The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) is a public research university whose main campus is in Sector H-12, Islamabad. The government established it in March 1991 and its charter followed in 1993.[1] It is ranked 384th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, second among the 18 Pakistani universities in that edition after Quaid-i-Azam University (joint 381st).[2]
NUST’s own website blocked our automated reader (HTTP 403), so we could not confirm tuition, international fees or admission rules from the university. An aggregator describes the undergraduate NUST Entry Test (NET) as running in four series a year for 2026,[3] but its fee figures for foreign nationals are inconsistent, so we give none. Check the admissions portal for the current schedule.
Key facts
| Official name | National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) |
| Location | Main campus in Sector H-12, Islamabad, Pakistan; other campuses in Rawalpindi, Risalpur, Karachi and Quetta[1] |
| Type | Public research university[1] |
| Founded | March 1991 (established by the government); charter granted 1993[1] |
| Students | 12,468 (8,728 undergraduate, 3,740 postgraduate), as listed in Wikipedia’s infobox[1] |
| Faculty | 1,637, as listed in Wikipedia’s infobox[1] |
| Schools and institutes | Wikipedia lists 14, among them the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, NUST Business School and the School of Natural Sciences[1] |
| Constituent institutions | 18 in total, according to the Wikipedia article[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 384th[2] |
| QS World University Rankings 2025 | 353rd, as stated in the text of the Wikipedia article[1] |
| Undergraduate entrance test | NUST Entry Test (NET), four series for 2026, computer-based in Islamabad and Quetta[3] |
| Tuition for international students | Not confirmed; NUST’s own pages could not be read[4] |
| Official website | nust.edu.pk |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About NUST
NUST is a public research university. The government established it in March 1991 and granted its charter in 1993.[1] The main campus is in Sector H-12, Islamabad; Wikipedia gives its size as 707 acres in the infobox and 800 acres in the text, so the sources differ. There are further campuses in Rawalpindi (two colleges), Risalpur, Karachi and Quetta.[1]
According to Wikipedia, NUST has 18 constituent institutions, among them these schools and institutes:[1]
- Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences
- School of Art, Design and Architecture
- School of Chemical and Materials Engineering
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
- School of Natural Sciences
- School of Social Sciences and Humanities
- NUST Business School
Wikipedia also names the NUST School of Health Sciences (launched in 2024) and the NUST Law School.[1] Student and staff figures (12,468 students, 1,637 faculty) come from the Wikipedia infobox, which carries no date.[1]
How is NUST ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, NUST is 384th, according to a Dawn report of 20 June 2026.[2] ProPakistani and Eduvision report the same rank.[5][6] It is second among the 18 Pakistani universities in the edition, behind Quaid-i-Azam University (joint 381st) and ahead of PIEAS (joint 560th), the University of the Punjab (588th) and LUMS (608th); no Pakistani university is in the top 350.[2]
Wikipedia gives earlier figures: 353rd in the QS 2025 edition (second in Pakistan), 127th worldwide in QS Engineering & Technology (2025 subject ranking), and a Times Higher Education World band of 601–800.[1] Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at NUST?
NUST teaches engineering, computer science, natural sciences, applied biosciences, architecture and design, business, social sciences and health sciences across its schools and institutes.[1] We could not read the programme lists on NUST’s own website. Use the programme pages of each school on nust.edu.pk to check what is offered at which campus.
How much does NUST cost?
We could not confirm NUST’s tuition fees. The university’s website and its undergraduate admissions portal returned HTTP 403 to our automated reader on 5 November 2026, so no fee page was read.
Aggregator pages for the 2026 intake list undergraduate test fees in both rupees and US dollars, but the figures conflict. One aggregator’s registration page gives Rs 10,000 for foreign applicants and about Rs 3,500 per session in its FAQ,[3] while its fee page gives USD 80 for a foreign national and mixes rupee and dollar amounts in the Pakistani fee line.[4] Because of this we do not quote a test fee or an international tuition amount. Check the current schedule on the official NUST undergraduate admissions portal.
For general living costs in Islamabad, see our Pakistan guide.
How do you apply to NUST?
Undergraduate admission at NUST uses the NUST Entry Test (NET). For 2026 an aggregator lists four series (Series 1 to 4), taken on computer in Islamabad and Quetta and on paper in Karachi and Gilgit, with questions based on HSSC textbooks. It also lists a separate “ACT based international seats” route.[3] This is a secondary source; NUST’s own admissions pages were not readable, so confirm tests, eligibility and any international route with the university.
We could not read NUST’s guidance for foreign applicants, including visa and recognition steps, so we state none. We give no deadlines here because they change every year.
Which language level do you need?
We could not read NUST’s language rules. We therefore give no English score and no Urdu requirement. Ask the school you are applying to which language proof it accepts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is NUST ranked in the QS World University Rankings 2027?
384th, second among the 18 Pakistani universities in that edition.[2]
When was NUST founded?
The government established NUST in March 1991, and its charter was granted in 1993.[1]
Do I have to take the NUST Entry Test?
An aggregator describes the NET as the entrance test for 2026 undergraduate admissions, with four series and a separate ACT-based route for international seats.[3] Confirm with NUST, whose own pages we could not read.
How much are NUST fees for international students?
How many students does NUST have?
Wikipedia’s infobox lists 12,468 students, 8,728 undergraduate and 3,740 postgraduate; the infobox is undated.[1]
More about studying in Pakistan
- Pakistan: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Pakistan
- Aga Khan University
- Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
- Quaid-i-Azam University
- University of the Punjab
Sources
[1] Wikipedia: National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan (history, campuses, schools, earlier rankings; infobox figures undated; nust.edu.pk blocked our reader (HTTP 403))
[2] Dawn: 18 Pakistani universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (press article of 20 Jun 2026; QS edition released 18 Jun 2026; QS itself (topuniversities.com) blocks automated access)
[3] Ilmkidunya (aggregator): NUST Entry Test NET registration process (page without a date; copyright 2026; refers to NET 2026; secondary source with internal fee conflicts)
[4] Ilmkidunya (aggregator): NUST Entry Test NET 2026 fee details (page without a date; copyright 2026; secondary source with unclear currency labels)
[5] ProPakistani: 18 Pakistani universities included in QS World University Rankings 2027 (press article of 19 Jun 2026)
[6] Eduvision: 18 Pakistani universities ranked in QS World University Rankings 2027 (press report of 19 Jun 2026)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.