ISLAMABAD: The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has fixed March 25 as the last date for admission to Matric to PhD programmes for the Spring 2017 semester. According to data collected by the Allama Iqbal Open University, there is bigger number of students who collected the prospectus for the admission till now as compared to the correspondent period last year. It was noted that the retention rate of continuing students also went up. Keeping in view the students’ interest, the Vice Chancellor of the Allama Iqbal Open University had extended the last date of admission till March 25, without late fee to accommodate the aspiring students.