Pakistan's HEC assesses foreign degrees case by case — and its guidance now distinguishes sharply between two kinds of "online". Know the difference before you enrol.
For Pakistani students, an international qualification often needs an HEC equivalence certificate — the document that maps a foreign award onto Pakistan's qualification levels for public-sector employment and further study.
The distinction that now matters
Current guidance separates two things that look similar from the outside. Degrees registered as on-campus programmes but completed online are at risk of not being recognised. Programmes officially designed and offered online by a recognised institution are assessed on their own merits, case by case.
What the equivalence process involves
- Registration on the HEC portal with your identity documents.
- Your full academic history, including school-level equivalence where required.
- Direct verification of the award from the university.
- An assessment fee, and a case-by-case decision.
Be wary of guarantees
No provider can guarantee HEC equivalence — the decision belongs to HEC alone. What a responsible provider can do is ensure the university is recognised, the programme is officially online, and your documentation is complete and verifiable. That is exactly the support we give, and we will tell you honestly where a case is uncertain.
