Top 8 universities in Pakistan 2024
Scroll down for the full list of best universities in Pakistan
| Pakistan Ranking 2024 | World University Ranking 2023 | World University Ranking 2024 | University | City/Town |
| 1 | 401–500 | 401–500 | Quaid-i-Azam University | Islamabad |
| =2 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan | Mardan |
| =2 | 601–800 | NR | Air University | Islamabad |
| =2 | 601–800 | NR | Capital University of Science and Technology | Islamabad |
| =2 | 601–800 | 601–800 | COMSATS University Islamabad | Islamabad |
| =2 | 601–800 | 601–800 | University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila | Taxila |
| =2 | 601–800 | 501–600 | Government College University Faisalabad | Faisalabad |
| =2 | 601–800 | 801–1000 | National University of Sciences and Technology | Islamabad |
Pakistan is a fascinating country with beautiful scenery, a rich culture and a complex history.
The country stretches from the Arabian Sea in the south to the towering Himalayas in the north and encompasses the Indus River valley, a cradle of human civilisation and home to some of the world’s most ancient cultures.
The country today is an ethnic and linguistic patchwork (more than 70 languages are spoken in Pakistan), and the people mirror the diversity of the geography.
Pakistan has more than 200 public and private higher education institutions, some of which date back to when the country was first established. After the creation of Pakistan as an independent country, the government built several universities to provide vital skills to the newly formed republic, especially in the sciences and engineering. That legacy continues to this day, with many universities retaining a focus on science, medicine and technology.
Many Pakistani universities actively encourage international students to enrol, and large numbers choose to study in Pakistan. Students come from as far afield as Saudi Arabia, Africa and China, as well as some from America and Europe. Higher education is delivered in English at all public universities in Pakistan, which, combined with the relatively low cost of living, makes studying here an attractive option. These are the best universities in Pakistan based on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.
Best universities in India
Best universities in Asia
Best universities in China
Best universities in Europe
Best universities in South Korea
Best universities in Taiwan
Top 8 universities in Pakistan 2024
=2. National University of Sciences and Technology
Established in 1991, Pakistan's NUST is a leading research university, with a particular focus in the STEM fields.
The main campus is in Islamabad, with smaller campuses in Rawalpindi, Risalpur, and Karachi. NUST's Islamabad campus has extensive sports facilities.
The university has developed partnerships with a range of international universities including Stanford University, Caltech, University of Manchester and University of Melbourne among others.
=2. Government College University Faisalabad
Government College University Faisalabad can trace its origins back to a primary school in Karkhana Bazar. It evolved into a university in 2002.
The university which comprises of seven faculties. Its campus spans 37 acres on Jhang Road, with an additional 200-acre campus under development.
=2. University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila
The University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila was initially a campus of UET Lahore in Sahiwal in 1975 and then relocated to Taxila in 1978. It gained independent university status in 1993.
In 2005, a second campus was established in Chakwal. The university achieved independent university status in 2020. Plans are underway for a new site in Pind Dadam Khan in Jhelum district.
The university has faculties covering electronics and electrical engineering, mechanical and aeronautical engineering, telecommunications and information engineering, civil and environmental engineering, industrial engineering, and basic science and humanities.
=2. COMSATS University Islamabad
COMSATS University Islamabad, established in 1998, is an institution dedicated to sustainable development through science and technology.
With eight campuses, including its main one in Islamabad, it offers a wide array of programmes including IT , computer sciences, business administration, earth sciences and bioinformatics.
Islamabad, a city known for its cultural growth and green spaces, is home to the central campus. Further locations are spread across Pakistan, from Lahore to Abbottabad.
Best universities in Singapore
Best universities in China
Best universities in India
=2. Capital University of Science and Technology
Established in 1998 as the Islamabad Campus of Mohammed Ali Jinnah University, the Capital University of Science and Technology gained independent university status in 2015.
Located in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, it offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in five faculties: engineering, computing, health and life sciences, pharmacy, and management and social sciences.
Admissions tests are required for most programmes. The university has 14 student clubs and organisations, covering sports, arts, media, and engineering disciplines.
=2. Air University
Established in 2002 by the Pakistan Air Force, Air University, located in Islamabad, Pakistan, continues to be overseen by Air Forces' Education Command.
The university encompasses five faculties, offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programmes, including aerospace sciences and strategic studies, avionics and aeronautics, basic and applied sciences, engineering, and social sciences. The Air University School of Management provides courses in areas ranging from accounting and finance to tourism and hospitality management.
Engineering students benefit from hands-on laboratory work, applying theoretical concepts in practical experiments and contributing to local research.
Beyond academics, the university offers various clubs and societies, including music, Islamic studies, and literature.
=2. Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan
Founded in 2009 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan is a public university, named after Pashtun leader, Abdul Wali Khan.
The university has nine campuses, each with a unique focus and facilities, including laboratories, a library, computer labs, student hostels, and a sports complex.
Its six faculties include agriculture, arts and humanities, business and economics, chemical and life sciences, physical and numerical sciences and social sciences.
1. Quaid-i-Azam University
Quaid-i-Azam University – previously named Islamabad University – was established in 1967 and is based in Islamabad.
It has four faculties and nine other teaching and research institutes, centres and schools, and the main areas of research involve biological sciences, natural sciences, social sciences and medicine.
The campus is located at the foot of the Margalla Hills, a range at the base of the Himalayas. It is a well-known spot for birdwatching, hiking and climbing. A canal runs through the campus.
The university has close links with several universities in Europe, South Asia and the United States.
Best universities in the UK
Best universities in the United States
Best universities in Germany
Best universities in Australia
Best universities in Canada
Top universities in Pakistan 2024
Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2024 results.
Comments