National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)
قومی جامعہِ سائنس و ٹیکنالوجی
Pakistan's leading science and technology university, where one entry test, the NET, decides most undergraduate places.
- Students
- 11,041
- International
- 5%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 12:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- PKR 433.5K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1991
About NUST
The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) was founded in March 1991 and has grown into one of Pakistan's best-known science and technology universities. Its main campus is in Sector H-12 of Islamabad, and it also has constituent colleges and campuses in Rawalpindi, Risalpur (the College of Aeronautical Engineering), Karachi (the Pakistan Navy Engineering College) and Quetta (NUST Balochistan Campus). NUST reports more than 11,000 enrolled students and more than 31,000 graduates.
NUST lists more than 35 undergraduate programmes across engineering and technology, computing, life sciences and medicine, natural sciences, social sciences, business and architecture. Its schools include the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS), the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, NUST Business School, the School of Art, Design and Architecture and the Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences.
Admission is strictly on merit and highly competitive. Pakistani applicants are ranked mostly on the NUST Entry Test (NET), which counts for 75% of merit, with school results making up the rest. International students who need a visa apply on a separate portal with SAT, ACT or a recognised national admission test, under rolling admission for spring and fall intake. It suits students who are strong in mathematics and science and want a demanding engineering, computing or business degree in Pakistan's capital.
Defining Futures
University motto
Why students choose NUST
Merit is transparent: 75% NET score, 10% SSC or O level and 15% HSSC or A level, with the best of several NET attempts counted.
International applicants can be admitted on SAT or ACT scores, or on national tests such as EmSAT, Gaokao, UTME, Konkour or TYT, with rolling admission for spring and fall.
International students pay a flat USD 5,400 a year for all undergraduate programmes, and a Fee Remission scholarship can bring this down to the national-student fee.
Need-based scholarships can cover partial or full costs for up to four years of an undergraduate degree, alongside interest-free loans and fee deferment.
Admissions
Fall 2027 intake (NET 2027 series running October 2026 to July 2027)
Selectivity
NUST does not publish an acceptance rate. Admission is purely on merit, ranked on the NET (75%) and school results (25%); international seats on ACT/SAT basis are ranked 100% on the test score.
Typical entry requirements
| Pakistani HSSC (FSc/ICS) | Minimum 60% in SSC and HSSC in the relevant group (e.g. Pre-Engineering or ICS for engineering and computing); apply with HSSC Part-I marks |
|---|---|
| A levels, IB, US High School Diploma and other foreign qualifications | IBCC equivalence certificate with at least 60% in the required subjects, e.g. A level Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry for engineering |
| ACT (international seats) | Engineering: ACT composite (Maths, English, Reading) of at least 25 plus Science of at least 25; computing, biosciences, architecture and natural sciences: ACT STEM score of at least 25 |
| SAT (business, social sciences, LLB) | Minimum 550 in each SAT section, or ACT Maths, English and Reading of at least 25 |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 International students applying on ACT/SAT basis need IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 500 (paper-based scale), unless their HSSC-level medium of instruction was English. For Pakistani applicants English is tested within the NET (20-50% of the paper depending on the stream). |
Deadlines
- NET 2027 Series 1 registration Non-binding Next deadline · In 39 days4 October - 14 November 2026
Tentative. Computer-based test in Islamabad from 17 November 2026.
- ACT/SAT-based applications (2027) Non-binding In ~10 months4 May - 25 July 2027
Scores must reach NUST from ACT or the College Board by 25 July 2027.
- NET 2027 Series 2 registration Non-bindingDecember 2026 - January 2027
Tentative. Tests January-February 2027 (Islamabad) and March 2027 (Quetta, Karachi).
- NET 2027 Series 3 registration Non-bindingFebruary - March 2027
Tentative. Tests in April 2027 in Islamabad.
- NET 2027 Series 4 registration Non-bindingApril - May 2027
Tentative. Tests June-July 2027 in Islamabad, Quetta, Karachi and Gilgit.
- International students (non-Pakistani, visa required) Non-bindingRolling
Applications reviewed year-round for spring (January) and fall (September) intakes.
NET 2027 dates are NUST's tentative schedule. Undergraduate programmes start in September to November depending on the school, and NUST admits once per academic year for Pakistani applicants.
How to apply
Pakistani and dual-national applicants register for a NET series at ugadmissions.nust.edu.pk (each series needs its own registration and fee), sit the computer-based test in Islamabad or Quetta or the paper-based test in Karachi or Gilgit, and are ranked on merit. ACT/SAT applicants use a separate form, with scores sent directly by ACT or the College Board. Non-Pakistani students who need a visa apply year-round at intl-admission.nust.edu.pk.
What admissions looks for
- A high NET score in the paper matching your programme; it makes up 75% of merit.
- Solid school results: SSC or O level counts for 10% and HSSC or A level for 15%.
- The right subject combination for the programme, such as Pre-Engineering or ICS for engineering and computing.
- For international scholarship applicants, academic profile, financial need, leadership and community service, shown in a 300-400-word personal statement.
Tips for applying to NUST
- 1 Sit more than one NET series: NUST counts your best score, though each attempt needs a new registration.
- 2 Prepare from the HSSC textbooks; NUST says NET questions are compiled from them and it does not endorse any coaching.
- 3 Get your IBCC equivalence certificate early if you have O/A levels or a foreign qualification; missing equivalence can cancel an admission.
- 4 Pre-medical students applying for engineering must complete NUST's eight-week condensed Mathematics course before admission.
- 5 Foreign nationals cannot apply for the Aerospace and Avionics Engineering programmes at the CAE campus in Risalpur.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in PKR
International students pay USD 5,400 a year in tuition for all undergraduate programmes, plus a USD 600 admission processing fee, USD 250 refundable deposit and USD 120 a year for health facilities; a Fee Remission scholarship can reduce this to the national-student fee, and there are country-specific scholarships (e.g. for Palestinian, Lebanese, Bangladeshi, Syrian, Nigerian and Zimbabwean nationals). Pakistani students can apply for need-based scholarships covering partial or full costs for up to four years, interest-free loans (Ihsan Trust), fee deferment and external scholarships such as PEEF.
- USD 5,400 per year
- International undergraduate tuition (all programmes)
- PKR 5,000 (USD 40) for Pakistanis; PKR 10,000 (USD 80) for foreign nationals, per test
- NET application fee
- Partial or full academic expenses, up to 4 years for undergraduates
- Need-based scholarships
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fall and spring, with summer sessions)
Engineering (electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical and more)
Admission through NET-Engineering (Mathematics 50%, Physics 30%, English 20%), with international applicants needing ACT composite and Science scores of at least 25.
BS Computer Science, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Computing programmes at SEECS and other schools, open to Pre-Engineering, ICS and some Pre-Medical students via NET-Engineering.
BS Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
An interdisciplinary degree that NET-Engineering candidates can also select without taking a separate test.
BBA and BS Accounting and Finance (NUST Business School)
Taught with Harvard Business School licensed material (an extra licensing fee applies) and admitted via NET-Business Studies and Social Sciences.
B Architecture and B Industrial Design (SADA)
Selection through NET-Architecture, where a design aptitude test counts for 50%.
Research
- The Islamabad campus hosts the National Science and Technology Park, Pakistan's first, certified by the International Association of Science Parks.
- The Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences runs biotechnology, bioinformatics and food science programmes.
- Research institutes include the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, the Institute of Geographical Information Systems and the National Institute of Transportation.
Schools & faculties
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS)
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME)
- School of Chemical and Materials Engineering (SCME)
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE)
- School of Natural Sciences (SNS)
- Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB)
- NUST Business School (NBS)
- School of Social Sciences and Humanities (S3H)
- School of Art, Design and Architecture (SADA)
- College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (CEME)
- Military College of Signals (MCS)
- College of Aeronautical Engineering (CAE)
Student life
Most undergraduates study at the H-12 campus on the edge of Islamabad, a large campus with open grounds, NUST Lake, hostels and the National Science and Technology Park. Engineering, computing, business, social science and architecture schools share the site, so students mix across disciplines. NUST runs a Centre for Counselling and Career Advisory and career development, placement and professional development services, and international students are supported by the NUST International Office.
- The H-12 campus includes NUST Lake and extensive open grounds.
- Pakistan's first National Science and Technology Park sits on campus.
- Hostel accommodation is available on campus.
- Career support includes placements, professional development and a Centre for Counselling and Career Advisory.
Housing. NUST provides hostel accommodation on its campuses; details and charges are published on the university's campus life site.
Location
Islamabad is Pakistan's planned capital city, set at the foot of the Margalla Hills. The NUST main campus is in Sector H-12 on the city's western side, within reach of the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi, where some NUST colleges are located. Islamabad International Airport is the main gateway for international students.
Nearest airport: Islamabad International Airport (ISB)
Notable alumni
- AM Athar MahboobElectrical engineer and former vice-chancellor of The Islamia University of Bahawalpur; PhD in electrical engineering from NUST (2005)
- AQ Abdullah QureshiPakistani singer; bachelor's degree in mass communication from NUST
Frequently asked questions
What is the NUST Entry Test (NET)?
NET is NUST's own admission test, offered in several series each year in computer-based or paper-based form. It counts for 75% of merit, and different versions exist for engineering, applied sciences, business and social sciences, architecture and natural sciences.
When is NET 2027?
Under NUST's tentative schedule, Series 1 registration runs 4 October to 14 November 2026 with tests from 17 November 2026, and further series run until July 2027.
How much are NUST fees for international students?
USD 5,400 a year in tuition for all undergraduate programmes, plus a USD 600 admission processing fee, USD 250 refundable deposit and USD 120 a year for health facilities.
Can international students apply to NUST with SAT or ACT?
Yes. Non-Pakistani students apply on a separate portal and are evaluated on SAT or ACT, for example ACT 25 for engineering or SAT 550 per section for business, or on a recognised national test such as UTME or Konkour.
What percentage do you need to apply to NUST?
At least 60% aggregate in both SSC (or O level equivalence) and HSSC (or A level equivalence).
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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