HEC cautions students over foreign degrees offered through local institutions

Students could find themselves with degrees that are not recognised in Pakistan if they enrol in foreign programmes offered locally without checking HEC approval, the Higher Education Commission has warned.

The commission has advised students and parents to confirm the status of a programme before paying fees or joining a course.

HEC said its Transnational Education (TNE) rules require foreign universities operating in Pakistan to work through Pakistani institutions that have been approved for the relevant partnership.

The approval does not cover every programme offered by a foreign university. HEC said recognition is tied to the specific foreign university, its approved Pakistani partner, the degree programme and the location where the programme is being delivered.

This means a foreign university's recognition alone is not enough to establish that a particular programme in Pakistan is approved.

HEC said qualifications from programmes outside the approved arrangement may not be recognised or equated. This could include courses offered through an unapproved local partner, degrees that are not part of the approved programme or classes being conducted at a location not authorised under the agreement.

Students have therefore been advised to check HEC's official lists before making any payment or accepting admission.

The recognised institutions and foreign collaborations can be checked through HEC's TNE portal, while details of the policy are also available on the commission's website.