Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences
پاکستان انسٹی ٹیوٹ آف انجینئرنگ اینڈ اپلائیڈ سائنسز
A small, test-driven engineering and physics university in Islamabad, and Pakistan's only university for nuclear science and technology.
- Tuition
- PKR 144K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1967
- QS World Ranking
- #560
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Rural
- About 150 acres (61 ha)
About PIEAS
PIEAS grew out of the 'Reactor School' set up in 1967 by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission to train engineers and scientists in nuclear technology. It became the Centre for Nuclear Studies in 1976, took its current name in 1997 and was given degree-awarding status in April 2000. It describes itself as the only Pakistani university offering higher education in nuclear science and technology.
Unlike most Pakistani universities, PIEAS is intentionally small and dominated by postgraduate study. At undergraduate level it offers just six BS programmes: Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, and Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences, and Physics, graduating around 350 BS students a year. Its MS and PhD programmes cover nuclear engineering, medical physics, AI, cyber security and more, with constituent colleges including the Karachi Institute of Power Engineering (KINPOE), NIBGE and NIAB.
Admission is strictly on merit: the PIEAS written test counts for 60% and school results for 40%, with no reserved quotas. The campus on Lehtrar Road on the edge of Islamabad has eight hostels and is designated an IAEA Collaborating Centre. PIEAS suits strong maths and physics students who want a rigorous, research-focused engineering or science degree in a small community.
Why students choose PIEAS
PIEAS reports being ranked No. 1 for Engineering and Technology in all three HEC Pakistan rankings, and is joint 560th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
Admission is purely on merit (60% entry test, 40% school results) with no reserved seats for any category of applicant.
It is the only Pakistani university for nuclear science and technology and an IAEA Collaborating Centre (2019-2023, redesignated for 2023-2027).
International students can apply for fully funded Jabar Bin Hayan Scholarships covering tuition, airfare and a PKR 50,000 monthly stipend for BS students.
Admissions
BS 2027-2031 (2026 schedule shown as the latest published)
Selectivity
PIEAS does not publish an acceptance rate. Pakistani applicants are ranked on merit (PIEAS written test 60%, SSC/O-level 15%, HSSC Part I 25%) and admitted through successive merit lists; there are no reserved seats. International students are admitted separately via the International Student Office.
Typical entry requirements
| Pakistani SSC and HSSC (FSc/ICS) | At least 60% in SSC and HSSC Part I/II in the relevant science group; candidates awaiting results may apply |
|---|---|
| O-levels and A-levels | At least 60% on the IBCC equivalence certificate |
| SAT Subject Tests or ACT (reserved seats) | SAT II total of at least 2000 across Physics, Mathematics Level 2 and Chemistry (or Biology for CIS and Physics), or ACT composite 25+; separate merit list |
| International applicants | Application through the International Student Office with an online departmental interview; a Duolingo English Test score of 100 is mandatory for all programmes from 2027 |
| English language | Teaching is in English. From 2027, international applicants to any programme must have a Duolingo English Test score of at least 100. Pakistani applicants are tested in English within the PIEAS entry test (10 of 100 questions). |
Deadlines
- International BS applications, 2026 intake Non-binding Passed1-25 February 2026 (past)
Followed by online interviews (20 February-10 March), approvals and NOCs (to 10 June), visa application (1-20 June) and joining (20 August-10 September 2026).
- BS first written test, 2026 intake Non-binding Passed5 March 2026 (extended to 26 March 2026; past)
Late-fee applications accepted until 1 April 2026. Test held on 12 April 2026 in 18 cities; the portal opened on 8 February 2026.
- BS second written test, 2026 intake Non-binding Passed30 June 2026 (after extensions; past)
Test held on 12 July 2026; merit lists ran from 27 July to 1 September and classes began on 7 September 2026.
All 2026 dates have passed and BS admissions for 2026-2030 are closed. The 2027 schedule has not been published; expect the portal to open around February 2027. PIEAS advises international applicants to apply 5-6 months before the autumn (September) session.
How to apply
Pakistani applicants apply online at admissions.pieas.edu.pk, pay the Rs 3,500 application processing fee at Askari Bank or online, print a call letter and sit the written test in one of 18 cities. International applicants first email the International Student Office with their nationality, current education, intended programme and scholarship needs, then submit an application, take an online interview with the department and wait for government approvals (NOCs) before the visa stage.
What admissions looks for
- A high percentile score on the PIEAS written test, which counts for 60% of merit.
- Strong SSC/O-level and HSSC Part I results, which make up the other 40%.
- The right HSSC subject combination for your chosen BS programme.
- For international applicants, academic preparation shown in an online interview with the department and, from 2027, a Duolingo English Test score of 100.
Tips for applying to PIEAS
- 1 Practise with PIEAS's sample papers: the test has no negative marking, so answer every question.
- 2 Take both written tests if you can; applicants to Test 1 may also apply for Test 2.
- 3 Overseas Pakistanis with strong SAT Subject Test or ACT scores can compete on a separate merit list; send scores to PIEAS (SAT code 7272, ACT code 3783) by the advertised deadline.
- 4 International applicants should email the International Student Office early and apply for the Jabar Bin Hayan Scholarship at the same time.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in PKR
International fee-paying students are charged US$2,500 per semester under the latest published international table (dated 2025) (about US$5,000 a year), payable in Pakistani rupees, but can apply for fully funded Jabar Bin Hayan Scholarships that waive all dues and pay airfare, health cover and a monthly stipend (PKR 50,000 for BS). For Pakistani students, up to 25% of tuition income funds need-based Qarz-e-Hasna tuition waivers, with further support from HEC, PEEF, KPEF and BEEF scholarships.
- US$2,500 per semester (US$1,250 per summer session), payable in PKR; admission fee US$200
- International fee-paying students (tuition, 2025 table)
- PKR 50,000 per month, plus full fee waiver and airfare
- Jabar Bin Hayan Scholarship stipend (BS)
- Rs 60,000 (admission charges and refundable security)
- One-time charges at joining (Pakistani students)
- Rs 3,000-13,500 per month depending on room type
- Hostel room (Pakistani students)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (Fall and Spring, plus summer sessions)
BS Electrical Engineering
One of PIEAS's four BS engineering programmes, taken with an HSSC Pre-Engineering or ICS background.
BS Computer and Information Sciences
Open to Pre-Engineering, ICS, Pre-Medical and Science General (with Maths) students.
BS Physics
Leads into PIEAS's specialised MS programmes in medical, radiation and nuclear physics.
BS Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
Also offered at MS and PhD level, including to international students.
MS Nuclear Engineering
PIEAS is Pakistan's only university for nuclear science and technology; tuition-waiver scholarships are offered to international students.
Research
- The IAEA designated PIEAS a Collaborating Centre for advanced and innovative nuclear technologies (2019-2023, redesignated 2023-2027).
- Its constituent college NIAB is an IAEA Collaborating Centre for agricultural research, developing climate-resilient cotton varieties.
- PIEAS's MS and PhD portfolio spans nuclear engineering, medical physics, quantum science, AI, cyber security and biotechnology.
Schools & faculties
- Chemical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Computer and Information Sciences
- Physics
- Medical Physics and Nuclear Medicine
- Karachi Institute of Power Engineering (KINPOE, constituent college)
- National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE, constituent college)
- Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB, constituent college)
PIEAS notes that public-sector technical organisations offer some sponsorships and employment after graduation.
Student life
PIEAS is a residential campus in the countryside on the edge of Islamabad, close to the Margalla Hills, Murree and the Lehtrar area, which makes it good for hiking and weekend trips to places such as Rawal Dam and Simly Dam. Students live in seven hostels for men and one for women, with on-campus dining, sports and a dispensary. The university runs societies and clubs, IEEE and ASME student branches, and excursion tours to places such as Murree and Abbottabad.
- Seven male hostels and one female hostel on campus.
- IEEE and ASME student branches plus societies and clubs.
- Regular excursion tours to Murree and Abbottabad.
- Hiking near the Margalla Hills and Lehtrar.
Housing. PIEAS provides fully equipped hostel accommodation, with seven hostels for male students and one for female students; international students pay their own hostel, utilities and meal charges.
Location
PIEAS is on Lehtrar Road in the countryside on the edge of Islamabad, Pakistan's capital. Islamabad has a humid subtropical climate: summer highs exceed 38°C, winter lows drop below 3°C, and July-August is monsoon season. The twin city of Rawalpindi and the hill station of Murree are within easy reach.
Nearest airport: Islamabad International Airport (ISB)
Frequently asked questions
How do I get admission to PIEAS?
Pakistani applicants need at least 60% in SSC and HSSC and must sit the PIEAS written test; merit is 60% test and 40% school results. Some seats are filled on SAT Subject Test (2000+) or ACT (25+) scores.
What is the PIEAS fee for BS students?
From Fall 2026, tuition is Rs 4,000 per credit hour, about Rs 72,000 per semester, or Rs 103,000 per semester including IT and university services, before hostel and transport.
Can international students study at PIEAS?
Yes. International applicants apply through the International Student Office for BS, MS and PhD programmes. Fee-paying international students pay US$2,500 per semester (2025 table), and fully funded Jabar Bin Hayan Scholarships are available.
Does PIEAS require an English test for international students?
From 2027, a Duolingo English Test score of at least 100 is mandatory for international applicants to any programme. Teaching is in English.
When is the PIEAS BS admission test for 2027?
PIEAS has not yet published its 2027 schedule. In 2026 the portal opened on 8 February, with written tests on 12 April and 12 July.
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.
- PIEAS: Home
- PIEAS: About Us (Genesis, Institute Profile, IAEA Collaborating Centre, Pro-Rector's message)
- PIEAS: International Students (timeline 2026, programmes, Jabar Bin Hayan Scholarships)
- PIEAS Registration and Examination Division: Admission Schedule 2026
- PIEAS: Undergraduate (BS) admissions
- PIEAS: Information Leaflet for BS Admissions (updated 02-01-2026, PDF)
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