The University of the Punjab (PU) in Lahore is a public university established in 1882, when its Senate first met.[1] It is ranked 588th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, fourth among the 18 Pakistani universities in that edition.[2] It lists over 50,000 on-campus students and 401 programmes, though its own pages give different student totals.[3][4]
Foreign students pay US$500 per semester in addition to the usual fees of the university and the department, according to the 2026–27 fee schedule.[5] The home-student fees are in Pakistani rupees and vary by programme. The medium of instruction is English except in language programmes.[6]
Key facts
| Official name | University of the Punjab |
| Location | Lahore, Pakistan; main Quaid-e-Azam Campus (New Campus) about 12 km south of the Allama Iqbal Campus (Old Campus) in the city centre[7] |
| Type | Public research university[8] |
| Founded | 14 October 1882, when the Senate first met at Simla[1] |
| On-campus students | Over 50,000, about 42,700 BS (Hons), 5,800 M.Phil. and 1,500 Ph.D.; the home page gives 50,918 and also “54,000+”[4] |
| Programmes | 401, of which 73+ Ph.D., 108+ M.Phil. and 220+ undergraduate[3] |
| Faculties and colleges | 19 faculties and 8 constituent colleges; 138 departments, centres and institutes[4] |
| Faculty members | 991 full-time and 300 part-time (home page quick facts: 1,300 full-time)[4] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 588th (reported as joint)[2] |
| Language of teaching | English, except language programmes (Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Persian, Spanish, Italian and others)[6] |
| Extra fee for foreign students, 2026–27 | US$500 per semester in addition to the usual fees[5] |
| Hostels | 28 (17 for men, 11 for women)[3] |
| Official website | pu.edu.pk |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About the University of the Punjab
The university was formally established when its Senate held its first meeting on 14 October 1882 at Simla. It was the fourth university set up by the British authorities in the Indian subcontinent, after Bombay, Madras and Calcutta, and unlike those it was both a teaching and an examining body from the start.[1] The page names Dr G. W. Leitner as instrumental in its founding and its first Registrar.[1]
Quaid-e-Azam Campus (New Campus) is about twelve kilometres south of the Allama Iqbal Campus (Old Campus) in the city centre; most academic departments and administrative offices have moved to the new campus.[7] The campuses page lists six campuses (the two Lahore campuses plus Gujranwala, Khanspur, Jhelum and Pothohar), while the home page speaks of ten campuses.[7][3]
Not to be confused with Panjab University in Chandigarh, India, which was founded in East Punjab after the 1947 Partition.[8]
How is the University of the Punjab ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, PU is 588th, according to a Dawn report of 20 June 2026; ProPakistani and Eduvision list it as joint.[2][9][10] It is fourth among the 18 Pakistani universities in the edition, behind Quaid-i-Azam University (joint 381st), NUST (384th) and PIEAS (joint 560th), and ahead of LUMS (608th).[2]
The PU home page says it is ranked among the top universities globally and first nationally in Social Sciences, Education and Psychology, without giving a source, year or rank.[3] Wikipedia lists a QS rank of 542 for an earlier edition, but its infobox and text disagree on the year.[8] Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of the Punjab?
PU lists 401 programmes in 125 departments (home page quick facts): more than 220 undergraduate programmes, more than 108 M.Phil. and more than 73 Ph.D. programmes.[3] The About page counts 19 faculties and 138 departments, centres and institutes.[4] The 2026–27 fee schedule groups programmes by field, for example Arabic and Urdu, history and philosophy, commerce and statistics, physics, engineering, pharmacy (Pharm-D), law (LLB), information technology and business.[5]
Programmes are run on different tracks: the fee schedule has separate sheets for regular (morning) and replica/self-supporting undergraduate programmes.[5] Check the programme pages on pu.edu.pk for what is open to foreign students.
How much does the University of the Punjab cost for foreign students?
The official fee and dues schedule for 2026–27 (Fall 2026 and Spring 2027) says on its undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. sheets that foreign students pay US$500 per semester in addition to the usual prescribed fees of the university and the department concerned. On the regular undergraduate sheet, students admitted on reserved seats for overseas Pakistanis pay the same surcharge.[5]
| Item | Amount | Currency and timing |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign student surcharge | 500 | US dollars per semester, on top of the usual fees |
| Registration fee | 9,000 | PKR, at admission, for students not already registered |
| Library security (refundable) | 5,000 | PKR, at admission |
| PU Development Fund | 500 | PKR, at admission |
The three rupee items are listed in the notes to the regular (morning) undergraduate sheet.[5] The “usual fees” are set in rupees by programme and level, with a separate schedule for each, so we do not give a single figure. The fee regulations page for foreign students also lists US$500 for each programme group, says admission is not granted until the fee is paid into the university’s bank account, and requires a bank guarantee covering university dues in later years. It labels the fee “per semester” but also says it is charged once at admission; the 2026–27 schedule says per semester.[11]
For living costs in Lahore, see our Pakistan guide.
How do you apply to the University of the Punjab?
PU runs an online application for its on-campus programmes and publishes admission notices, a merit calculator, merit lists and entry test results on its admissions portal. The last-year merit list on the site is for 2025.[3] We could not read the admission rules or the FAQ answers for international students: the page lists questions on the application process, accommodation and student visas without answers.[3]
The foreign-student fee page states the process point we could read: admission is not granted until the prescribed fee has been deposited, and foreign students must give a bank guarantee for dues in later years.[11] A separate PU page on examinations for foreign candidates says that Pakistanis living abroad are treated as foreign candidates and that their application forms must be attested by the Embassy of Pakistan.[12] We give no deadlines because they change every year; use the admission notices.
Which language level do you need?
The medium of instruction for all degree programmes is English, except language programmes other than English such as Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Persian, Spanish and Italian.[6] The language proficiency page we read names no English test and no minimum score.[6] Ask the department which proof of English it accepts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much extra do foreign students pay at the University of the Punjab?
US$500 per semester on top of the usual fees, according to the 2026–27 fee schedule.[5]
How is the University of the Punjab ranked in the QS World University Rankings 2027?
588th, fourth among the 18 Pakistani universities in that edition.[2]
When was the University of the Punjab founded?
It was established when its Senate first met on 14 October 1882 at Simla.[1]
Is the University of the Punjab taught in English?
Yes for all degree programmes except language programmes other than English.[6]
Is the University of the Punjab the same as Panjab University?
No. The University of the Punjab is in Lahore, Pakistan. Panjab University in Chandigarh, India, was founded by East Punjab after the 1947 Partition.[8]
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)
- National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)
- Quaid-i-Azam University
Sources
[1] University of the Punjab: Our History, Our Pride (page without a date)
[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] University of the Punjab: Home page (page without a date; newest items dated 28 Oct to 4 Nov 2026)
[4] University of the Punjab: Introduction (page without a date)
[5] University of the Punjab: Fee/Dues Schedule for 2026–2027 (PDF) (Fall 2026 and Spring 2027; file created 29 Jul 2026 (file metadata))
[6] University of the Punjab: Language Proficiency (page without a date)
[7] University of the Punjab: Campuses (page without a date)
[8] Wikipedia: University of the Punjab (type, student figures and Partition history; the article gives inconsistent counts)
[9] ProPakistani: 18 Pakistani universities included in QS World University Rankings 2027 (press article of 19 Jun 2026)
[10] Eduvision: 18 Pakistani universities ranked in QS World University Rankings 2027 (press report of 19 Jun 2026)
[11] University of the Punjab: Tuition Fee Structure for Foreign Students (page without a date)
[12] University of the Punjab: Schedule for foreign students (examinations) (page without a date; covers exam timing for candidates abroad)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.