LAHORE – July 2025: The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has officially adopted significant amendments to its Undergraduate Programmes Regulations 2024, aiming to enhance academic rigor and ensure higher quality standards across its affiliated institutions. The updated policies, approved by the UHS Syndicate during a high-level meeting this week, introduce tighter rules for student evaluation, semester progression, and academic probation.
New Academic Standards for Health Science Students
The revised regulations impact students enrolled in programs such as Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), BSc Nursing, Doctor of Pharmacy, and Allied Health Sciences. Under the new system, students must now secure a minimum of 50% marks separately in theory and practical components of each subject to pass. This replaces previous leniencies where combined averages were sometimes used to determine pass/fail status.
To be eligible for graduation, students must now maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.0 throughout their academic journey.
Clear Guidelines on Promotion and Probation
In a move to standardize academic progress, UHS has outlined specific GPA thresholds for student promotion:
- Students with a semester GPA of 1.7 or higher, who have cleared all subjects, will be promoted to the next semester.
- Those who fail to clear one or more courses will be eligible to appear in a “resit” exam, now scheduled biannually after every two semesters.
- A student failing in a resit will be relegated to the previous semester, while repeated failure in subsequent attempts may result in dismissal from the program.
However, the university has allowed one-time readmission for students who are expelled due to academic reasons, offering a chance at academic recovery.
Attendance Policy Reinforced with Makeup Classes
Attendance continues to play a crucial role in student evaluation. If a student falls short of the minimum attendance requirements, the new rules permit makeup classes to bridge the gap. These sessions will be monitored to ensure academic integrity and engagement.
Retrospective Application of Policy to Recent Exams
In a decisive move, the Syndicate also ratified adjustments to recently released undergraduate exam results, aligning them with the newly approved regulations. This may impact the academic status of students who were previously assessed under the old rules.
High-Level Meeting Reflects Unified Leadership
The Syndicate meeting, which approved these reforms, was chaired by UHS Vice Chancellor Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore. Key attendees included:
- Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal, Vice Chancellor of Fatima Jinnah Medical University
- Prof. Nadia Naseem, UHS Pro-Vice Chancellor
- Prof. Maryam Malik, Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, Prof. Tayyaba Waseem, Prof. Sidra Saleem, and Prof. Samina Kausar
- Registrar Kiran Fatima
Additionally, Prof. Arshad Cheema, Prof. Sofia Farrukh, and senior representatives from the Punjab Finance and Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Departments participated via video link, reflecting interdepartmental collaboration on educational reform.
