If you are reading the article, you are either a parent starting their hunt or a student done with the High School intermediate studies and searching for the best universities in Pakistan. With so many options available, it is quite obvious to get confused while applying for a bachelor’s program when so many universities are available offering the degree of your choice. However, you need to be smart in terms of carrying out your research keeping in view the location of the university, the nature of degree programs that it offers, the curricular and extracurricular options that it offers to the young learners and the overall ranking in Pakistan.

10 Top-ranked Universities in Pakistan

These are some of the factors considered while composing this list of top 10 universities of Pakistan in the article so that you end the discussion with a decision regarding the varsity of your choice.

National University of Science and TechnologyEngineering university, Art university in Pakistan, Distance learning in Pakistan

If you are a resident of Islamabad and seeking options in the domain of natural and applied sciences, then National University of Science and Technology should be your starting point. Located in the beautiful capital of Pakistan, this public sector varsity offers higher education and research opportunities under the administration of Pakistani Armed Forces. Founded in 1991, the initial aim of establishing this institute was inculcating the knowledge of engineering and technology for the commissioned officers. However, the university expanded its scope of promoting research and development and has started various technical, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The mission behind starting various degrees is to promote rapid industrialization in Pakistan on one hand and bridging the gap between academic and industry. Resultantly, it has adopted several American models of instruction to maintain the same standards of providing quality education to young learners.

With the rapid growth observed after getting affiliated with Higher Education Commission, the varsity has opened its campuses in other cities such as Karachi and Rawalpindi. In addition to the provision of quality education, the institute offers several engaging facilities to young learners such as sports complex, student week, industrial visits and the cultural exchange programs with the international universities. You can also apply for financial aid in case you find it hard to make the ends meet. Furthermore, the university offers several scholarship opportunities. Therefore, becoming a NUSTian would take you to another level.

Lahore University of Management SciencesLahore University of Management Sciences, private universities, education

In the 1980s, some of the renowned businessmen started to realize that there is a need to train the young talented minds who wish to grow the economy of the country and their endeavors led to the establishment of Lahore University of Management Sciences located in the populated capital of Punjab. It is a private sector higher education institute working with the motto, Learning without Borders, and offers several undergraduate, graduate and post graduate degree programs in the domain of liberal arts. The varsity has gradually established its law school, engineering school and the education. Resultantly, it has earned top positions within QS University rankings gaining international recognition on a yearly basis.

LUMS offers several opportunities to students such as sports, recreation, library including the National Outreach Programme abbreviated as NOP to provide financial aid to students in need despite being born with a talent to excel. The international students are always encouraged to apply at LUMS as it offers financial support to them as well particularly the Afghan students under the partnership with the Afghan government. The varsity holds various honors being a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. In addition to being accredited by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, it is also certified by the South Asian Quality Assurance System. Thus, in case you intend to become an entrepreneur, the top business school can be your launching pad to take a start.      

Aga Khan Universitylearning, higher education, graduate programs

If you are a person looking forward to a career path in the field of medical sciences, then Aga Khan University is not a name to miss out on while searching for the medical university of your Dreams. This private non-profit varsity is located in Karachi and also has its campuses in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, UK and Afghanistan. Established in the year 1983, the university administers several teaching hospitals, Institutes of Educational Development, Study of Muslim Civilizations, Media and Communications, Human Development and East Africa Institute.

In addition, the Institute for Mothers and Children located in Afghanistan is also under the management of Aga Khan University. A survey conducted by Centennial Group International revealed that Aga Khan University supports around 42000 jobs in Pakistan either directly or indirectly on the basis of several diplomas, certificates, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs offered in its different campuses. The varsity has earned top rankings for its clinical services and public health worldwide. Therefore, if you have already fastened your seatbelt of preparation, make sure you work hard as the university evaluates an aspirant from the previous record and the performance in the entry test.

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University of the Punjabundergraduate programs, punjab university, universities of pakistan

In case being a resident of Lahore, you are seeking options that are near and stand prestigious among most of the Pakistani varsities, then University of the Punjab popularly known as Punjab University. It is a non-profit public sector degree awarding institute that was established during the colonial rule of the British with the purpose of inculcating different disciplines within the local residents to be able to interact and serve the British Empire. Established in the year 1882 and affiliated with Higher Education Commission, the varsity has its campuses in different cities such as Gujranwala, Jhelum, and Lahore.

The university offers different faculties, departments, and research centers and therefore offers a wide variety of programs for students to be able to pick the area of their interest and passion. Like most of the universities, Punjab University also has a rigorous procedure for the admission of new students by analyzing the academic standing of students alongside their scores in the entry test. So, no need to wait any further. Just make up your mind and the time is right to fill your application online with a few steps and get yourself enrolled as the student of the first semester. You will not regret your journey.

COMSATS University Islamabadlearning, online learning, research

If you are in the domain of Information Technology and wish to excel in the same field as your career, then check out the different programs being offered at COMSATS University Islamabad. Established in 2000 by the founder rector, Dr. Junaid Rector who has also served as COMSATS Executive Director, the varsity provides an opportunity to students of Abbottabad, Attock, Wah, Islamabad, Lahore, Sahiwal, and Vehari to secure admission and complete their studies in their area of interest. The principal seat is located in Islamabad governing the other campuses for smooth transmission of knowledge among students.

Furthermore, COMSATS University Islamabad has also established the project of Hybrid Learning following a flipped classroom model giving more autonomy to students in terms of learning new concepts. The teachers play the role of a guide and therefore make the students more confident in terms of their decision making. COMSATS University Islamabad offers several undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degree programs in the domain of social sciences, natural sciences, and applied sciences. With this versatility of disciplines, it possesses an admission rate of 30 to 40 percent compared with the other universities of Pakistan.

Quaid-i-Azam Universityscience studies, mathematics, masters degree

The name of this university is known to almost all the varsity hunters specially residing in the capital as the institute lies on the bed of the beautiful margalla hills. Founded in the year 1967 as the University of Islamabad, the varsity was later renamed after Quaid I Azam University which stands hitherto as the top-ranked university of Pakistan. Although the university was established for the provision of postgraduate education and thus promoting research and development in Pakistan. However, the varsity was later on expanded to extend its scope so that it may incorporate other faculties as well.

Now, it has four major faculties related to Social, Medical, Natural and Biological Sciences. Several higher education institutes are affiliated with Quaid I Azam University as it provides undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in multiple disciplines. If you have made up your mind in getting admission, get your documents ready and start preparing for the test as your previous academic record and the score that you take in the entry test would determine your destiny. Good luck!

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Bahauddin Zakariya Universitymasters programs, bachelors programs, PhD programs

Named after the sufi saint Bahauddin Zakariya, the varsity was established in 1975 as Multan University and was renamed later after the saint. This renowned institute is known to be one of the largest universities of Punjab province offering undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate degree programs in multiple disciplines. Some of the majors include music, art, law, business administration, humanities, engineering and pharmacy. Due to this vast variety of disciplines, the university has been ranked among the top universities of Pakistan.

Therefore, the youth of Multan and the adjoining areas have a great opportunity to excel in pursuit of their dreams as their thirst of knowledge can be quenched by the range of disciplines being offered at Bahauddin Zakariya University. Students get motivated to see the curricular as well as extra-curricular facilities being offered within the campus premises. Get your documents ready and apply for the test at the earliest.

Fatima Jinnah Women Universityonline learning portal, online education, online classes

Many girls are kept at their homes after getting educated till the intermediate level due to the scarcity of academic institutes within their vicinity where the parents would feel at ease while sending their daughters to a higher education institute. This problem was envisioned, contemplated, and resolved with the establishment of Fatima Jinnah Women University known as Pakistan’s first women’s university located near Mall Road of Rawalpindi. Since its establishment in 1998, Fatima Jinnah Women University has witnessed tremendous growth in terms of the departments and faculties developed within a short span of time.

Several young girls are getting graduated in different disciplines and have embarked on their career journey to achieve sky-high success. In case you weren’t aware of the institute, all the best as you will find many other fellows getting enrolled from the different areas of Pakistan. Resultantly, the varsity has an admission rate of around 50 percent that is increasing even further. The students are provided with academic, sports, and recreational activities similar to all other universities of Pakistan.

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Allama Iqbal Open Universitydistant learning, undergraduates, students

Despite the success and access of the aforementioned varsities, there are aspirants who are unable to meet the financial requirements of these varsities. Furthermore, individuals seek opportunities where they can continue their education either at night or on weekends as they have to complete weekly forty being an employee at some organization. After witnessing the success of Open University in the United Kingdom, Allama Iqbal Open University was established in 1974 with an aim of providing quality education at the learner’s doorstep. Although Open University’s mission was the promotion of research and development by bridging the barriers of distance, Allama Iqbal Open University has launched several degree and associate degree programs in different domains to provide easy access to knowledge.

The varsity has the highest rate of enrollment providing degrees and certifications in different disciplines as the students are able to watch the online lectures at home and just have to appear for the assessments. Thus, distance education is another option available for you to continue seeking knowledge.

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Virtual University of Pakistanvirtual learning, virtual education, virtual training

Keeping in view the same motive of providing online education at one’s doorstep, the government of Pakistan went a step ahead by establishing the Virtual University of Pakistan in the year 2002. It is based on contemporary Information and Communication Technologies and offers bachelor, master’s, and doctoral degrees in various disciplines. The learners are provided with a Learning Management System account through which they are able to watch video lectures, attend live sessions, attempt quizzes, and submit their monthly assignments.

Virtual University has several of its regional campuses located in different areas of Pakistan making it feasible for the learners to appear for their final assessments in these study centers to undergo a monitored impartial evaluation before getting their final degree.