Pakistan

Higher education has expanded rapidly in Pakistan, with the country’s Higher Education Commission now overseeing 174 private and public institutions which welcome both local and international students. All teaching is delivered in English.

Applying with Cambridge qualifications

Universities in Pakistan recognise and welcome Cambridge international qualifications. The Government of Pakistan also recognises Cambridge qualifications and provides equivalence with the local education system in order to ensure a smooth transition for students who choose to continue their education in Pakistan.

Qualification equivalence, issued by the Government’s Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), is as follows:

• Cambridge O Levels and Cambridge IGSCE qualifications are equated to the local Secondary School Certificate (SSC)
• Cambridge International A Levels are equated to the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC).

To qualify for equivalence at HSSC level, IBCC provides a list of the compulsory and elective subjects that must be studied at Cambridge O Level, Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International A Level as follows:

Cambridge IGCSE and O Level

• Students must take five compulsory subjects: English, Urdu, Islamiyat, Pakistan Studies, Mathematics and three electives
• To qualify for the Science Group, students must pass Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Computer Science / Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Cambridge International A Level

• Along with eight O Level subjects, three Cambridge International A Levels in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are required to be eligible for the Pre-Engineering group
• Along with eight O Level subjects, three Cambridge International A Levels in Physics, Chemistry and Biology are required to be eligible for the Medical group
• Along with eight O Levels, three Cambridge International A Levels in any subject are required to be eligible for the General Science and Humanities groups.

Cambridge grade conversion

Find out more

Find out more about applying to study at university in Pakistan in our helpful guide to recognition.