CUST Admissions 2023: Are (ADP)Associate Degree Programs worth it?

Admissions 2023 are open at CUST. We offer various undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs in addition to the BS, MS, MPhil and PhD. Programs we are also offering associate degree programs (A.D.P) in various disciplines. This article will help you decide whether you should pursue the ADP degree and in what discipline. Stay glued until the last as you wind every essential information here. 

Introduction to Associate Degree Program (ADP) 

The 2-year Associate Degree in Business Administration, Accounting & Finance, Commerce, and Computing is available from the Department of Associate Degree Programs. The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan has accredited every one of the preceding degrees. These courses can be taken by post-intermediate applicants and are equivalent to 14 years of education. 

In the following text, detailed information and possible advantages are the matter of discussion. Criteria, career options, education pathway and other details are penned below.  

ADP Programs offered at CUST 

The programs offered under the associate degree programs at the capital university of science and technology (CUST) are as below.  

• ADP Computer Science 
• ADP Business Administration 
• ADP Accounting and Finance 
• ADP Commerce 

All of these associate degree programs are of equal tenure. The time frame for an ADP degree is of two years. Let’s see what each of the two-year degrees offers in future endeavours as career and learning opportunities.  

ADP Computer Science 

A two-year degree programme called the Associate Degree Program (ADP) Computer Science is available to applicants with 12 years of higher secondary schooling (HSS). By concentrating on a particular technology or academic field, the ADP combines general education with marketable abilities and can, therefore, result in a career initiation earlier than a conventional four-year bachelor’s degree. Therefore, it presents a timely strategy for achieving self-sufficiency. 

Admission Criteria  

• Associate Degree Program in Computer Science requires a minimum of 45% marks at an intermediate level.   
• Pre-requisite: Candidates who are willing to join ADP in CS must have studied Maths at an intermediate level. 

Career Prospects 

After completing ADP in Computer Science, students can initiate any of the following.  

• Web Developer 
• Database Administrator 
• Computer Network Support Specialist 

Further Education 

The Associate Degree in computer science essentially corresponds to the first two years of a four-year bachelor’s degree in the field of technology. After completing the two-year Associate Degree Program, a candidate can enrol in the fifth semester of a CS bachelor’s programme and proceed on to complete the four-year bachelor’s degree without incurring any time loss. 

ADP Business Administration 

Associate Degree Program (ADP) in business administration is offered in the popular field of business management. This program is designed with the goal of creating a workforce capable of filling the gap between industry needs and trained people; the Associate Degree Programs offered at CUST are developed in close consultation with industry and field specialists. The curriculum makes sure that graduates have the interpersonal, communication, and professional skills required by the sector. 

Admission Criteria 

• Higher Secondary School Certificate or Equivalent securing at least 45% marks in aggregate 
• Admission Test / HEC Approved Test 

Career Prospects 

The possible career positions after completing the associate degree program in business administration could be any of the following. 

• Administrative Assistant 
• Customer Support Associate 
• Store Manager 

Further Education 

Additionally, because the Associate Degree is roughly equivalent to the first two years of the corresponding 4-year Bachelor’s Degree programme, students who have earned the Associate Degree may apply for direct enrolment in the fifth semester of the programme and graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business (BBA Hons.) for less than four years. 

ADP Accounting and Finance 

The ADP Accounting and Finance at CUST is designed in such a way that with the help of this programme, the financial sector will have a professional workforce with a high employment value.  

Admission Criteria 

• Higher Secondary School Certificate or Equivalent securing at least 45% marks in aggregate 
• Admission Test / HEC Approved Test 

Career Prospects 

These are the entrance positions for the associate degree program scholars in accounting and finance. However, further education is always preferred.  

• Auditor 
• Finance Manager 
• Budget Analyst 

Further Education 

Graduates with an Associate Degree in Accounting and Finance have the opportunity to advance their education and pursue a 4-year BS programme. 

ADP Commerce 

The Associate Degree in Commerce is a traditional 2-year degree programme that has been created to give students the knowledge and abilities they need to launch their professional careers on the right foot. The courses are created to address a variety of business-related topics, including accounting, finance, taxation, legal analysis, and e-commerce. 

Admission Criteria 

• Students having secured 45% at the intermediate level are eligible to apply. 
• CUST Admission test/ NTS test/HEC test. 

Career Prospects 

• Investment Consultant 
• Assistant HR Manager 
• Forex Broker 

Further Education 

Graduates with an Associate Degree in Commerce may apply for advanced standing in a 4-year BS programme in the future. 

BS vs ADP Degree

The basic variation between the BS and ADP degrees is the time duration, expense, and cost. The BS programs are regular, long-term, full-length four-year programs. Which definitely costs a huge amount on self-finance. Though, scholarship options are available. In addition, a student becomes market-ready after he or she completes the entire degree.  

On the other hand, the associate degree in every discipline is a two-year program that starts after intermediate. It makes a student market-ready after the completion of two years of an associate degree.  

Admissions 2023 are Open 

The admissions are open for Associate degree programs in CUST for spring 2023. If you have any financial hurdles or time frames that are limiting your availability for a long four-year BS program in your field, the ADP programs are worth going to the field at a reputable entrance in the relevant market. You can send your admission application here.