholarships and admissions to MS/MPhil and PhD programs.
Under this initiative, the Education Testing Council (ETC), operating under HEC, will administer the Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) to ensure fair, accessible, and transparent evaluation of candidates.
Eligible candidates include those who have already submitted online applications for MS/MPhil and PhD admissions or HEC scholarships through the E-portal, as well as individuals planning to apply for future scholarship schemes, including those offered by HEC-sponsored Pakistani universities.
The test is open to applicants interested in securing admission to MS/MPhil and PhD programs in both public and private universities across Pakistan.
HAT Categories The HAT will be conducted in five categories, aligned with the applicants’ academic backgrounds and educational levels:
- HAT 1: Engineering & Technology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics
- HAT 2: Management Sciences, Business Education
- HAT 3: Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology (Clinical & Applied), Law
- HAT 4: Agriculture & Veterinary Sciences, Biological & Medical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Education, Media & Mass Communication
- HAT-General: Religious Studies (Madrasa Graduates)
HAT scores will be valid for two years for scholarships and admissions to MS/MPhil and PhD programs. Applicants must select the correct category while filling out the online registration form.
The HAT is tentatively scheduled to take place on May 26, 2024. Any changes to the test date will be communicated through the official websites of HEC and ETC.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
