The two routes at a glance
| ADP (Associate Degree) | BS | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2 years | 4 years |
| Semesters | 4 | 8 |
| Years of education | 14 | 16 |
| Entry basis | Intermediate (FA / FSc / ICS or equivalent) | Intermediate, with each programme’s own condition |
| Degree awarded by | University of Education, Lahore | University of Education, Lahore |
| Route onward | Fifth-semester entry to the corresponding BS (Post-ADP) | MS / MPhil |
| At Alipur College | ADP Computer Science, ADP Information Technology | BS Computer Science, IT, English, Chemistry, Economics, Education, BBA |
What ADP is
ADP, the Associate Degree Programme, is a two-year programme after Intermediate completed in four semesters. It is the scheme that replaced the old two-year BA / BSc and counts as 14 years of education. Alipur College offers two: ADP Computer Science and ADP Information Technology. For both, the University’s eligibility is Intermediate (FA / FSc / ICS or equivalent); Arts and Science streams are both eligible, with a minimum of 45% marks.
After two years you hold a University of Education Associate Degree. You can stop, start working, or continue into BS.
What BS is
BS is a four-year, eight-semester degree and counts as 16 years of education. It is the degree that MS / MPhil admission, many government job advertisements and the 1.5-year B.Ed build on. Each BS programme has its own eligibility: for BS Computer Science, for example, the University’s published requirement is 50% at Intermediate with Mathematics (200 marks) or Computer Science (200 marks), while BS Education, BBA and BS Economics accept Intermediate in any group with a second division. The full table is on the eligibility page.
BS after ADP: the Post-ADP route
This is the point most families do not know. ADP is not a dead end. Under University of Education rules, holders of an Associate Degree (or an equivalent two-year post-Intermediate qualification) in a relevant discipline may be admitted to the fifth semester of the corresponding BS programme, subject to merit, seats and any bridging courses the University prescribes. The route is called Post-ADP entry.
In practice it means two years of ADP, then two years covering the fifth to eighth semesters of BS, and at the end the same 16-year BS degree. The total is still four years, but in two stages. Two things to remember: entry is into the corresponding discipline (ADP Computer Science to BS Computer Science), and merit and seats apply at each stage, so fifth-semester entry is not automatic.
Time and cost compared
Fee figures are not on this page; they are on the fee structure page and that is where they are kept correct. Here is only the principle:
- ADP means paying for four semesters and leaving after two years with a degree. If you need to start earning soon, or the family cannot commit to four uninterrupted years, this route splits the cost into two halves. The decision about BS can wait two years and be made on the circumstances then.
- BS means paying for eight semesters in one continuous run, with no second admission, merit list or seat worry in the middle. After four years you hold a 16-year degree and reach that point at the same time as an ADP student who goes straight on through Post-ADP, provided both study without a break.
If you finish the BS in the end, the total cost of the two routes comes out about the same; the difference is when you pay it and whether you keep the option of stopping halfway.
Who ADP suits
- A student who wants a degree soon and intends to work or run a business after two years.
- A family for whom a four-year commitment is difficult today but two years is possible.
- A student not yet certain about the subject, who prefers to decide in two years whether to continue to BS.
- A student who later wants to do the 2.5-year B.Ed, whose eligibility includes ADP.
Who BS suits
- A student who knows from the start that a 16-year degree is the goal and can give four years.
- A student planning MS / MPhil, or government posts whose advertisements state 16 years of education.
- A student who wants to avoid a second admission and merit stage in the middle.
- A student whose Intermediate group and marks already meet the condition of the BS wanted.
How to decide
Ask yourself four questions and write the answers down:
- Can I commit to four years today, or are two years more realistic?
- Do my Intermediate group and marks meet the condition of the BS I want? (If not, look at ADP followed by the Post-ADP route.)
- Do I need a 16-year degree in the end? If yes, do I want to do it in one go or in two stages?
- Can I accept the merit-and-seats step in the middle?
If the answer to the first question is “two years”, start with ADP and keep the Post-ADP route open. If all four answers point to BS, apply directly to BS.
Talk to us
Send your result card and what you have in mind on WhatsApp to 0309-2701114; the office will tell you which programmes you qualify for. Or fill in the admission enquiry form and we will call back within a working day.