The Self Finance Scheme for admission of foreign students in professional institutions of Pakistan was transferred to HEC from Economic Affairs Division in June 2006. The scheme with limited number of seats in the disciplines of Medicine (MBBS), Dentistry (BDS), Pharmacy (Pharm-D) and B.Sc. Engineering envisages to facilitate both foreign as well as Pakistan origin dual nationality holder students, for their admission in universities/institutions of Pakistan.  A student with his/her HSSC or equivalent qualification is eligible to apply.

to encourage and facilitate Pakistani nationals settled abroad as well as foreign nationals to seek admission in Pakistani universities/institution. to promote the image of Pakistan in outside world. to share knowledge and expertise with friendly developing countries to renew the contacts of expatriate Pakistanis through education of their children in Pakistan. to provide quality education to the students of developing and underdeveloped countries in Pakistan.   to earn foreign exchange for the institutions / country.

 1.           The applicant must hold foreign nationality at the time of admission.

 2.            The applicant must have passed Higher Secondary School or equivalent examination (minimum 60%) with the

          following combinations of subjects:

          a)           For MBBS / BDS / Pharm-D: English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

          b)            For B.Sc. Engineering:  English, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics 

  3.       The student desirous of admission should not have a study gap of more than two years after passing his/her HSSC or Equivalent Examinations. 

  4.         Additional Requirements for admission in MBBS/BDS under Self Finance Scheme is as under: 

 i.           The candidate have also either passed the entrance test of the concerned institution/admission board or passed
SAT-II  with minimum 550 marks in each subject i.e. Chemistry, Biology and 3^rd subject could be Physics
or Mathematics.  

 ii.          Valid TOEFL or IELTS with score of 500 or 5.5. (not applicable for those students whose medium of instruction is English at HSSC level). 

 iii.     For admission in  NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, the candidate have also either passed the entrance test of the NED University  or passed SAT-I and SAT-II in Mathematics, Physics & Chemistry examinations with minimum of 800 and 1500 marks respectively.

Foreign nationals are required to send their applications on the prescribed form to Assistant Director(Academics), Academics Division, Higher Education Commission, Sector H-9, Islamabad, Phone No.051-90402119 & 90402124 through the Embassy of Pakistan in their respective countries or through Embassy of their own country in Pakistan.

Applicants of Pakistani Origin may submit their applications directly on the above mentioned address or through Embassy of Pakistan in their respective country or respective Embassy in Islamabad.

The Higher Education Commission with concurrence of all relevant Ministries/Agencies had streamlined   the procedure for admission of foreign students (in general stream). The detail is available at HEC website www.hec.gov.pk/fsadm.

Frequently Asked Questions - Admission under SFS 

Q1: What is SFS and who are eligible for Admission under SFS?

Ans: The Self Finance Scheme with limited number of seats in the disciplines of Medicine (MBBS), Dentistry (BDS), Pharmacy (Pharm-D) and B.Sc. Engineering envisages to facilitate both foreign as well as Pakistan origin dual nationality holder students, for their admission in universities/institutions of Pakistan.  A foreign student/Pak Origin having dual nationality with his/her HSSC or equivalent qualification is eligible to apply.

Q2: What is the required qualification for admission under SFS?

Ans: For admission in the any discipline  under SFS, a candidate must have passed F.Sc. or equivalent  examination with a minimum of 60 per cent (660/1100) marks. Candidates having higher qualifications are not given any preference.

Q3: Is there any Entrance Test for admissions?

Ans: Yes, there is a mandatory Entrance Test or SAT-II details of which are as under:

i.            For admission in MBBS/BDS, the candidate have also either passed the entrance test of the concerned institution/admission board or passed SAT-II with minimum 550 marks in each subject i.e. Chemistry, Biology and 3^rd subject could be Physics or Mathematics.  

ii.            Valid TOEFL or IELTS with score of 500 or 5.5. (not applicable for those students whose medium of instruction is English at HSSC level).

          iii.          For admission in  NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, the candidate have also either passed the
                   entrance test of the NED University  or passed SAT-I and SAT-II in Mathematics, Physics & Chemistry examinations
                   with minimum of 800 and 1500 marks respectively. 

Q4: When are the SAT-II and Entrance Test are offered? How does a student apply?

Ans: SAT –II is the official tests offered by College Board. Schedule of the test and other details are given at their website www.collegeboard.com. For the Detail/Schedule of Entry Test, please visit the website of concerned university/Institute. For Medical/Dental Colleges of Punjab www.uhs.edu.pkFor Medical/Dental Colleges of KPK, www.kmc.edu.pkFor  Medical/Dental Colleges of Sindh, www.duhs.edu.pkand www.lumhs.edu.pkand for NED, www.neduet.edu.pk. 

Q5: How the merit is determined for admission under SFS? 

Ans: Merit for Pak Origin students is determined according to their marks in F.Sc. / Equivalent Exam. Seats to the foreigner are offered keeping in view the number application received from each country.

Q6: What are the essential documents required to apply for the admission under SFS?

Ans: Attested photocopies of following documents are mandatory, without these document  the application will not be processed further.

i.             Foreign Passport

ii.            Equivalence Certificate issued by IBCC or detailed Mark Certificate of FSc (Pre-Medical/Engineering as the case may be).

iii.          Proof  of Pak-Origin (if applicable)

iv.          Result of SAT-II or entry Test (In case applicant has not yet passed SAT-II, then he / she must registered for SAT-II being conducted on October 01, 2011 and should attach proof of registration).

v.           NOC issued by the home country for studying in Pakistan. (not applicable to Pak – Origin).

Q7:  I am not a Pak Origin whether I can submit my equivalence certificate after arrival in      Pakistan.

Ans:Yes, you can submit your Equivalence Certificate after arrival in Pakistan.

Q8: When does the admission process starts?

Ans: Application are received from 1^st week of July every year with an advertisement through website and press/invitation letters to Pakistani Missions Abroad and Foreign Missions in Pakistan.

Q9:  I am an Overseas Pakistani and does not possess any foreign nationality but I have a Permanent Resident Card/Green Card. Can I apply for admission Under SFS?

Ans: No. If you don’t have the foreign nationality of the country you are living in, you cannot apply for admission against seats reserved for foreign candidates. You can apply on open merit seats directly to the concerned institute, if you have a domicile of  concerned province.

Q10:  I am a Foreign application of Pak Origin having the domicile of KPK. Can I get admission in any medical / dental college of the Punjab or Sindh?

Ans:  Yes, under SFS you are eligible to get admission in any province of Pakistan, where the seats are reserved under SFS. You can mention your priorities in the application form.

Q11: I am a foreign student having dual nationality. How can I get admission against foreign seats reserved under Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme (PTAP)?

Ans: Admissions  under PTAP are  administered  by the Economic Affairs Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. You are advised to contact:

Mr. Saqib Ali Khan
Section Officer (Foreign Students),
Economic Affairs Division,
Room No.505, Block-C,
Pakistan Secretariat, Islamabad.
Tel: 092-51-99201868
Fax: 092-51-9211822
Website:www.ead.gov.pk

Q12: I want to apply for admission in a Private Medical/Dental College, do I still send my application to HEC?

Ans: No, HEC only process the admission in public sector medical colleges under Self Finance Scheme. For admission in a private medical/dental college you need to apply directly to the concerned college/institution.

Q13: I have done A-level or 12th Grade etc. How can I get my equivalence?

Ans: There is an organization Inter Board Committee of Chairman (IBCC), which recognizes and issues equivalence to candidates who have passed A-Level or 12th Grade or any other examination equivalent to FSc (Pre-Medical/Engineering etc.). It is the responsibility of the candidates to settle their cases with IBCC and should get their equivalence certificate from IBCC, Islamabad only for recognition of their qualifications. The EQUIVALENCE CERTIFICATE issued by the IBCC enables HEC to determine eligibility and prepare merit list for admission under SFS.

For further information, you should contact:

Mr. Wilayat Khan Khattak
Assistant Secretary (Qualification and Equivalence)
Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen, FBISE Building,
H-8/4 Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: 092-51-9101170,9235020
Fax: 092-51-9250451
E-mail:  sec_ibcc@ibcc.edu.pk
Website: www.ibcc.edu.pk

Q14: How I can get more information about admissions under the SFS?  

Ans: You may send an email on the following addresses:

 (i)          ayar@hec.gov.pk

(ii)         muhaslam@hec.gov.pk 

Q15:  Can you send me some additional brochure materials about the Scheme?   

Ans:  No, we do not send any additional brochure materials - we post all information on the website, both to ensure it’s most up-to-date, and also to be more “green” and limit our paper consumption. 

Q16: When and how will I be informed about the decision of my selection under SFS? 

Ans: The selected candidates will be informed via email and through offer letter posted at the mailing address. Moreover, the same information is also uploaded at our website.

Q17: What is the total number of seats, fee structure and schedule of different colleges under SFS?

Ans: Being Autonomous bodies, the matter of seats/fee is determined by the concerned university/institution. However the detail of previous year is as under:

$=US Dollar

Rs= Pak Rupee 

BACHELOR OF MEDICINE AND BACHELOR OF SURGERY (MBBS) 

  BACHELOR OF DENTAL SURGERY (BDS) 

 B.Sc. ENGINEERING 

 PHARM-D