Two-year associate degrees to be offered

Students holding such degrees can take admission in the fifth semester of BS

ISLAMABAD: The apex higher education body on Friday stated that the two-year bachelors of arts (BA) and bachelors of science (BS) programmes and the two-year masters of arts and masters of science programmes will end in the academic year 2018 and 2020 respectively. However, a two-year associate degree in market-driven subjects will still be offered.

In a statement issued by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Friday, the body had in 2016 decided to phase out the old two-year bachelor degrees — equivalent to 14 years of education, and the two-year master's degrees.

However, the commission said that those students who hold a two-year BA and BSc degrees, they will be allowed to take admission in the third year (fifth semester) of the four-year Bachelor of Studies degree programme after successfully completing 15-18 credit hours of bridging courses. These courses will be prescribed by HEC and the admitting university.

Moreover, instead of the two-year BA, BSc degrees, universities will now offer an associate degree through their recognized campuses or constituent colleges. However, these degrees will only be offered in the market-driven subjects, after necessary approval from the HEC. These degrees will be available for students with 12 years of schooling.

The HEC said that they have issued detailed guidelines for this programme on its website.

The commission said that students holding associate degrees will be able to re-enter the education system by seeking admission in the fifth semester of a BS programme after fulfilling additional entry requirements.