FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MPM PROGRAM

QUESTIONS

Why is CIIT offering the MPM program?

What is total duration of MPM program?
Who qualifies for admission into the MPM program?
When will CIIT admit students to the MPM program?
What is schedule of Classes?
How many students will be admitted to the program?
How much does the MPM program cost?
Can I download an MPM application form?
Do I have to undertake an NTS test?
I have already passed the NTS-GAT test. Can I use my old test score for admission to
the MPM?
What is this NTS-GAT test? Where can I get information on it?
What is this "Letter of Endorsement" from my employers which is required to be
submitted with my application?
Will I be required to attend an interview as a precondition for admission?
Where will the classes be held?
Who will be my course instructors?
What facilities will CIIT offer the students of the MPM program?
I live outside Islamabad/Rawalpindi. Can you arrange hostel accommodation for me if
I'm admitted to the MPM?
What examination system is the MPM program following?
What teaching methodology will be applied in the MPM program?
What role does business and industry have in the MPM program?
Is attendance in the MPM classes mandatory?
Can I be expelled from the MPM program?
Does CIIT offer scholarships for the MPM program?
Can I get credit for other project management courses I already attended inside and
outside CIIT?
How does the CIIT MPM compare to other programs in this field in Pakistan and
overseas?
Will my degree be recognized by the HEC?
What is the role of the PMI in the CIIT MPM program?
What job prospects will I have after graduation?
What future links will I have with CIIT?
To whom can I apply for admission into the MPM program?

Why is CIIT offering the MPM program?

CIIT is a young but rapidly evolving and expanding public-sector university in Pakistan with
a mission to provide quality education to students at an affordable price. One of our longterm objectives is to contribute to Pakistans development in whatever way we can. As
projects constitute the very basis of national development in virtually all fields, and also
because scant attention has been paid in Pakistan to promoting education in managing
projects in the past, we feel obliged and are honored to take head on the challenge of
pioneering a formal degree program in project management for the first time in Pakistan.
What is total duration of MPM program?
MPM program spans over one-year comprising two semesters.
What is schedule of Classes?
MPM program is designed for professionals therefore classes are scheduled to be held five
days a week (Monday Friday) at 06:30 09:30 p.m. However, during holy month of
Ramadan, each class will be of maximum two hours and will be finished about one-hour
before Iftar.
Who qualifies for admission into the MPM program?
Admission is open to everyone with at least sixteen years of education in a relevant field such
as Business Administration, Public Administration and Policy, Computer Sciences,
Information Technology, Economics, Engineering, Natural Sciences, and Development
studies and at least five years of relevant experience. However, applicants having valid NTS
score, i.e. 50 and above, can be considered even if experience is little less than five years. As
all course material is in English, and English is the sole medium of teaching and interaction
between our course instructors and students, very good English communication skills are a
must for applicants.
The MPM is suited primarily for those candidates with backgrounds in the fields of
engineering and natural science, computer science and IT, economics, management, public
administration and policy, and development studies. The ideal applicant would be a
working professional in either the public, private, non-governmental or development sector
who is in his or her late 20s to mid 30s and who has a strong interest in learning project
management for career development.
Candidates seeking admission in our MPM program because they feel that project
management has become a buzzword and simply want to jump on the bandwagon, as well
as those who just want a degree but have no genuine interest in learning the subject as a
component of their career development are suggested to invest time and finances in the actual
field of their choices and interest instead of practicing sheep dip approach.
When will CIIT admit students to the MPM program?
CIIT will admit students once a year, i.e., in the Fall Semester, to the MPM program.
How many students will be admitted to the program?

CIIT will admit a maximum of 30 students per semester into the MPM.
How much does the MPM program cost?
The total cost of MPM program is Rs. 130,000. Following is detail:
Charges
Admission Fee (non-refundable)
Graduation Fee (non-refundable)
Total
Caution Money (refundable)
Per Semester Charges
Registration Fee
Tuition Fee
Examination Fee
Library Fee
Laboratory Fee / Computer Lab
Sports Fee
Student Club
Total semester fee
Fee for first semester
Fee for second semester
Total fee of the program

Fee Structure
12,000
5,000
17,000
5,000
3,000
41,000
3,000
1,000
5,000
500
500
54,000
76,000
54,000
130,000

Can I download an MPM application form?

No. You will have to retrieve it in person from the office of the Program In charge Dr.
Muhammad Zahid Iqbal on the top floor of the COMSATS Institute of Information
Technology's main building in Sector H/8-1 (opposite the Higher Education Commission of
Pakistan). Before you get your application form you will first be interviewed with the
purpose of determining your suitability for the MPM program.
You can later submit your completed application to the Department of Management Sciences
along with a covering letter stating your interest in applying for admission to our MPM
program. Please remember that attested copies of your National ID Card, degrees,
testimonials etc. and a photo must be attached with your application.
Do I have to undertake an NTS-GAT test?
Yes, you do if your professional experience is less than five years.
I have already passed the NTS-GAT test. Can I use my old test score for admission to
the MPM?
According to information we received from National Testing Services, you can use your old
NTS-GAT test score provided it is less than two years old. There are, however, "certain

circumstances" under which a NTS-GAT test score which is only up to one year old is
acceptable. Please check with the Program In charge in case of doubt.
What is this NTS-GAT test? Where can I get information on it?
This is a basic test for admission into master degree programs at CIIT. You can find
information on the NTS-GAT test at both the websites of NTS (www.nts.org.pk) and CIIT
(www.ciit.edu.pk). If you visit second-hand bookshops, you may be able to find NTS-GAT
study guides.
What is this "Letter of Endorsement" from my employers which is required to be
submitted with my application?
Our MPM is a very demanding program. Every week you are required to attend 15 hours of
classes. Besides this, you are also expected to work for your degree outside the class times.
This will put a lot of strain on working professionals. Therefore, it is essential that your
employer recognizes this and expresses willingness to facilitate you any way it can. For
example, if a class is being held on Monday evening from 6 PM to 9 PM, then your employer
should not expect you to stay on in your office and put in overtime on that day (or days).
After all, with your MPM you will be adding value to your organization. As it will also
benefit, then it be supportive to the maximum possible extent.
Will I be required to attend an interview as a precondition for admission?
The interview will, as indicated above, be conducted at the time you come to get your
application form. Therefore, it is necessary that come in person.
Where will the classes be held?
Before commencement of Fall 2009 semester, our department will be shifted to CIITs new
campus in Chak Shehzad therefore classes will be held in our new building where state of the
art facilities for faculty and students are made available.
Who will be my course instructors?
Only our highest qualified instructors will teach course modules in the MPM. All our main
resource persons have either a foreign doctoral degree and/or a foreign masters degree in an
engineering, management or administrative field in addition to several years of high-level
professional work experience. For further details, please see the course instructors weblink.
What facilities will CIIT offer the students of the MPM program?
CIIT offers all its students good facilities. Our lecture halls are equipped with multimedia and
whiteboards. All text books used in our MPM course modules will be available in our library.
We also offer high-speed internet access for those with laptops. However, we do not offer
any transportation facility. Students must make their own arrangement in this regard.
I live outside Islamabad. Can CIIT arrange hostel accommodation for me if I'm
admitted to the MPM?

CIIT has hostel facilities but these are usually overbooked. Moreover, as mostly our
undergraduate students are residing in these hostels we do not think that their environment
would be appropriate for working professionals. There are a number of hostels in
Islamabad/Rawalpindi and the MPM organizers can try to be supportive by locating such
hostels and providing contact details to the MPM applicants who must indicate their need for
accommodation in their applications. NOTE: The MPM Organizers are not responsible for
any loss, damage or personal injury incurred by MPM applicants in these hostels. All
arrangements must be made, and the cost of hostel accommodation incurred, by the MPM
applicants themselves.
What examination system is the MPM program following?
In each of the ten MPM courses there will be three components of evaluation. First
component comprises quizzes, assignments, presentation etc. carrying 25 marks. Second
component consists of two sessional examinations carrying 25 marks in total. (sessional-I =
10 and sessional-II = 15). Final component is terminal examination of 50 marks. In addition,
all students will be required to undertake a Project Assignment, which is to be submitted
within a given time frame.
What teaching methodology will be applied in the MPM program?
We will be following an approach which emphasizes both holistic and methodological
elements. In other words, our students are expected to not only see the broader picture in
which projects are initiated, planned and implemented, but also they are required to
understand all the main processes, tools and techniques which find application in larger
projects.
What role does business and industry have in the MPM program?
We firmly believe that the input of business and industry is crucial for the acceptance and
credibility of our MPM program. CIIT will strive to include maximum participation by
businesses and industries in the Islamabad-Rawalpindi region. We have already received
offers of support and we are working hard to forge close relationships with partners.
Is attendance in the MPM classes mandatory?
Yes, it is. If students do not attend classes they will miss out details that are not only crucial
for gaining an in-depth understanding of project management but which may be exam
relevant. If due to other professional or family or other commitments students think or can
foresee that they may or will have difficulty in regularly attending classes and/or in meeting
our demanding program requirements, they should NOT apply for admission into our MPM
program.
Can I be expelled from the MPM program?
Yes, you can! Instances of misbehavior apart, students will be expelled from our MPM
program if they fail to attend classes or fail to clear their examinations. No fees will be
refunded in this case. As we are targeting professionals we feel, though, that the likelihood of
this occurring is quite remote.

Does CIIT offer scholarships for the MPM program?

No, it doesn't. The MPM program is self-financing and we cannot offer any scholarships for
the foreseeable future. We may remind students that our program is very affordable and is
comparable in standard to MPM programs being offered overseas. If you apply for admission
into an MPM program in Europe, North America or Australia, our tuition cost would barely
cover your return airfare to say nothing of your astronomical tuition and living expenses in
your country of study.
Can I get credit for other project management courses I already attended inside and
outside CIIT?
No, you can't. You are required to meet ALL the MPM program requirements as they stand,
irrespective of whether or not you have already studied project management elsewhere
before.
How does the CIIT MPM compare to other programs in this field in Pakistan and
overseas?
As we mentioned, our MPM program is a pioneering undertaking. Some universities in
Pakistan do offer degrees with specializations in project management but none offers a
degree in project management yet.
Our MPM is comparable in terms of quality with similar degrees being offered in foreign
countries. If you do a comparative analysis of our requirements, you will find numerous
similarities between our MPM and their respective programs. We may add that our MPM is
more focused on project conditions as they apply to Pakistan.
Will my degree be recognized by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan?
CIIT is a public-sector university. All degrees being offered by CIIT have to pass through a
long process of checks by several boards. All our degrees are recognized by the HEC.
What is the role of the Project Management Institute in the MPM program?
The Project Management Institute fully stands behind our MPM program. In fact, the
Institute has agreed to host its seminar series at CIIT in future.
What job prospects will I have after graduation?
Project Management is a field for which there is huge scope in Pakistan and overseas. The
future of Pakistan rests on the foundation of projects, whether they are in energy, logistics,
construction, telecommunications, poverty alleviation, administrative reforms or countless
other fields. Professionals in this field are really very hard to find.
What future links will I have with CIIT?
CIIT believes that its relationship with students doesnt start with the students application
letter for admission into our MPM program and terminate with the award of the students
degree at a formal ceremony one year later. Like other reputed universities in Pakistan and

overseas, we want to have a long-lasting bond with our students so that we can mutually
support and grow.
To whom can I apply for admission into the MPM program?
You can apply directly to:
Dr. Muhammad Zahid Iqbal
In charge MPM program
Department of Management Sciences
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology
Plot 30, Sector H/8-1, Islamabad
Tel.: (051) 9258481-3 (ext. 251 & 252)
Email: mzahid75@comsats.edu.pk