University of Peshawar
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
- 73.8%
- SAT Range
- 950–1150
- ACT Range
- N/A
- Avg GPA
- 3.1
- Size
- Large (30,136 students)
- Type
- N/A
- Student:Faculty
- 1:20
- Setting
- urban
- Graduation Rate
- 76.0%
- 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 the University of Peshawar reflects the broader Pashtun cultural context, with its emphasis on hospitality, honor, and community connections shaping social interactions and campus culture. Gender segregation characterizes many aspects of university life, reflecting the conservative social norms prevalent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa society, though women's participation in higher education has increased significantly over recent decades. Student political organizations maintain an active presence on campus, often aligned with national political parties and engaging in the sometimes contentious politics that characterize Pakistani university environments. Sports facilities support cricket, football, and other athletics, with intercollege and interuniversity competitions providing opportunities for athletic engagement and institutional pride. The campus mosque serves as a spiritual center, with daily prayers punctuating the academic schedule and Friday prayers gathering large portions of the university community. Student hostels provide residential options for students from distant areas, creating communities where young people from various districts and backgrounds live and study together. Literary societies, debating clubs, and cultural organizations provide extracurricular engagement connecting students to the rich Pashto literary and artistic traditions. The security situation has at times constrained campus activities, with periods requiring enhanced precautions that affected social gatherings and public events. Tea stalls and cafeterias serve as informal gathering places where students discuss academics, politics, and personal matters over the chai that lubricates Pakistani social life.
Location & Surroundings
Peshawar occupies a position of unique historical and geographic significance, sitting at the eastern approach to the Khyber Pass that has served for millennia as the primary route between South Asia and Central Asia. The city's history stretches back over two thousand years, with Gandharan Buddhist heritage visible in regional museums while the old city preserves Mughal and subsequent Islamic architectural traditions. The climate features extremely hot summers, mild winters, and a dusty atmosphere that characterizes this semi-arid region at the edge of the Indus Plain. The walled old city, with its bazaars, mosques, and traditional neighborhoods, provides a living museum of pre-modern urban life quite different from the modern university campus and newer city sections. Bala Hisar Fort, overlooking the city from its hillside position, has witnessed centuries of conquests and continues to serve as a reminder of the strategic significance that has shaped Peshawar's turbulent history. The university campus itself provides a relatively spacious and green environment within the urban landscape, with shaded walkways and gardens offering respite from the city's intensity. Afghanistan lies less than fifty kilometers to the west, with the porous border and decades of conflict in the neighboring country significantly affecting Peshawar's contemporary character. Islamabad, the national capital, lies approximately 170 kilometers to the east, accessible by the GT Road that has connected South Asian cities for centuries.
Costs & Career Outcomes
As a public university, the University of Peshawar charges modest tuition fees that make higher education accessible to students from modest economic backgrounds throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Government subsidies cover the majority of educational costs, with student contributions representing a fraction of actual per-student expenditures. Financial assistance programs, including merit-based scholarships and need-based support, help students from economically disadvantaged families access education that might otherwise remain beyond reach. Hostel fees for residential students add to educational costs, though these remain modest by international standards and essential for students from distant areas. Career outcomes for University of Peshawar graduates span the range of professional and public sector positions that characterize Pakistani society. Government service, including civil service positions in provincial and federal bureaucracies, absorbs many graduates from various disciplines. Educational careers, from primary school teaching to university faculty positions, employ graduates who remain in the academic sector. Healthcare professions for graduates of affiliated medical colleges address the severe shortage of doctors and nurses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's underserved communities. Business and banking careers in Peshawar, Islamabad, and Karachi draw graduates seeking private sector opportunities. The challenging security and economic situation in the region has prompted some graduates to seek opportunities elsewhere in Pakistan or internationally, though many remain committed to contributing to their home province's development.
Campus Location
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