Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT)

ETC
Higher Education
Aptitude Test (HAT)
for Admission in MS/M.Phil. & Ph.D. Programmes
in Pakistani Universities and Award of HEC Scholarships
The Education Testing Council (ETC) is conducting Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) for students who intend to
seek admission in M.Phil/MS and Ph.D. programmes in Pakistani Universities.
Who can Apply for HAT?
Those who:
Are interested in seeking admission in MS/M.Phil. & Ph.D. programmes in public and private Pakistani universities (those accept
HAT).
Have already applied for MS/ M.Phil. & Ph.D. admission OR HEC scholarships via E-portal in response to universities/HEC
advertisement.
Intend to apply in future for the HEC scholarships.
Which HAT Category to Apply for?
HAT is conducted in the following five (05) categories based on 16 years or equivalent education. The students may register in any of the
category keeping in view university’s admission requirement and/or their academic streams.
Question Breakup
Test
English/
Disciplines
Analytical
Quantitative
Category
Verbal
Total
Reasoning
Reasoning
Reasoning
Engineering & Technology, Computer
HAT 1
30%
30%
40%
100
Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics
Management Sciences,
HAT 2
30%
40%
30%
100
Business Education
Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences,
HAT 3
40%
35%
25%
100
Psychology (Clinical & Applied) and Law
Agriculture & Veterinary Sciences,
Biological & Medical Sciences, Physical
HAT 4
40%
30%
30%
100
Sciences, Education,
n00
Media & Mass Communication
Religious Studies
HAT-General
40%
30%
30%
100
(Madrasa Graduates)
Note: The students may choose the relevant test as per university’s admission requirement and their academic streams. After qualifying
the respective HAT, the students will be eligible for admission in MS/M.Phil and Ph.D. programmes to the relevant universities. HAT
result is also valid for award of HEC Scholarships.
Qualifying Score and Validity:
50 out of 100 will be considered as a qualifying HAT score. The test scores will be valid for two (02) years,
Test Schedule:
The registration portal will remain open from Sunday, March 15, 2026 till Monday, March 30, 2026 (24:00 hours) and test will be
conducted on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Any change in test date will be notified through http://hec.gov.pkand http://etc.hec.gov.pk
ETC conducts HAT on quarterly basis in the major cities of Pakistan. For next test dates, kindly see the Test Calendar 2026 at ETC website.
How to Apply?
Visit http://etc.hec.gov.pk for online registration. In case of any difficulty during online registration, please visit
https://onlinchelp.hec.gov.pk
After completion of registration data/information, the candidates need to SUBMIT the application. Only SUBMITTED applications
will be considered. Applications in SAVE or INCOMPLETE mode will not be entertained.
The candidates must get queries/complaints resolved before the closure of the web registration portal. Queries/complaints
handling beyond the registration deadline is denied by the system due to logistics/security reasons.
Kindly check your personal details, such as name, CNIC number, cell number etc. before submitting your application. Candidates
will not be allowed to sit in the test if there is any difference between CNIC and application data.
Candidates who have registered or applied using the CNIC of their parents, siblings, relatives, or any other individual are not
permitted to sit in the test.
Fee can be submitted through 1Link/1Bill Invoice payment services with the generated consumer number. After depositing the
lee through link 1 Bill Invoice, click on Verify Online Payment on ETC Dashboard.
The test fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Applicants can download their Roll Number Slip from http://etc.hec.gov.pk and through their registered Email address a week
before the test date.
Email/SMS will also be sent to the registered applicants about the issuance of their Roll Number Slips. While filling out online
application forms, candidates are required to provide their valid email/mobile numbers on which they wish to receive their Roll
Number Slips SMS shall not be sent to the mobile numbers that have been converted from one network to another network. These
students will get this information through their email.
A printout of Roll Number Slip and Original CNIC/Passport will be required to enter the Test Centre on the Test Day.
The test will be conducted in major cities. Applicants may select any Test Centre from the list available in the application form. Test
Centre will not be changed after registration. However, ETC may assign another test centre if minimum 250 applicants are not
available in the selected test centre.
Candidate are advised to carefully select the test categories that best matches their subject or area of specialisation. Please note
that once a test category has been selected, it cannot be changed at a later stage.
Kindly note that mobile phone or electronic devices
such as calculating, recording, communication, or
imaging electronic devices are NOT ALLOWED inside
the test centre. Moreover, taking, uploading or sharing
Images of the question book is strictly prohibited and
an offence liable to punishment as per the ETC policy.
Helpline
66
Last Date for Online Registration:
Monday, March 30, 2026
HAT Test will be held on:
Sunday, April 19, 2026
99
Education Testing Council
051-111-119-432 Higher Education Commission
0334-111-9432
Sector H-9, Islamabad
www.hec.gov.pk HECPakistan2002
Link
https://etc.hec.gov.pk
Education Testing Council
hecpkofficial hec pk hec-pakistan HECPakistan 2002
PID (1) 7513-D/25