INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

University
College
Institute

Higher education credentials:

Secondary School Certificate
Intermediate Certificate
Bachelor Degree (Pass)
Bachelor's Degree (Honours)
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree
Master of Philosophy
Doctor's Degree
Doctor of Literature, Doctor of Science, Doctor of Law

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Pre-higher education:
Duration of compulsory education:
Age of entry: 5
Age of exit: 15

Structure of school system:

Middle
Type of school providing this education: Middle School
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 10 to: 13

Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Secondary School
Length of program in years: 2
Age level from: 13 to: 15
Certificate/diploma awarded: Secondary School Certificate or Matriculation

Technical Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Technical Secondary School
Length of program in years: 2
Age level from: 15 to: 17
Certificate/diploma awarded: Secondary School Certificate (in Technical Subjects)

Higher Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Intermediate Colleges
Length of program in years: 2
Age level from: 15 to: 17
Certificate/diploma awarded: Intermediate Certificate Or Higher Secondary School
Certificate

Secondary Education:
Secondary education is divided into three cycles: three years' middle school, two years' secondary and two years' higher secondary. On completion of the second cycle, pupils take the Secondary School Certificate or Matriculation Examination. Pupils may then study for a further two years, specializing in Science or Arts. At the end of this period, pupils take the examinations for the Intermediate Certificate or Higher Secondary School Certificate. Vocational secondary schools offer courses leading to the Secondary School Certificate in technical subjects.

Higher Education:
Higher education is provided by universities and professional universities and their constituent colleges and in colleges affiliated to universities. Universities are autonomous organizations founded by the central or provincial parliament. The senate, the syndicate and the academic council are the main university bodies responsible for matters concerning studies. The University Grants Commission serves as a clearinghouse for development schemes of the universities; provides support to centres of excellence, area study centres and Pakistan study centres; supports research fellowships and research programmes; and organizes pre-service and in-service training of university teachers. Pakistan's first university for women, Fatima Jinnah Women's University, has opened in Rawalpindi. It offers degree programmes in Business Administration, Computer Science, Economics, English, Fine Arts and Islamic Studies.

Main laws/decrees Governing Higher Education:

Decree: National Education Policy Year: 1992

Academic year: Classes from: Sep to: Jun
Long vacation from: Jul to: Aug
Languages of instruction: English, Urdu

Stages of studies:
Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):

Non-university level:
Polytechnics, technical and commercial institutes offer courses at Post-Secondary School Certificate level. They provide courses lasting between one and three years that lead to Certificates and Diplomas.

University level studies:

University level first stage: Bachelor's Degree:
Bachelor's Pass Degrees are normally obtained after a two-year course and Honours Degrees after a three year course in Arts, Science and Commerce. First degrees in Engineering take four years and in Medicine five years. New universities have also introduced a three-year Bachelor Degree course.

University level second stage: Master's Degree, BEd, LLB:
A Master's Degree requires two years' study after a Pass Degree and one year after an Honours Degree. The BEd requires one year's study beyond a Bachelor's Degree in Arts or Science. The LLB is a postgraduate qualification and entry to the three-year course is by the Bachelor's Degree in any other subject.

University level third stage: MPhil, PhD:
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) takes two years after the Master's Degree. The PhD (Doctorate of Philosophy) is a research degree which requires three years' study beyond the Master's Degree.

University level fourth stage: Higher Doctorate:
The degrees of Doctor of Literature (DLitt), Doctor of Science (DSc) and Doctor of Law (LLD) are awarded after five to seven years of study.