Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission has formally approved two new types of degree programs — dual degrees and joint degrees. Students can now enroll in two programs at the same time, or complete a single combined qualification through partnerships between universities at home or abroad. Here is exactly what changed, who it affects, and how to take advantage of it.
“For admission to dual programs, it will not be necessary to belong to the same department or academic discipline.” — HEC officials
SOURCE: ARY News
Think about how many Pakistani students spend four years in one narrow stream, then struggle to find work because employers want people who can do more than one thing. A software engineer who understands business. A doctor who can communicate policy. A lawyer who understands finance. That gap is exactly what this policy is trying to close — and it is the right instinct.
I have been covering education policy in Pakistan for years. I have sat through countless HEC press briefings where big promises dissolved quietly into paperwork. This one is different because the rules are concrete, the conditions are clear, and universities have been given a framework to act on immediately.
200+
HEC Recognized Universities
2
New Program Types Approved
1 MoU
Required Per Joint Degree
Both
Local & Foreign Partners Allowed
What is the difference between dual and joint degrees?
This is the first thing people get confused about. They are not the same, and mixing them up could lead to a very expensive mistake.
Dual degree
Two diplomas at the end
You enroll in two separate degree programs at the same time. Complete both, and you receive two separate certificates, one from each program. Example: BS Computer Science and BS Economics, running simultaneously.
Joint degree
One diploma, two universities
Two universities build a combined curriculum together. You study part of your program at one institution and the rest at the other. At the end, both universities share a single diploma, their names on one degree.
The joint degree route is particularly exciting because it opens the door to partnerships with foreign universities. A student studying in Multan or Peshawar could now graduate with a degree jointly awarded by their local university and a recognized institution abroad — without leaving Pakistan permanently.
What is Allowed and What is Not
HEC has been very specific here. Read this section carefully before you walk into an admissions office.
| Not Allowed | Two regular morning-session degrees at the same time, whether at the same university or at two different institutions. |
| Allowed | One morning session degree plus one evening session degree, with approval from the university. |
| Allowed | One regular degree together with one private or distance learning program. |
| Allowed | Combining different academic fields such as engineering with journalism, medicine with law or business with computer science. |
| Required | Universities must sign an HEC-approved Memorandum of Understanding for any joint-degree program before student admissions begin. |
| Required | Students must separately meet admission criteria for each program. Admission in one degree does not guarantee entry into another. |
How to actually pursue this — step by step
Once universities begin rolling this out, here is the realistic path a student would follow.
- Check if your university has enrolled. Not every university will offer this from day one. Call the admissions office or visit hec.gov.pk directly. Ask specifically whether they have HEC-approved dual or joint arrangements ready.
- Choose a combination that makes career sense. A law degree plus political science makes sense. Two random subjects that have nothing to do with each other might only exhaust you and lower your CGPA. Think about the job you actually want before you register.
- Confirm your session types. Is one degree morning and the other evening? Or is one through distance learning? Know this before you apply. Remember — two regular morning degrees at the same time is still not permitted.
- Apply to both programs separately. Both have their own admission process. Getting into one does not carry you into the other automatically.
- For joint degrees — ask for the MoU in writing. Before you pay a single rupee in fees, ask the university to show you the HEC approved MoU with the partner institution. No document, no deal.
Mistakes that students will make — avoid these
Assuming any university can offer a joint degree
It cannot. The MoU must be specifically HEC-approved. If a private university announces a foreign joint degree without documentation to show you, that is a red flag worth taking seriously.
Trying to enroll in two morning regular degrees
This is explicitly prohibited. Some students will look for workarounds. There are none. HEC has closed this door clearly.
Underestimating the workload
Two degrees simultaneously is genuinely hard. If you are also working part-time or have family commitments, be honest with yourself before signing up for double the academic pressure.
Not verifying the foreign university’s recognition
For joint degrees with foreign institutions, check whether that university is recognized by HEC and by the relevant education authority in that country. A degree from an unrecognized foreign institution can cause serious problems when you try to use it.
Waiting too long to ask questions
Implementation will be uneven across universities. Students who ask early, confirm everything in writing, and document their approvals will be far better protected than those who assume things will sort themselves out.
Why this matters beyond the classroom
Pakistan has a graduate employability problem that nobody seriously disputes. Employers consistently say that fresh graduates are academically qualified but practically underprepared. A student who graduates with both a computer science degree and a business degree is not just more employable — they are the candidate employers compete over.
The joint degree option with foreign universities is an even bigger deal for students who want international exposure but cannot afford to relocate. The cost of studying abroad has climbed sharply, and visa difficulties for Pakistani students have made the old routes harder. A joint degree that gives you a foreign institution’s name on your diploma — while you spend most of your time studying at home — is a genuinely useful middle path.
Universities that already have international partnerships — LUMS, NUST, IBA Karachi, FAST, QAU — are in the best position to move quickly. Smaller regional universities will need to build those foreign relationships from scratch, which takes time. So if you are at a newer or smaller institution, be patient but persistent.
The real measure of this policy is not the approval letter that came out of HEC headquarters. It is what happens inside admissions offices, registrar systems and lecture halls across Pakistan over the next twelve months. Watch those spaces carefully — and keep asking questions until you get written answers.
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