# KEMU MPhil and PhD Admissions 2027: What Is HAT and Do You Need It?

Source: https://upmed.net/kemu-mphil-phd-admissions-2027-hat/  
Published: 2026-11-07 · Updated: 2026-11-08  
Category: Blog  
Publisher: UPMED (https://upmed.net/)

> KEMU PhD and MPhil admissions open March/April 2027 and need an HEC HAT score. What HAT is, HAT-IV for doctors, passing score, next test 13 Dec 2026...

Planning an MPhil or PhD at King Edward Medical University (KEMU)? Then there is one test you should register for now, not in March: the **Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT)**.

## What KEMU has announced

On 29 October 2026, the KEMU Registrar issued an announcement (No. 2659/Reg/KEMU) with three points:

- KEMU will announce admissions to its **PhD and MPhil programmes in March/April 2027**.
- Candidates must fulfil the **HEC requirement for HAT** and meet the eligibility criteria *before* applying. KEMU cites HEC letter No. 15-54/Coord/2019/QAD/HEC/317, dated 13 May 2026.
- KEMU is also expected to announce a **Postgraduate Diploma programme**. Diploma applicants do **not** need HAT; KEMU will hold its own admission test for them.

In short: no valid HAT score, no MPhil or PhD application at KEMU.

## What is HAT?

HAT is a standardised test run by the **Education Testing Council (ETC)** of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Universities use it for MS/MPhil and PhD admissions, and HEC uses it for its scholarships.

- **Format:** 100 MCQs in 120 minutes
- **Sections:** English/verbal reasoning, analytical reasoning and quantitative reasoning
- **Qualifying score:** 50 out of 100 (some reports mention 60 for PhD; check the latest advertisement)
- **Validity:** two years from the result
- **Where to register:** [etc.hec.gov.pk](https://etc.hec.gov.pk) (details on the [HEC ETC page](https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/students/etc/Pages/default.aspx))

Passing HAT only makes you eligible. Your actual merit at KEMU will still depend on the university’s own selection criteria.

## Which HAT category should a doctor take?

HAT comes in five categories, chosen by the field of your 16-year degree. For MBBS and BDS graduates (and most allied health degrees), the relevant one is **HAT-IV**, which covers Biological and Medical Sciences. These are HEC’s [approved content weightages](https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/students/etc/Pages/Content-WeightagesSyllabus.aspx) (100 MCQs, 120 minutes for every stream):

| Category | Fields | Verbal | Analytical | Quantitative |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HAT-I | Engineering, computer science, mathematics, statistics, physics | 30% | 30% | 40% |
| HAT-II | Management sciences, business | 30% | 40% | 30% |
| HAT-III | Arts, social sciences, psychology, law | 40% | 35% | 25% |
| **HAT-IV** | Agriculture and veterinary sciences, **biological and medical sciences**, physical sciences | 40% | 30% | 30% |
| HAT-General | Religious studies | 40% | 30% | 30% |

Pick the category carefully. It cannot be changed after submission, and if KEMU’s advertisement names a specific category, follow that.

To see what the questions look like, practise with HEC’s official [HAT-Medical (MS) sample paper](https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/students/etc/Documents/SAMPLE%20PAPER-HAT-MEDICAL%28MS%29.pdf). It has verbal, analytical and quantitative reasoning MCQs with an answer key. More papers are on the [HEC sample papers page](https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/students/etc/Pages/HAT-Sample-Papers.aspx).

### MPhil vs PhD

HEC’s policy uses two terms: **HAT-General** (the aptitude test above) for MS/MPhil, and **HAT-Subject** for PhD. HAT-Subject is reported to be mostly subject-based (around 70%), with the rest verbal and analytical reasoning. PhD applicants should check which version ETC is offering when registration opens.

## Why the confusion about HAT?

In May 2026, HEC notified that admissions to MS/MPhil (Level 7) and PhD (Level 8) programmes would be based only on GRE/HAT tests conducted through ETC, and that universities could no longer hold their own replacement tests. Later that month, HEC deferred the nationwide start of this policy from Fall 2026 to Fall 2027 after universities asked for more time.

KEMU, however, has clearly told applicants for its March/April 2027 intake to meet the HAT requirement. So for KEMU, treat HAT as required.

## When is the next HAT?

According to the official [HEC ETC Test Calendar 2026](https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/students/etc/Pages/Test-Calendar.aspx) (revised 25 August 2026):

- **Advertisement:** 8 November 2026
- **Last date for online registration:** 22 November 2026
- **Roll number slip:** 4 December 2026
- **Test day:** Sunday 13 December 2026
- **Result:** 31 December 2026

HEC has not yet released its 2027 calendar. Since KEMU admissions open in March/April 2027, the **December 2026 sitting is the safest one to take**. If you miss it, you will be relying on an early-2027 test whose result may come too close to KEMU’s deadline. Always confirm the latest announcements on the [HEC Education Testing Council page](https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/students/etc/Pages/default.aspx).

## How to register

1. Create an account on etc.hec.gov.pk with your own CNIC.
2. Complete your profile and academic details (MBBS/BDS and any postgraduate degree).
3. Choose your category (HAT-IV for most doctors) or HAT-Subject for PhD.
4. Download the fee challan and pay it before the deadline (the fee has been Rs 2,000 in past advertisements; check the current one).
5. Download your roll number slip about a week before the test and bring your original CNIC on test day.

## Quick checklist for KEMU MPhil/PhD 2027

- Register for the December 2026 HAT by 22 November 2026.
- Keep your degree, transcripts and PMDC registration ready.
- Watch the KEMU website for the admission advertisement in March/April 2027.

**Applying for the Postgraduate Diploma instead?** You can skip HAT. Wait for KEMU’s diploma advertisement and prepare for the university’s own admission test.

## Sources

- [KEMU announcement, 29 October 2026](https://kemu.edu.pk/kemu-phd-mphil-postgraduate-diploma-admissions-2027-important-announcement/)
- [The News: HEC makes GRE/HAT mandatory (15 May 2026)](https://www.thenews.pk/print/1415557-hec-makes-gre-hat-mandatory-for-mphil-phd-admissions-from-fall-2026)
- [The News: new test policy postponed to Fall 2027 (27 May 2026)](https://www.thenews.pk/print/1417643-new-test-policy-for-varsity-enrolments-postponed)
- [HEC ETC Test Calendar 2026 (revised 25 August 2026)](https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/students/etc/Pages/Test-Calendar.aspx)
- [HEC HAT content weightages](https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/students/etc/Pages/Content-WeightagesSyllabus.aspx)
- [HEC HAT sample papers](https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/students/etc/Pages/HAT-Sample-Papers.aspx)
- [HEC Education Testing Council (ETC)](https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/students/etc/Pages/default.aspx)
- Registration portal: [etc.hec.gov.pk](https://etc.hec.gov.pk)

![KEMU Registrar announcement dated 29 October 2026 on PhD, MPhil and Postgraduate Diploma admissions 2027 and the HAT requirement](https://upmed.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/kemu-phd-mphil-admissions-2027-hat.jpg)

KEMU announcement, 29 October 2026