Pakistan has introduced a new regulatory framework for dual, double and joint degree programs alongside broader revisions to its transnational education (TNE) policy, in a move aimed at tightening oversight of international collaborations while expanding the range of institutions eligible to operate in the country.
The reforms, approved by Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC), introduce new governance structures for collaborative degrees and revise eligibility criteria for international universities delivering programs in Pakistan. One of the most significant changes is the expansion of eligibility requirements for international higher education institutions.
Previously, only universities ranked within the top 700 globally in overall QS or Times Higher Education rankings could participate under Pakistan’s TNE framework. Under the revised policy, institutions ranked within the top 1,000 globally in QS or THE subject and discipline-specific rankings will now also qualify.
International universities listed in UNESCO’s World Higher Education Database (WHED) or recognised within their home jurisdictions will also be eligible to collaborate with Pakistani universities under the updated rules.
The revised framework further allows specialist and professionally focused institutions in emerging disciplines to be considered on a case-by-case basis even if they do not appear in major global rankings, provided they can demonstrate recognised international standing, accreditation or research strength.
Alongside the eligibility changes, HEC has introduced a standalone “Policy on Dual, Double and Joint Degree Programs”, formally defining three models of collaborative provision between Pakistani and foreign institutions.
Greater regulatory clarity and formalised approval processes are likely to provide UK institutions with increased confidence and predictability when entering long-term partnerships in Pakistan
British Council
Under the framework:
- dual degree programs involve two distinct or related qualifications;
- double degrees involve two qualifications in the same discipline;
- and joint degrees result in a single qualification awarded collectively by participating institutions.
Institutions seeking to offer such programs will now be required to secure HEC No Objection Certificates (NOCs), obtain approval from statutory bodies and sign formal Memorandums of Commitment covering areas such as academic delivery, examination processes, credit recognition and transcript issuance. The agreements will carry a minimum validity period of five years and remain subject to HEC review and renewal.
The policy additionally introduces a standardised HEC-approved Credit Equivalency Matrix designed to map learning outcomes, contact hours and assessment methods across partner institutions.
Student protection measures have also been embedded into the framework, including mandatory grievance redress mechanisms, defined mobility arrangements, teach-out plans and student exit pathways in the event collaborative programs are discontinued.
Institutions will additionally be encouraged to improve accessibility for students with disabilities and introduce scholarship or financial support mechanisms for economically disadvantaged learners.
The broader TNE revisions also strengthen oversight requirements for offshore campuses operated by Pakistani universities abroad, including tighter host-country regulatory approvals, programme relevance checks and quality assurance compliance measures.
“These policy reforms are expected to significantly strengthen the internationalisation agenda of Pakistan’s higher education sector by creating a more structured, transparent and quality-assured framework for international collaboration,” stated the British Council.
The organisation added that the revised framework could support deeper UK-Pakistan engagement through “collaborative programme delivery, joint curriculum development, research partnerships and faculty exchange initiatives”.
“Greater regulatory clarity and formalised approval processes are likely to provide UK institutions with increased confidence and predictability when entering long-term partnerships in Pakistan,” the organisation added.
The latest reforms build on revisions introduced to Pakistan’s TNE policy last year, which sought to provide greater clarity around operational models, quality assurance requirements and offshore campus regulations.
In 2025, stakeholders speaking at The PIE Live Europe described Pakistan as a growing but price-sensitive TNE market, with collaborative and pathway delivery models increasingly viewed as a means of expanding access to international qualifications.
Speakers at the event noted that Pakistan then hosted 55 recognised TNE programs involving more than 15,000 students, with UK-linked provision accounting for a significant share of the market.
The updated framework also comes at a time of heightened compliance pressures across Pakistan’s international education sector, as rising visa refusals and tighter recruitment controls continue to affect student mobility to major destinations such as the UK.
