Aga Khan University
A well-established university providing quality higher education. Offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs with dedicated faculty and supportive learning environment.
- Acceptance Rate
- 76.1%
- SAT Range
- 950–1150
- ACT Range
- N/A
- Avg GPA
- 3.1
- Size
- Large (32,681 students)
- Type
- N/A
- Student:Faculty
- 1:18
- Setting
- urban
- Graduation Rate
- 85.0%
- Retention Rate
- 84.0%
- Tuition (In-State)
- $1,500
- Tuition (Int'l)
- $10,000
Academic Programs
STEM
Business
Social Sciences
Humanities
Health
Arts
English Proficiency Requirements
Student Life & Environment
Student life at Aga Khan University in Karachi reflects the focused, professional nature of health sciences education. Medical and nursing students face demanding schedules that leave limited time for extracurricular activities, though the shared intensity creates strong bonds among classmates. Campus facilities provide study spaces, dining options, and basic recreational amenities. The student body brings together young people from across Pakistan and increasingly from international backgrounds, creating exposure to perspectives beyond one's home community. Student organizations exist within the constraints of demanding programs, focusing on professional development, community service, and cultural activities. The university's values of pluralism and service shape campus culture, encouraging students to engage respectfully across differences and to consider how their education can benefit others. Residential facilities house students who come from outside Karachi. The city itself offers a complex urban environment that students navigate with varying degrees of engagement. Security considerations affect campus life in Pakistan, with measures in place that may seem restrictive to those from other contexts. Despite challenges, students develop professional identities and peer networks that carry into their careers.
Location & Surroundings
Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and economic center, provides the primary setting for Aga Khan University's main campus. With a population exceeding 15 million, Karachi offers the complexity, diversity, and challenges of one of the world's great megacities. The university campus provides a managed environment within this urban intensity, with facilities designed to support focused academic work. The city's healthcare landscape includes the Aga Khan University Hospital, where clinical training takes place in a facility that sets standards for the region. Karachi's diversity includes communities from across Pakistan and beyond, representing the pluralistic values the university espouses. The climate brings hot, humid summers and mild winters, with monsoon rains providing relief from summer heat. Security in Karachi has improved in recent years but remains a consideration that shapes daily life decisions. Transportation across the sprawling city requires planning and patience. Coastal location provides access to beaches, though leisure time during medical training is limited. The cost of living in Karachi runs lower than in many international cities, helping students manage budgets. For students from smaller Pakistani cities, Karachi exposure itself becomes educational, while those from other countries gain understanding of development challenges firsthand.
Costs & Career Outcomes
Aga Khan University charges tuition that varies by program and student category, with rates calibrated to the economic contexts where it operates. The university provides substantial financial aid, ensuring that Pakistani students with limited means can access its programs. Scholarships cover tuition and living expenses for many students based on need and merit. The investment model recognizes that developing countries need highly trained professionals and that ability to pay should not determine access. Living costs in Karachi remain manageable by international standards, helping students and families plan for educational expenses. Career outcomes for AKU graduates consistently impress, with medical graduates placing in residencies at prestigious institutions in Pakistan and internationally. Many AKU physicians remain in Pakistan, serving the healthcare needs the university was established to address. Nursing graduates have transformed the profession in Pakistan and East Africa, achieving leadership positions and earning respect for their training. Alumni networks span continents but maintain connection to AKU's mission. The university tracks graduate outcomes and takes pride in how many alumni fulfill the service commitments that undergraduate education emphasized. For students from developing countries seeking world-class education with meaningful career paths, AKU offers a compelling model.
Campus Location
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