HEC Approves Policy on Dual Double and Joint Degree Programmes for Pakistani Universities

ISLAMABAD — The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Saturday approved a comprehensive policy on dual, double and joint degree programmes to facilitate structured academic collaboration between Pakistani higher education institutions and their recognised local and foreign partner institutions. The landmark decision aims to align Pakistani higher education with global standards and provide students with enhanced international learning opportunities.

The policy has been introduced in view of the growing globalisation of higher education, increasing student mobility, international academic partnerships, and the pressing need to bring Pakistani higher education in line with international best practices. It provides a formal regulatory framework for universities seeking to offer collaborative degree programmes at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Three Types of Collaborative Degrees

The policy outlines three distinct forms of collaborative academic arrangements for Pakistani universities:

• Dual Degree Programmes — Leading to the award of two degrees in distinct or closely related fields, allowing students to gain expertise across complementary disciplines
• Double Degree Programmes — Leading to the award of two degrees in the same discipline by partnering institutions, enabling deeper specialisation
• Joint Degree Programmes — Involving the issuance of a single degree jointly awarded and signed by collaborating institutions, representing a fully integrated academic partnership

Regulatory Requirements

HEC has stated that such programmes may only be offered where universities enter into formal collaborative arrangements in accordance with the approved policy. Institutions will be required to meet several conditions before launching any collaborative programme:

• Statutory Approvals — Obtain necessary statutory approvals from relevant regulatory bodies
• Memorandum of Understanding — Execute a detailed MoU with partner institutions outlining all terms of collaboration
• Credit Mapping — Ensure proper credit mapping and recognition of coursework across institutions
• Admission Requirements — Define clear admission and exit requirements for students enrolled in the programmes
• Fee Disclosure — Provide transparent disclosure of fee structures to all prospective students
• Student Protection — Arrange student protection mechanisms to safeguard academic interests
• HEC Clearance — Seek HEC's No Objection Certificate (NOC) before launching any collaborative programme

Benefits for Students and Universities

The policy is expected to significantly benefit students by expanding access to international learning opportunities, enabling credit mobility, providing joint supervision from faculty across institutions, offering global academic exposure, and improving employability in an increasingly interconnected job market.

For Pakistani universities, the policy will support the strengthening of international partnerships, improvement of curriculum relevance, enhancement of quality assurance mechanisms, and increased global recognition of Pakistani higher education qualifications.

Commitment to Quality

Through this policy, HEC aims to promote the responsible internationalisation of higher education while safeguarding academic standards, student interests, and institutional accountability. The commission emphasised that all collaborative programmes must maintain the same rigorous quality standards expected of traditional degree programmes offered by Pakistani universities.