HEC, Higher Education Commission, Pakistan, Research Journal Accreditation, 2026, Eligible Journals, HEIs, R&D Organizations, Non-Profit Societies, NGOs, ISSN, Editorial Board, Peer Review, Original Research Articles, Journal Website, Policy Documents, SECP Registration, Registrar of Societies, CABELL Predatory List, Online Application, RGMS Portal, Processing Fee, Public Sector, Private Sector, Application Deadline, December 4, 2025, Academic Publishing, Journal Standards, Scholarly Publications, Research Mandate
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) invites applications from Pakistan-based research journals for accreditation for the year 2026. This initiative ensures that scholarly journals maintain high academic and ethical standards.
| Position / Vacancy | Number |
|---|---|
| Research Journal Accreditation | Open to all eligible Pakistan-based journals |
Applications are open to journals published by:
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
Public sector R&D organizations
Non-profit academic societies or NGOs with a research mandate
Journals published by societies or NGOs must be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) or the Registrar of Societies.
Journals applying for accreditation must meet the following requirements, as outlined in HEC’s Journals and Publications Policy 2024 (amended November 2025):
A valid ISSN (International Standard Serial Number)
A unique journal title
Ownership by a University, R&D organization, or a non-profit society/NGO
A functional website providing content access, updated information, and published policy documents
An editorial/advisory board consisting of qualified academics with PhDs, or medical qualifications (FCPS/FRCS/MCPS for medical journals), with strong research and publication experience
Publication of at least five (05) original research articles per issue in the preceding calendar year
Peer review reports for at least two (02) reviewers per article
Journals owned by non-profit academic societies must be properly registered with SECP or the Registrar of Societies
Journals listed in CABELL’s predatory journal report will not be considered
Existing journals already enlisted with HEC must reapply as fresh applicants for 2026 accreditation.
Applications must be submitted online through the HEC RGMS portal: https://research.hec.gov.pk
Submission via post, email, or any other method will not be accepted
Processing fees are non-refundable and non-transferable:
Rs. 25,000 for public sector HEIs and R&D organizations
Rs. 50,000 for private sector HEIs, R&D organizations, societies, or foundations
Payment will be made against an invoice generated through the RGMS portal
Application status (approved or rejected) will be available on the portal; no separate communication will be issued
Application Deadline: December 4, 2025
Contact Information
Research Journal Section, R&I Division
Higher Education Commission, Sector H-9, Islamabad
Phone: 051-90401952, 051-90401921
Email: rjs@hec.gov.pk
For detailed policy documents, FAQs, and guidelines, visit: https://www.hec.gov.pk/site/journals
Who can apply for accreditation?
Journals published by HEIs, public sector R&D organizations, or non-profit academic societies/NGOs with a research mandate.
Do journals already accredited by HEC need to apply again?
Yes, all journals must submit a fresh application for 2026 accreditation.
What is the application method?
Applications must be submitted online only via the HEC RGMS portal: https://research.hec.gov.pk.
What is the processing fee?
Rs. 25,000 for public sector HEIs/R&D organizations, Rs. 50,000 for private sector HEIs/R&D organizations, societies, or foundations.
What are the key eligibility criteria?
Valid ISSN
Unique journal title
Functional website with policy documents
Editorial/advisory board with qualified academics (PhD or FCPS/FRCS/MCPS for medical journals)
Minimum 5 original research articles per issue in the previous year
At least 2 peer-review reports per article
Not listed in CABELL’s predatory journal report
Can journals owned by NGOs apply?
Yes, provided the NGO/society is registered with SECP or Registrar of Societies and has a research mandate.
Is there a deadline for applications?
Yes, applications must be submitted online by December 4, 2025.
Where can I find detailed guidelines and policy?
Full policy, FAQs, and guidelines are available at https://www.hec.gov.pk/site/journals.
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