University of Peshawar
د پېښور پوهنتون
A large public university in Peshawar, founded in 1950, with morning and evening teaching shifts.
- Founded
- 1950
- QS World Ranking
- 951-1000
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
- 1,045 acres (4 km2), undated Wikipedia figure
About UoP
The University of Peshawar was founded in 1950; Wikipedia calls it the first public university established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and its About page says it was created as the first university after independence. It grew out of Islamia College Peshawar and Wikipedia records that Muhammad Ali Jinnah named the college as one of three heirs to his fortune in 1939. The university describes itself as the mother institution of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, serving the whole province.
Its own website advertises more than 45 disciplines, over 50 undergraduate BS programmes, over 600 PhD-qualified faculty and a network of more than 100,000 alumni. Programmes run in Morning (8:00 to 14:00) and Evening (14:00 to 20:00) sessions, with a weekend session for graduate study. Admission to undergraduate programmes is described as merit-based, with the Fall-2026 final merit list already published.
Departments range from Pashto, Persian, Urdu and Arabic to Pharmacy, Chemical Sciences, Computer Science, Geology, Law, Journalism and Mass Communication, Psychology, Archaeology and Tourism and Hotel Management. Wikipedia (undated figures, not confirmed by the university's own site) lists six faculties, two centres of excellence, approximately 14,000 enrolled students and a residential campus of about 1,045 acres.
It suits students who want a low-cost public degree in humanities, sciences or social sciences in a historic university city, and who are comfortable dealing with a paper-and-portal admissions system. The public website does not currently publish a foreign-national admissions page or a fee schedule.
Why students choose UoP
More than 50 undergraduate BS programmes, including computer science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, software engineering and robotics.
Morning and evening shifts in most programmes, plus weekend graduate teaching.
A long-standing public university with a large alumni network, more than 100,000 according to its website.
A Student Financial Aid Office that administers merit, need-based, donor and government scholarships together with the Higher Education Commission.
Admissions
Fall 2026 undergraduate intake completed; 2027 dates not yet published
Selectivity
The University of Peshawar does not publish an acceptance rate. Undergraduate admission is merit-based, and a final merit list for Fall 2026 has been posted on its site.
Deadlines
No 2027 deadlines are published. The Fall 2026 undergraduate merit list is already out, so plan on the next Fall intake and check the admissions page for announcements.
How to apply
The public website has a Directorate of Admissions and a page for undergraduate (BS) and graduate admissions, but the application steps, foreign-national quota and fees were not visible on the pages checked. Contact the Admission Directorate by email or phone (+92 91 9216701, extension 3001; Monday to Friday 08:00 to 16:00) before applying.
What admissions looks for
- Academic merit: admission is described as merit-based.
- Eligibility for the chosen programme, which varies across the 50+ BS programmes.
- Complete documentation, which the Admission Directorate can specify for international applicants.
Tips for applying to UoP
- 1 Write to admissions@uop.edu.pk and ask specifically about foreign-national admission and fees; the public site does not publish them.
- 2 Decide whether you want the Morning (8:00 to 14:00) or Evening (14:00 to 20:00) shift, as both are offered.
- 3 Ask the Student Financial Aid Office (scholarships@uop.edu.pk) which Higher Education Commission scholarships are open to international students.
- 4 Check the department page for your programme, since programme rules differ.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in PKR
The Student Financial Aid Office (SFAO) administers merit-based, need-based, donor-funded, government-sponsored and institutional financial aid in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission, provincial and federal governments and other partners. Awards are decided by the Institutional Scholarship Award Committee. The public scholarship search page shows no listed awards at present.
Academics
Academic calendar: Fall semester intake; morning and evening sessions
BS Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering and Data Science
Computing programmes listed among the university's BS degrees.
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
A semester-system PharmD curriculum starts from session 2026-27, and Wikipedia says the pharmacy department is recognised by the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan.
Geology and the National Centre of Excellence in Geology
A national centre of excellence established in 1974 by an act of parliament, according to Wikipedia.
Law (LLB)
Five-year and other LLB pathways are offered through the Law College.
Archaeology, Pashto and Persian
Regional-language and heritage subjects that reflect Peshawar's position as a provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Research
- Wikipedia lists eight research centres inside the campus and two centres of excellence.
- The Shaykh Zayed Islamic Centre, financed by the United Arab Emirates, is located on the campus.
- The National Centre of Excellence in Geology was set up in 1974.
Schools & faculties
- Department of Arabic
- Department of Archaeology
- Department of Botany
- Department of Chemical Sciences
- Department of Computer Science
- Department of Economics
- Department of Geology
- Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Department of Law (Law College)
- Department of Pharmacy
- Department of Psychology
- Department of Tourism and Hotel Management
The university has a Career Development Centre; it does not publish graduate employment figures on the pages checked.
Student life
The University of Peshawar is a large residential campus. The website lists a Provost's office, a sports section, an environment society, a community service programme and a library. It teaches in morning and evening shifts, which shapes campus life: evening students are often working or commuting.
- Morning and evening teaching shifts plus weekend graduate classes.
- A residential campus, given by Wikipedia (undated) as about 1,045 acres.
- A Provost's office and a sports section listed on the university website.
- Community service programme and environment society.
Housing. The website lists a Provost's office; ask the Admission Directorate whether hostel places are open to international students.
Location
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan. The university's main campus is a large residential campus in the city, and the nearest airport is Bacha Khan International Airport. Applicants should check current official travel advice from their own governments for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before travelling.
Nearest airport: Bacha Khan International Airport (PEW)
Notable alumni
- AF Ahmad FarazUrdu poet; master's degree in Urdu and Persian from Peshawar University
- JA Jamila AfghaniAfghan women's rights activist and founder of an education NGO; bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Peshawar
- MQ M. Qasim JanGeologist and former vice-chancellor; BSc in geology (1964) from the University of Peshawar
- IA Ihsan AliArchaeologist and former vice-chancellor of Hazara University; studied archaeology at the University of Peshawar
- HA Hashem Al-GhailiYemeni molecular biologist, science communicator and film director; bachelor's degree from the University of Peshawar (2008)
Frequently asked questions
How is the University of Peshawar ranked?
It is in the QS World University Rankings 2027 band 951-1000 and the THE World University Rankings 2026 band 1001-1200.
When was the University of Peshawar founded?
It was founded in 1950. Its About page says it was created as the first university after independence, and Wikipedia calls it the first public university established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Does the University of Peshawar publish fees for international students?
Not on the pages checked. The public website does not show a fee schedule or a foreign-national admissions page, so email admissions@uop.edu.pk for current information.
What are the class timings at the University of Peshawar?
Morning session 8:00 to 14:00 and evening session 14:00 to 20:00, with a weekend session for graduate study.
How do I contact the admissions office?
Call +92 91 9216701 (extension 3001) or email admissions@uop.edu.pk; the office is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00.
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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