Last updated: 30 October 2026 · By Kiran Yahya
After matric, most students in Pakistan choose an intermediate group: FSc pre-medical, FSc pre-engineering, ICS, I.Com or FA. Others take a three-year technical diploma (DAE) or a shorter certified skills course. The right choice depends less on marks than on what you enjoy, what you can afford, and which doors you need to keep open.
This guide on what to do after matric compares every main option honestly, including what each one costs you in time and choices. If you are still unsure what you enjoy, try our free MCF Skill Path career counselling tool, which is built for matric, inter and university students.
In short
- Pick the intermediate group that keeps open the degrees you are seriously considering, not the one your friends pick.
- Pre-medical is the only usual route to MBBS and BDS. Pre-engineering keeps engineering and most science degrees open.
- ICS, I.Com and FA lead to strong careers too. They are not “second choices”.
- DAE is a three-year technical diploma that leads straight to work, or onwards to further study.
- Short certified courses can sit alongside any of these, not instead of them.
What are my main options after matric?
Your main options after matric are an intermediate group (two years), a Diploma of Associate Engineer (three years), or a shorter vocational course. Most students do intermediate, because it leads to the widest range of university degrees. Technical and vocational routes suit students who want hands-on work sooner.
| Option | Length | Best for | Leads to | What you give up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSc pre-medical | 2 years | Students drawn to medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and life sciences | MBBS/BDS (with MDCAT), pharmacy, nursing, allied health, biology degrees | Engineering and most computing degrees need maths, which this group drops |
| FSc pre-engineering | 2 years | Students strong in maths and physics | Engineering (with entry tests), computer science, physics and maths degrees | MBBS and BDS, which require biology |
| ICS | 2 years | Students who enjoy computers and problem-solving | Computer science, software, IT, data and some business degrees | Medicine; check engineering entry rules, which vary by university |
| I.Com | 2 years | Students interested in business, accounts and finance | BBA, B.Com, accounting and finance, professional qualifications | Science and engineering degrees |
| FA (humanities) | 2 years | Students who enjoy languages, social sciences, law or the arts | Law, social sciences, media, education, languages, arts | Science, engineering and medicine degrees |
| DAE (technical diploma) | 3 years | Students who like practical, technical work | Technician and supervisor jobs, or further engineering technology study | Medicine and most non-technical degrees |
| Short certified courses | Weeks to months | Anyone wanting a practical skill alongside study | Entry-level work, freelancing, a stronger CV | Not a replacement for a full qualification |
The table is a general guide. Each university sets its own entry rules, so check the exact requirements for any degree you have in mind.
How do I choose between pre-medical, pre-engineering, ICS, I.Com and FA?
Choose the group that keeps open the two or three degrees you are most seriously considering, then check that you can enjoy its subjects for two years. Interest matters because inter is demanding. A group you dislike usually shows up in your marks.
Ask yourself four questions:
- Which subjects do I do well in without being pushed? That is a better signal than which group has the most prestige.
- Which degrees am I seriously considering? Write down two or three, then check what each one requires.
- Can my family support the route? Medicine and engineering often mean entry-test preparation and longer study.
- What is my back-up plan? If your first choice does not work out, which group gives you the most good alternatives?
If you want a more detailed comparison of the science groups, we will cover it in our guide to choosing between pre-medical, pre-engineering, ICS and FA.
What does it take to get into MBBS or BDS after matric?
To study MBBS or BDS in Pakistan, you need FSc pre-medical (or an equivalent qualification with biology) and a pass in the MDCAT entry test. Universities also set minimum marks. Plan for a competitive route, and choose pre-medical only if you also like the alternatives it opens.
For example, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University’s 2026–27 rules ask for at least 60% in HSSC pre-medical or equivalent. They also require an MDCAT pass, with a minimum of 55% for MBBS and 50% for BDS. Merit there combines MDCAT, inter and matric marks.
Pre-medical also leads to pharmacy, nursing, physiotherapy, allied health and biological sciences. These are good careers in their own right, not consolation prizes.
What is DAE, and who is it right for?
The Diploma of Associate Engineer (DAE) is a three-year technical diploma that you can start after matric. It is taught at government and private colleges of technology, and trains you in a specific field such as civil, electrical or mechanical technology. It suits students who learn by doing and want to reach skilled work sooner.
In Punjab, TEVTA describes DAE as a three-year diploma offered in 32 disciplines, and runs admissions through its online portal. Other provinces have their own boards of technical education. Entry rules differ by province and college, so check the official prospectus before you apply.
What you gain: practical skills, workshop experience and a recognised technical qualification. What you give up: the wider choice of university degrees that an FSc or FA keeps open.
What if I want a skill straight away?
You can learn a practical skill after matric through short certified courses, often free. The best approach for most students is to take one alongside intermediate, not instead of it. A skill gives you confidence and a CV; a full qualification keeps your options open.
Places to look:
- NAVTTC courses: national, NVQF-certified courses through partner institutes. Several listings describe themselves as free. Check each listing for eligibility and dates.
- DigiSkills.pk: free online courses with e-certificates, run in batches.
- Provincial TEVTAs and technical colleges: short courses in trades and technical skills.
- MCF Professional Training Centre, Shigar: free, nationally certified courses (details below).
If online work interests you, read our realistic guide to freelancing as a student first. It explains platform age rules, which matter if you are under 18.
I did O levels. What do I need to know?
If you did O levels and want to join FSc or FA in Pakistan, you will usually need an SSC equivalence certificate from IBCC. IBCC asks for a minimum of eight O level subjects, five compulsory and three elective. Apply early, because colleges often ask for it at admission.
Check the current requirements and documents on the IBCC international qualifications FAQ before you apply.
What is a realistic timeline after matric?
The months after your matric exams are the best time to decide, before inter admissions close. Use the waiting period to research, talk to people and try short courses, rather than waiting for results to decide for you.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| After matric exams | Shortlist two or three groups or routes. Talk to students already in them. |
| Before results | Check admission requirements and fees for the colleges you are considering. |
| Results and admissions | Apply to more than one college or programme. Keep copies of all documents. |
| First months of inter or DAE | Settle into your studies first. Add one short skill course only if you have time. |
| Second year of inter | Prepare for any entry tests your target degrees need. |
Admission dates vary by board, province and college, so confirm them on each college’s own notice.
What you gain and what you give up
Every route after matric involves a trade-off. Being honest about it now saves a costly switch later.
| If you choose… | You gain | You give up |
|---|---|---|
| A science group | The widest set of university options | Free time, and often money for entry-test preparation |
| ICS or I.Com | Direct links to growing fields in computing and business | Medicine, and some science degrees |
| FA | Strong routes into law, social sciences and media | Science and engineering degrees |
| DAE | Practical skills and an earlier route to work | Some university choices, and one extra year compared with inter |
| A skill instead of study | Earlier experience | The security of a full qualification |
Switching groups after a year is possible in some cases, but it usually costs time. Choose carefully now.
How MCF helps students decide
At Momina Cheema Foundation, students and parents often ask us the same thing after matric: which group, and will it close any doors? We built the Skill Path to answer that honestly, without pushing anyone towards a single route.
Our Professional Training Centre in Shigar, at Marah Pi, is the first and only NAVTTC-affiliated centre in Shigar. It offers free, nationally certified courses in AI For Everyone, Graphic Designing, IELTS Preparation and Office Management, with free student transport and a paid internship programme.
Further on, MCF has funded women’s university education in law and social sciences since 2011, and in medicine since 2018. You can read about our legacy scholarships.
Not sure which route fits you? Start the free MCF Skill Path and see what each path gives you and what you would give up.
Frequently asked questions
Is ICS or pre-engineering better after matric?
Neither is better in general. Pre-engineering keeps engineering and most science degrees open, while ICS focuses on computing and leads naturally to computer science and IT. If you are certain you want computing, ICS suits you. If you are unsure between engineering and computing, check what your target universities require before choosing.
Can I do FA and still have a good career?
Yes. FA leads to law, social sciences, media, education, languages and many business degrees. These are respected careers that need strong reading, writing and reasoning. Choose your elective subjects carefully, because they shape which degrees you can apply for later.
Can I study medicine after doing pre-engineering?
Not through the usual route. MBBS and BDS admissions require biology at intermediate level, which pre-engineering does not include. If medicine is a real possibility for you, choose pre-medical. Check the latest PMDC and university rules before deciding.
Is DAE equal to FSc?
DAE is a different qualification, not simply a replacement for FSc. It prepares you for technical work and can lead to further engineering technology study. Whether a particular university accepts it for a particular degree depends on that university’s rules, so check before you choose DAE for that reason.
What should I do if my matric marks are low?
Low marks narrow some options but do not end them. Look at groups and colleges where you meet the entry requirements, and consider DAE or a certified skills course. Focus on doing well in inter, because those results carry more weight for university admission.
Sources
All checked on 30 October 2026.
- Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, MBBS/BDS eligibility criteria, session 2026–27
- TEVTA Punjab, official website and online admission portal
- IBCC, International qualification FAQs
- NAVTTC, Courses
- DigiSkills.pk
How this guide was put together: written by Kiran Yahya for Momina Cheema Foundation, after reading the current top-ranking guides on what to do after matric in Pakistan and checking entry rules and programme details on the official pages listed above on 30 October 2026. MCF details come from the Foundation’s own records.
