HEC urged to review criteria for PhD admission

PESHAWAR: The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) students and graduates of Allama Iqbal University have demanded the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and other authorities concerned to review the strict criteria for admissions to Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

A group of students informed that as per the HEC policy to obtain 70 per cent marks was mandatory to take admission in PhD. They said those lucky students who obtained 69.5 percent were given 0.5 per cent grace marks to get admissions but those students who obtained 69.1 to 69.4 per cent marks were refused admission which caused concern among such students.

“The present criteria is leading to destroy the future of many students willing to take admission and do PhDs,” said an affected student Iram Naz. The students demanded further easing in the criteria in the HEC policy and to give authority to the vice chancellors of all the universities to grant 1-4 grace marks to facilitate the students to take admissions in PhDs. They said that this pattern existed in some universities and it either should be extended to all the varsities or students should be given a chance of paper improve/marks and could be able to take admissions in PhDs.