The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has launched a new GRE preparatory program designed for Pakistani students aiming for postgraduate scholarships in the United States. The initiative targets candidates who are currently in the process of applying for US-based doctoral and master’s programs under various HEC-funded scholarship schemes.
The decision arrives as a direct response to feedback from students who identified the high cost of private coaching as a significant barrier. With GRE test fees and quality prep courses often running into tens of thousands of rupees, many high-achieving applicants from rural or low-income backgrounds have struggled to secure the scores required by top-tier US universities. “We want to level the playing field,” an HEC official familiar with the program told reporters. “A student’s potential shouldn’t be capped by their ability to pay for a prep class.
” The training will be conducted through a mix of virtual modules and intensive workshops, covering the three core sections of the GRE: Analytical Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. While the commission hasn’t released a full schedule, officials confirmed that the first cohort will be selected based on their academic transcripts and the status of their current scholarship applications. This isn’t just about test-taking strategies. The program includes mentorship sessions where successful alumni from US universities provide guidance on navigating the complex admissions landscape.
This addresses a common gap: many Pakistani students excel in core subjects but falter when drafting the research proposals or personal statements required by American admission committees. Critics of previous HEC initiatives often pointed to a lack of follow-through, where scholarships were awarded but students were left to navigate visa and admission hurdles alone.
By integrating test prep with direct support, the commission is shifting its focus toward a “cradle-to-campus” approach. Interested applicants are advised to monitor the HEC scholarship portal, as the commission plans to roll out registration links in phases starting next week. The HEC expects to support at least 500 students in this pilot phase, with potential expansion depending on the success of the initial results.
For those aiming for an August 2025 intake, the window to secure a high GRE score is closing. This program is the commission’s attempt to ensure that, when that window shuts, the best candidates are on the right side of the threshold.
