ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Higher Education Commission (HEC) advises students looking to study overseas to double-check that their chosen mode of study is approved before signing up for any foreign degree programs.
The commission sounded an alarm bell, warning that degrees considered on-campus or traditional, yet completed entirely online or through a blend of online and in-person classes, won’t be recognized post-Spring 2026 unless they get a green light from the proper foreign authorities.
Students need to make sure their program is legit, too.HEC directed them to confirm it’s recognized by the right accrediting bodies in the host country and that all residency requirements have been met.
Both current students and those planning to apply in the future should note this advisory. The HEC urges students to verify all academic details directly with institutions to avoid any headaches regarding recognition down the line.
On a positive note, individual assessment of degree equivalency cases will still be possible via their online system.
HEC rejects social media claims of database breach
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Wednesday strongly rejected the “baseless and false” reports circulating on social media regarding an alleged security breach in the HEC database.
In a clarification issued on X, the HEC said that an immediate investigation carried out by its Cyber Security Operations Centre found no evidence of any compromise to its Degree Attestation System.
“After an immediate investigation by the HEC’s Cyber Security Operation Centre, it has become clear that the alleged leaked sample records circulating online do not belong to the HEC’s Degree Attestation system,” it stated.
The HEC appealed to the public to refrain from spreading unverified, misleading, and baseless information.
