LAHORE: The University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore has approved five new PhD programmes and 1,100 additional evening BS nursing seats at 18 public-sector nursing colleges across Punjab, opening the way for expanded postgraduate research and nursing education.
The decisions were taken at the university’s 96th Syndicate meeting, chaired by Vice Chancellor Maj Gen (retd) Prof Dr Sohail Sabir. The meeting also approved the establishment of a dedicated Department of Regenerative Medicine, changes to the final-year MBBS paediatrics assessment, revised curricula across several health disciplines and new academic affiliations.
The five PhD programmes will cover Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, Oral Biology and Medical Laboratory Sciences. The additional nursing seats were approved on the recommendations of the university’s Affiliation Committee, according to the official announcement.
For students and healthcare professionals planning their next academic step, the decisions could broaden future opportunities in nursing, biomedical research, pharmacy, public health and dental sciences.
Five new PhD programmes approved across health disciplines
The newly approved doctoral programmes span five fields that contribute to clinical care, healthcare delivery and scientific research.
• PhD in Nursing: Intended to expand opportunities for advanced nursing scholarship and research.
• PhD in Pharmacy: Adds a doctoral pathway in pharmaceutical sciences and related research.
• PhD in Public Health: Creates another approved route for advanced research into population health and healthcare systems.
• PhD in Oral Biology: Extends the university’s proposed doctoral offerings into a field central to oral and dental science.
• PhD in Medical Laboratory Sciences: Broadens the approved postgraduate research portfolio in laboratory-based healthcare disciplines.
The approvals are significant for prospective doctoral candidates seeking research-focused careers in universities, healthcare institutions and related scientific fields. The announcement, however, does not specify the launch date, intake capacity, fee structure or detailed eligibility criteria for each new PhD programme.
Candidates should therefore avoid assuming that the new programmes are already accepting applications. The next step is to monitor the official UHS website and its Directorate of Postgraduate Studies for a formal admission advertisement, updated prospectus and application schedule.
1,100 additional evening nursing seats planned at 18 colleges
The Syndicate has also approved 1,100 additional seats in evening BS programmes at 18 public-sector nursing colleges in Punjab.
New Department of Regenerative Medicine to offer MPhil, PhD programmes
Another major decision is the establishment of a dedicated Department of Regenerative Medicine at UHS, which is expected to offer MPhil and PhD programmes.
Regenerative medicine is a developing area of biomedical science concerned with repairing, replacing or regenerating cells, tissues and, in some research settings, organs. It encompasses scientific approaches that may contribute to the study and treatment of a range of diseases and tissue damage.
A dedicated academic department could provide an institutional base for advanced training and research in this field. The Syndicate announcement, however, does not specify the department’s opening date, research facilities, faculty appointments, programme duration or admission requirements.
Allied Health Sciences eligibility and the 50% marks decision
The Syndicate also approved a reduction in the minimum Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) marks requirement for four-year BS Allied Health Sciences programmes from 60% to 50%, according to the university’s announcement.
If implemented through the relevant regulations and admission notices, the change could widen eligibility for candidates whose intermediate marks fall between these thresholds.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) maintains a national Undergraduate Education Policy, but candidates should not assume that the Syndicate’s decision automatically updates every UHS programme’s admission criteria.
Applicants should check the latest prospectus or admission notice for their intended programme and session to confirm the operative minimum marks requirement, any entrance-test requirement and the merit formula.
Final-year MBBS paediatrics marks increased from 200 to 300
The Syndicate approved an increase in the marks allocated to final-year MBBS paediatrics from 200 to 300. It also approved changes to clinical rotations in Medicine and Surgery and the addition of maternal and child health topics and field visits to the integrated MBBS curriculum.
These decisions affect medical education and assessment rather than admissions alone. The increased marks allocation will alter the assessment structure for the relevant examination framework, while changes to rotations and curriculum content are intended to adjust students’ clinical and academic exposure.
The announcement does not set out the complete revised assessment scheme or specify the first examination session to which the new marks allocation will apply. Current MBBS students should consult formal notices from UHS and their respective colleges to establish when the revised arrangements take effect.
Revised curricula approved across postgraduate, pharmacy and dental education
The Syndicate approved revised curricula for a range of programmes, including postgraduate education, Allied Health Sciences, PharmD under the proposed PULSE framework and postgraduate dental programmes.
The decisions also include new and revised curricula for postgraduate programmes such as MS Stroke Intervention and the Master’s in Health Professions Education (MHPE).
Curriculum revisions can affect course content, learning outcomes, practical and clinical training, and assessment arrangements. The precise implications will depend on the approved curriculum documents and the session in which each change is implemented.
Students already enrolled in these programmes should follow official instructions from UHS and their institutions, particularly where curriculum changes may affect course requirements or examination arrangements. Prospective applicants should consult the latest programme-specific prospectus rather than assume that all revised curricula have already been introduced.
M Islam Dental College, cardiac postgraduate programmes receive affiliation approval
The Syndicate approved the affiliation of M Islam Dental College, Gujranwala, for its Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme with 50 seats.
It also approved affiliation for Rahmatul-lil-Alameen Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, for MS Cardiology and MS Cardiac Surgery.
These decisions are relevant to candidates considering dental education or postgraduate cardiac training. However, affiliation approval should not be confused with confirmation that admissions are open or that a particular intake has begun.
Prospective BDS students should check the applicable admission process, the official college listing and the relevant selection arrangements. Candidates interested in MS Cardiology or MS Cardiac Surgery should verify the approved programme details, training requirements, available intake and admission schedule through UHS and the institution concerned.
The announcement does not provide application deadlines, fee details or programme-specific eligibility criteria for these affiliations.
Professor Tayyaba Wasim appointed to lead the Board of Studies in Medicine
The Syndicate appointed Prof Tayyaba Wasim, Principal of Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore, as Chairperson of the Board of Studies in Medicine.
The Board of Studies plays an academic role in matters concerning medical curricula and programmes. The appointment was among the institutional decisions announced following the Syndicate meeting.
The meeting was the first session of the reconstituted UHS Syndicate since August 18, according to the university’s announcement.
What prospective students should do next
The approvals could create new academic opportunities, but applicants should distinguish between a decision approved by the Syndicate and a programme formally advertised for admission.
Candidates interested in the new PhD programmes, evening nursing seats, Regenerative Medicine, Allied Health Sciences, BDS or postgraduate cardiac programmes should take the following steps:
• Check the official UHS admissions portal. Look for a new advertisement or prospectus naming the programme and the relevant admission session.
• Confirm eligibility from the latest notice. This is particularly important for Allied Health Sciences candidates because the university’s published material currently contains different minimum-marks thresholds.
• Check the application timeline and fees. The Syndicate announcement does not provide deadlines, application charges or programme-specific fee structures for the newly approved offerings.
• Verify the institution and programme. Candidates considering affiliated colleges or postgraduate cardiac programmes should confirm the exact approved programme and intake with UHS and the institution.
• Follow formal instructions for current students. MBBS students and those enrolled in revised postgraduate, pharmacy, dental or Allied Health Sciences programmes should check when curriculum and assessment changes will take effect.
The official UHS website is the primary source for admission announcements, eligibility documents and merit lists: https://www.uhs.edu.pk/
A wider expansion of health education, research
The 96th Syndicate meeting brings together several changes with implications for medical education in Punjab: five new doctoral programmes, 1,100 additional evening nursing seats, a dedicated Regenerative Medicine department, revised curricula, an updated MBBS paediatrics assessment and new academic affiliations.
For prospective students, the most important next development will be the publication of formal admission notices and updated programme documents. These will establish when the newly approved opportunities become available and what candidates must do to qualify.
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