Aga Khan University
Pakistan's first private university, built around a teaching hospital in Karachi and now adding a liberal arts faculty.
- Tuition
- PKR 3.2M
- From · 2027
- Founded
- 1983
- QS World Ranking
- 951-1000
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
About AKU
The Aga Khan University was founded in 1983 by His Highness the Aga Khan as Pakistan's first private university and is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network. It began as a health sciences university on Stadium Road in Karachi, where its Medical College (established 1983) and School of Nursing and Midwifery train students alongside the Aga Khan University Hospital. Since the early 2000s it has expanded to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom.
In Pakistan, undergraduates can study for the five-year MBBS, a four-year BSc in Nursing (followed by a one-year internship), or the newer Bachelor of Studies in Arts and Sciences offered by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, whose first students graduate in 2027. Admission is merit-based and needs-blind, with no quotas, reserved seats or admissions against donations, and two-thirds of AKU's students are women.
AKU suits students with strong school results who want a demanding, English-medium education with early clinical or research exposure. Competition for medicine is intense: the university itself advises MBBS candidates to apply elsewhere as well. Its partnerships with institutions such as Johns Hopkins, the University of Michigan and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine feed into curriculum and research.
Why students choose AKU
Needs-blind admission with no quotas, reserved seats or donation places; almost 50% of students have received financial assistance.
MBBS students train in clinical teams at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, with problem-based learning from the first year.
The Bachelor of Studies in Arts and Sciences combines a core curriculum, experiential learning, interdisciplinary majors such as Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and a senior capstone.
The MBBS offers at least five full, renewable entrance scholarships each year, awarded on merit and need.
Admissions
2027 intake (Pakistan programmes)
Selectivity
AKU does not publish admit rates. Selection uses school results, the AKU Admission Test (or SAT-I for Arts and Sciences), two independent interviews and evidence of leadership potential; for the MBBS, AKU says competition is intense and advises candidates to apply to other institutions too.
Typical entry requirements
| Pakistani HSSC | MBBS: pre-medical HSSC with at least 70%. Bachelor of Studies: SSC and HSSC each at least 70% with at least 65% in English. BScN: pre-medical HSSC with at least 50% |
|---|---|
| O-Levels and A-Levels | MBBS: six O-Levels including English, biology, chemistry and physics, and at least B in A-Level biology, chemistry and physics or mathematics. Bachelor of Studies: IBCC equivalence of 70% for O- and A-Levels combined, no specific subjects |
| IB Diploma | MBBS: at least 32 points with biology, chemistry and physics or mathematics. Bachelor of Studies: IBCC equivalence of 70% |
| US/Canadian High School Diploma | MBBS: CGPA 3.25/4.0, 85% average or average B grade |
| English language | English is the medium of instruction. AKU assesses English through its own tests (for example, the Accuplacer ESL section for Arts and Sciences) and interviews rather than setting an IELTS or TOEFL score for these programmes. Candidates with non-Pakistani qualifications need an IBCC equivalence certificate. |
Deadlines
- MBBS and BScN (previous cycle) Non-binding PassedMay 13, 2026
2026-27 cycle: applications March 8 to May 13, 2026, with the AKU Admission Test on July 5, 2026. The 2027 cycle dates had not been published.
- Bachelor of Studies: early-bird deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In ~2 monthsDecember 10, 2026
Reduced application fee of PKR 9,000 for applicants from AKU residential countries; USD 165 for non-residential countries.
- Bachelor of Studies: application deadline Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 12, 2027
Applications open September 6, 2026. Admission test January 30, 2027; interviews March 2027; first offers end of April 2027; classes start August 2027.
Bachelor of Studies dates are for the 2027 intake. MBBS and BScN dates shown are from the previous (2026-27) cycle; AKU had not yet published its next MBBS/BScN window when checked in September 2026.
How to apply
Apply online at aku.edu/apply-online, upload documents and pay the application fee, then sit the AKU test at a Pakistani or overseas centre. Shortlisted candidates attend two independent interviews and submit further documents (for the MBBS: Application Form II, two teacher references and MDCAT results).
What admissions looks for
- Scholastic achievement, judged against applicants who took the same qualification.
- Performance on the AKU Admission Test (or SAT-I/MCAT where accepted).
- Interview performance across two independent interviews.
- Productive use of time, extracurricular achievements and potential for leadership.
- Competence in written and spoken English, the medium of instruction.
Tips for applying to AKU
- 1 Medicine applicants get at most two attempts at the AKU MBBS, so apply when you are fully prepared.
- 2 MBBS candidates must also register for PMDC's MDCAT; SAT II and the international MCAT are not accepted as substitutes.
- 3 For Arts and Sciences, submit by December 10, 2026 for the early-bird fee, and send any SAT-I scores (600+ in each section) by March 19, 2027.
- 4 Candidates with O/A-Levels, IB or foreign diplomas should start the IBCC equivalence certificate early, as AKU cannot confirm admission without it.
- 5 Overseas candidates can sit the MBBS test at centres such as London, Dubai, Nairobi, Toronto and Riyadh.
Costs & financial aid
2027 · figures in PKR
Admission is needs-blind. Admitted students who cannot pay can apply for needs-sensitive financial assistance, awarded as a mix of grants and interest-free loans (with a 5% annual administrative charge) repayable after graduation; almost 50% of students have received assistance. The MBBS also offers at least five full renewable entrance scholarships each year.
- Almost 50%
- Students who have received financial assistance
- At least 5 per year
- MBBS full entrance scholarships
- PKR 45,000 per month (USD 380 for non-residential students)
- Hostel fee (2027, residential students)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (Bachelor of Studies classes start in August)
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
Five-year programme with problem-based learning, early clinical contact and training at the Aga Khan University Hospital.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)
Four years plus a one-year internship, leading to the PNC licensure exam; AKU's School of Nursing produced the university's first graduating class in 1983.
Bachelor of Studies in Arts and Sciences
A four-year liberal arts degree with majors in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Environmental Studies, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and Social Development Studies.
Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene (ASDH)
An undergraduate health qualification offered by the Medical College in Karachi.
Research
- The Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, opened in 1985, is the main teaching hospital for medical and nursing students.
- Research and training partnerships include Johns Hopkins, the University of Washington, UCSF, the University of Michigan and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
- The Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations in London runs graduate study from the Aga Khan Centre at King's Cross.
Schools & faculties
- Medical College
- School of Nursing and Midwifery
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences
- Institute for Educational Development
- Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (London)
- Graduate School of Media and Communications (Nairobi)
Student life
AKU's Pakistani programmes are based on the Stadium Road campus in Karachi, where the Medical College, School of Nursing and Midwifery, hospital and the University Centre housing the Faculty of Arts and Sciences sit close together. Students from outside Karachi can live in university-run hostels with single and shared furnished rooms, and meals are bought separately from the university cafeteria. The student body is diverse, with no quotas and admissions open to candidates from anywhere, and two-thirds of students are women.
- Stadium Road campus combining teaching, research and a large teaching hospital.
- Two-thirds of students and half of faculty members are women.
- University-managed hostels for students without a home in Karachi.
- Liberal arts students take a senior capstone and experiential learning component.
Housing. Hostel places, in single and shared furnished rooms, are available only to undergraduates who do not have residential accommodation in Karachi, at PKR 45,000 per month in 2027 plus air-conditioning charges.
Location
Karachi is Pakistan's largest city and main commercial centre, on the Arabian Sea coast in Sindh. AKU's Pakistani programmes are based on its Stadium Road campus, next to the Aga Khan University Hospital, and students from outside the city can live in university-run hostels. The university also runs overseas test centres, so international applicants can sit the admission test before travelling.
Nearest airport: Jinnah International Airport (KHI), Karachi
Notable alumni
- SO Saad OmerVaccine epidemiologist and founding dean of the School of Public Health at UT Southwestern; studied at the AKU Medical College
- AH Adnan HyderDean of the Boston University School of Public Health since August 2025; MD from AKU (1990)
- AH Adil HaiderTrauma surgeon and health disparities researcher; MBBS from AKU (1998)
- HB Hasan B. AlamTrauma surgeon and chair of surgery at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine; graduated from the AKU Medical College (1990)
- JB Javed ButlerCardiologist and heart failure researcher, president of Baylor Scott & White Research Institute; MBBS from AKU (1990)
- AS Aasma ShaukatGastroenterologist and NYU professor researching colorectal cancer screening; MD from AKU (1998)
- SA Saud AnwarPulmonary physician and Connecticut state senator; graduate of AKU
Frequently asked questions
Is Aga Khan University need-blind?
Yes. AKU admits students on merit without considering their financial background, then offers needs-sensitive financial assistance as grants and interest-free loans; almost 50% of students have received aid.
What tests do I need for the AKU MBBS?
You sit the AKU Admission Test for shortlisting and must also submit PMDC's MDCAT for final selection. AKU's 2026-27 booklet says it is likely to administer the UCAT for eligible applicants from the 2027 admission cycle, with details to follow, so check the MBBS page.
Can I use the SAT for AKU?
For the Bachelor of Studies in Arts and Sciences, yes: an SAT-I score of at least 600 in each section can replace the Accuplacer test. SAT II and the international MCAT cannot replace the MDCAT for the MBBS.
How much does the AKU MBBS cost?
For 2027, annual tuition plus university fee is PKR 3,576,000 for residential students and USD 46,920 for non-residential (international) students, plus one-time and hostel fees.
When is the AKU application deadline for 2027?
For the Bachelor of Studies in Arts and Sciences it is January 12, 2027 (early-bird December 10, 2026). The MBBS and BScN window in the previous cycle ran from March 8 to May 13, 2026.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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