The Higher Education Commission (HEC) via education test council (ETC) will conduct Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) for award of all HEC scholarships and for admission in MS / MPhil and PhD programs through a uniform, accessible, and transparent selectin process. Here in this guide, you’ll learn about the HEC HAT registration process, eligibility criteria, HAT test categories, their syllabus, fee and date of examination in 2023.
Who Can Apply for HAT?
The test is being organized for those applicants given below:
- Who have already applied online for any MS/MPhil and PhD admission or HEC scholarship (Commonwealth, Hungary, Chinese etc.) via e-portal for further final selection process.
- Who intend to apply for the scholarship schemes advertised in future including those by HEC sponsored Pakistani universities.
- who are interested in securing admission in MS/MPhil and PhD programs in public and private universities of Pakistan.
So now you totally understand that who can apply for HEC HAT.
HAT Eligibility Criteria
The applicant who who satisfy all the following requirements are eligible to apply:
General Eligibility Criteria
- Pakistani/AJK nationals
- Minimum 4 years bachelor’s degree (B.S/B.Sc./B.E/16 years formal education)
- No 2nd or 3rd Division in entire academic career is acceptable for both Category – I & II.
- Maximum age on the closing date shall not exceed:
- 40 Years in case of regular Government Employees/regular Faculty members of Public Sector Universities & Government Colleges/regular Researchers of approved R & D Organizations
- 35 Years in all other cases
- Must not be availing any other Scholarship.
- Those having PhD Degree are not eligible.
Specific Eligibility Criteria:
Category I – Scholarship (Top 50 QS World Ranked US Universities):
For this category of scholarship, prospective applicant must have:
- Secured admission in top 50 QS World Ranked US University.
- Valid GRE – General Score (Minimum 300 in total) OR HAT Score (Minimum 60% Score)
Category II -Scholarship (Top 300 QS World Ranked US Universities):
For this category of scholarship, prospective applicant must have:
a. Secured admission in top 300 (51-300) QS World Ranked US University (overall ranking). In case of QS Subject wise Ranking, must have secured admission in top 100 (51-100) universities.
b. Valid GRE – General Score (Minimum 300 in total) OR HAT Score (Minimum 60% Score). However, GRE – General or HAT Score is not required in case admission is secured with complete tuition waiver.
Now you know the eligibility criteria for HAT lets understand which HAT version to apply for based on academic streams. HEC conducts HAT in five different categories which are given below:
HEC HAT Test Categories
The HEC conducts the test in the following five categories based on 16 years or equivalent education and students should register accordingly:
| Test Categories | Disciplines | English / Verbal Reasoning | Analytical Reasoning | Quantitative Reasoning | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAT-1 | Engineering & Technology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics | 30% | 30% | 40% | 100 |
| HAT-2 | Management Sciences, Business Education | 30% | 30% | 30% | 100 |
| HAT-3 | Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology (Clinical & Applied) and Law | 40% | 35% | 25% | 100 |
| HAT-4 | Agriculture & Veterinary Sciences, Physical Sciences, Education, Media & Mass Communication | 40% | 30% | 30% | 100 |
| HAT-General | Religious Studies (Madrasa Graduates) | 40% | 30% | 30% | 100 |
The applicant must select the correct categories while filling in the online form.
Test score will be valid for 2 years (for scholarships and admissions in MS/MPhil and PhD programs.
How to Apply for HAT
To apply for the HEC HAT examination please follow the below given instructions:
- Visit the http://etc.hec.gov.pk for online registration.
- In case of difficulty during online registration, visit https://onlinehelp.hec.gov.pk
- Only submitted applications will be considered for HAT exam and applications in Save or Incomplete mode will not be entertained.
- Once you have selected 1link bill invoice payment service, open/sign into your mobile app and click on bill payment or payment services *as per your mobile banking app options.
- Click on 1bill invoice payment services and enter the consumer number generated by the ETC portal. Once you see the details, pay the amount.
- After depositing the fee though 1link bill invoice, click on verify online payment on ETC dashboard.
- The test fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
- The candidates must get queries/complaints resolved before the closure of the web registration portal.
Fee for HEC HAT
Test fee of Rs. 2000/- will be applicable via 1Link 1Bill invoice participating Banks, ATM, Internet banking, Mobile Banking, EasyPaisa, JazzCash and Upaisa.
Date of HEC HAT Examination
HEC conducts HAT examination on the following date:
- HAT examination will held on Sunday, October 29, 2023, tentatively. Any change in test date will be communicated through www.hec.gov.pk and http://etc.hec.gov.pk
- Applicants who register through HEC online registration process will be able to download their roll number slips from http://etc.hec.gov.pk and registered email address a week before the examination date.
- Email/SMS will also be sent to registered applicants for test date, time and venue. While filling out online application forms, candidates are required to provide valid email and mobile numbers on which they wish to receive Roll Number Slips.
- A printout of Roll Number Slip and original CNIC will be required to enter the test center on test day.
Last Date to Apply for HEC HAT
The last date to apply for HEC HAT examination 2023 is October 17, 2023.
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