A guide to the Pakistani education system — from primary school through university — and how your Pakistani credentials compare to US standards for immigration, university admissions, and employment.
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Apply Now →Pakistan follows a structured education system divided into six levels: preschool, primary, middle, secondary, higher secondary (intermediate), and university. The system is largely modeled on the British education structure and is administered at both federal and provincial levels. Urdu is the national language, while English is widely used as the medium of instruction — particularly in science subjects and private schools.
Pakistani degrees and diplomas are regularly evaluated for US university admissions, employment-based visa petitions (H-1B, EB-1A, EB2-NIW, L-1), and professional licensing. The SSC (Matric) and HSSC (Intermediate) certificates are the two key secondary qualifications most commonly presented for evaluation.
Covers foundational literacy and numeracy in Urdu, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. No national board examination at this level; terminal examinations are conducted at the school or provincial level.
Extends foundational subjects and introduces science and language streams. Provincial Education Departments conduct terminal examinations at this stage. Students prepare for the transition to secondary school and the national board examination system.
At the end of Grade 10, students sit for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination — commonly known as the "Matric" or "Matriculation" certificate. The SSC is examined in two parts (SSC-I at Grade 9 and SSC-II at Grade 10) by the Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE). Students choose streams including Science, Humanities, and Technical. Compulsory subjects include Urdu, English, Pakistan Studies, Islamic Studies, and Mathematics.
Also called "Intermediate," this stage leads to the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC). Students attend intermediate colleges or higher secondary schools and continue in their chosen stream. The HSSC is examined in two parts by BISE boards and is the primary qualification for university admission in Pakistan and abroad. O Level and A Level qualifications (Cambridge/Edexcel) are accepted as alternatives to SSC and HSSC respectively.
Bachelor's degrees typically take 2–4 years (2-year BA/BSc pass courses are being phased out in favor of 4-year honors programs). Master's degrees are 2 years. Professional degrees in medicine (MBBS), engineering (BE), and law (LLB) vary from 4–5 years. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) regulates universities nationwide.
Pakistan has a Federal Board and multiple provincial Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) that administer the SSC and HSSC examinations:
The Secondary School Certificate (SSC), known as the Matriculation or "Matric" certificate, is awarded at the end of Grade 10 and is the minimum qualification for entry into intermediate colleges. The Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC), known as the Intermediate certificate, is awarded at the end of Grade 12 and is the primary qualification for university admission. Students at private schools may alternatively hold O Level (equivalent to SSC) and A Level (equivalent to HSSC) qualifications from Cambridge Assessment or Edexcel.
The following equivalencies apply when evaluating Pakistani credentials against US standards:
If you hold a Pakistani degree or diploma and plan to study, work, or immigrate to the United States, a formal credential evaluation is required to establish the US equivalency of your education.
Employment-based visa categories including H-1B, EB-1A, EB2-NIW, O-1, and L-1 require a credential evaluation. For H-1B petitions where a 2-year Pakistani Bachelor's degree combined with work experience is used to establish a US Bachelor's equivalent, a detailed course-by-course evaluation with a professional opinion is strongly recommended.
US universities require a credential evaluation to assess your Pakistani academic background. A course-by-course evaluation converts your subjects into US credit hours and calculates a GPA on the 4.0 scale.
US employers may require an evaluation to verify your Pakistani degree meets the position's educational requirements.
Documents issued in Urdu must be accompanied by certified English translations. Evaluation World offers Urdu-to-English translation services that can be combined with your evaluation order.