Pakistani students to now get Australian school qualification at home

Amid a prevailing trend of Pakistanis aspiring to travel abroad for higher studies, Canberra has launched an initiative enabling Pakistani students to get an Australian school qualification at home.

“Australia is delighted to launch the Western Australian Certificate of Education in Pakistan — giving students an Australian school qualification at home, with pathways to universities and opportunities around the world,” said Australian High Commissioner Timothy Kane in a post on X.

Titled the Western Australian Certificate of Education (Wace), the initiative, as per the programme’s website, “represents a distinguished global qualification for senior secondary education, administered by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA), which is an autonomous body operating under the Government of Western Australia.

For Pakistani students, the initiative holds significance as it is recognised as equivalent to national senior secondary standards and offers students in the country direct access to leading local and global universities.

The programme offers notable benefits for students by allowing them to receive a unique Western Australian Student ID (SIN) and official certifications from SCSA, strengthening their academic identity and international credibility.

By replacing rote learning with conceptual depth, inquiry-based study, and real-world application, Wace graduates access Australia’s Group of Eight and top global universities via the ATAR qualification.

Furthermore, the initiative opens the door to student exchange programmes and graduation in Western Australia, along with merit-based scholarships, including a government bursary worth AU$20,000.

The “University Routes” with Wace allows students to secure admission to top universities in Pakistan due to recognised equivalency and eligibility for all major national entrance exams, including: 

Engineering: ECAT, NUST Entry Test
Medical: MDCAT
Law & Management: LAT, LUMS SBASSE, IBA Admissions
Design & Liberal Arts: NCA, IVS, Habib, and other leading programmes