ISLAMABAD: Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has approved a comprehensive Policy on Dual, Double and Joint Degree Programmes, paving the way for structured academic collaboration between Pakistani higher education institutions and recognised local and foreign partner institutions.
The policy has been introduced in response to the growing globalisation of higher education, increasing student mobility, rising international academic partnerships, and the pressing need to align Pakistani higher education with global standards. It provides a formal regulatory framework for universities seeking to offer collaborative degree programmes at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Under the new policy, three forms of collaborative academic arrangements have been outlined:
- Dual Degree Programmes: Leading to the award of two degrees in distinct or closely related fields.
- Double Degree Programmes: Leading to the award of two degrees in the same discipline by partnering institutions.
- Joint Degree Programmes: Involving the issuance of a single degree jointly awarded and signed by collaborating institutions.
HEC has made it clear that such programmes may only be offered where universities enter into formal collaborative arrangements in strict accordance with the approved policy. Institutions will be required to obtain necessary statutory approvals, execute a detailed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), ensure proper credit mapping, define clear admission and exit requirements, disclose fee structures, provide student protection arrangements, and seek HEC’s No-Objection Certificate (NOC) before launching any such programme.
The policy is expected to benefit students significantly by expanding access to international learning opportunities, enabling credit mobility, facilitating joint supervision, offering global academic exposure, and improving employability.
It will also support Pakistani universities in strengthening international partnerships, improving curriculum relevance, enhancing quality assurance mechanisms, and increasing the global recognition of Pakistani higher education.
Through this policy, HEC aims to promote responsible internationalisation of higher education while safeguarding academic standards, protecting student interests, and ensuring institutional accountability across the country.
