The University of Lahore
جامعہ لاہور
A private university in Lahore that calls itself Pakistan's largest private-sector university, with health sciences at its core.
- Students
- 21,921
- International
- 4%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 14:1
- ratio
- Founded
- 1999
About UOL
The University of Lahore (UOL) is a private university founded in 1999 and granted degree-awarding status in 2002. It has several campuses in Lahore, including one on Defence Road, and further campuses elsewhere in Pakistan, including Islamabad and Sargodha. The university describes itself as the largest private-sector university in Pakistan; QS reports about 21,900 students, roughly 77% of them undergraduates, and 1,311 academic staff.
UOL is organised into faculties that include Allied Health Sciences, Medicine and Dentistry, Pharmacy, Engineering and Technology, Information Technology, Sciences, Management Sciences, Social Sciences, Law, Languages and Literature, and Arts and Architecture. Health subjects are unusually prominent: allied health alone spans physiotherapy, radiological sciences, optometry, nutrition, medical lab technology, public health and nursing. Research centres include the Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine (founded in 2009) and an Agri-Biotechnology Park set up in 2013.
It suits Pakistani students who want a broad choice of professional degrees, especially in health sciences, at a private university in Pakistan's second-largest city, and international students from the region: the university reports more than 700 international students enrolled. Its main website is hard to reach from outside Pakistan, so confirm up-to-date fees and deadlines directly with the admissions office.
Why students choose UOL
A very wide health-sciences offer: the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences covers physiotherapy, radiological sciences, optometry, nutrition, medical lab technology, public health and nursing alongside Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy.
It appears in the QS World University Rankings 2027 table (951-1000 band; QS's own profile page for UOL shows 1001-1200) and the THE World University Rankings 2026 (601-800 band).
Research units such as the Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and the Agri-Biotechnology Park, which grows tissue-cultured plants such as Stevia for commercial growers.
A Career Services and Corporate Linkages office runs workshops, corporate days, placement support and one-on-one coaching.
Admissions
2026-27 intake (entry-2027 details not accessible)
Selectivity
UOL does not publish an overall acceptance rate. Admission is programme by programme on academic record, with merit lists published per programme; MBBS and BDS places also depend on the national MDCAT.
Deadlines
UOL's own admissions pages could not be accessed on 30 September 2026: uol.edu.pk, admissions.uol.edu.pk and cms.uol.edu.pk return a Cloudflare challenge even with browser impersonation, and the only archive.org copies of the fee, scholarship and admission pages date from 2011-2023 (not used). So no 2027 deadlines, fees or entry requirements are listed. Check the admissions portal or call +92 42 111-865-865 for current dates.
How to apply
Apply online through the UOL admissions portal (admissions.uol.edu.pk), choosing a programme and campus; selected applicants appear on published merit lists. International students apply through the international students office; foreign seats are available in almost all degree programmes, including Medicine, Dentistry and Engineering.
What admissions looks for
- Academic results in the qualifications required for the chosen programme, used to rank applicants on merit lists.
- For MBBS and BDS, an MDCAT result from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.
- For international applicants, eligibility for the foreign seats that UOL offers in almost all degree programmes.
Tips for applying to UOL
- 1 If you are aiming for Medicine or Dentistry, the PM&DC's MDCAT result is needed for admission. The 2026 test was rescheduled from 16 August to 20 September 2026, so that date has passed; check the PM&DC website and the UOL admissions office for the next sitting and the current admission timetable.
- 2 Check the published merit lists for your programme on the admissions portal after applying.
- 3 International applicants should contact the international students office (extension 2250 on +92 42 111-865-865) about foreign seats and fees.
- 4 Confirm which campus a programme is taught on, since UOL runs campuses in Lahore, Islamabad, Sargodha and other cities.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in PKR
UOL lists scholarships among its admissions pages, but its current scholarship and fee pages could not be accessed during research, so no amounts are given here. Ask the admissions office for the fee schedule and scholarship rules for your programme.
Academics
MBBS and BDS (College of Medicine & Dentistry)
UOL's medical and dental degrees require the national MDCAT and include foreign seats for international students.
Physical Therapy (University Institute of Physical Therapy)
One of more than a dozen allied health institutes and departments in the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences.
Radiological Sciences & Medical Imaging Technology
Linked to the university's Radiology Research Section, which covers diagnostic radiography, ultrasound, CT and MRI.
Pharmacy
Taught in a dedicated Faculty of Pharmacy with separate schools of pharmaceutical sciences, clinical pharmacy, phyto-medical sciences and pharmacology.
Lahore School of Aviation
An aviation school within the Faculty of Management Sciences, alongside Lahore Business School.
Research
- The Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine (CRiMM), started in April 2009, has about 9,000 sq ft of purpose-built laboratories next to the University College of Medicine.
- The Agri-Biotechnology Park (2013) has three greenhouses and tissue-culture and chemical biology labs, and has agreed to supply 50,000 Stevia plants to growers.
- A vaccines and antisera unit develops biologicals for preventing and diagnosing livestock diseases.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Engineering & Technology
- Faculty of Information Technology
- Faculty of Sciences
- Faculty of Management Sciences
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Languages & Literature
- Faculty of Arts & Architecture
Student life
UOL's Defence Road campus in Lahore has teaching blocks, a campus mosque and a university teaching hospital. A Student Services Center acts as a one-stop desk for registrar, exams, finance, transport and library issues, and a Career Services and Corporate Linkages office runs workshops, U-Talks, corporate days and placement support. The university runs clubs and societies plus sports, cultural and media events, and reports international students from countries including Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, Turkey, Somalia, Afghanistan, Nepal, Jordan and Uganda.
- More than 700 international students enrolled, according to the international students office.
- Career Services runs workshops, U-Talks, corporate days, crash courses and one-on-one coaching.
- A Student Services Center handles non-academic issues in one place.
- A university teaching hospital on Defence Road supports clinical training.
Housing. UOL lists hostels and accommodation among its student services; check availability and charges with the university.
Location
Lahore is the capital of Punjab and Pakistan's second-largest city, known for its Mughal-era monuments, food streets and many universities. UOL has several campuses in Lahore, including one on Defence Road, and also has campuses in Islamabad, Sargodha and other cities. Everyday living costs in Lahore are low by international standards, though summers are very hot.
Nearest airport: Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore (LHE)
Notable alumni
- TS Twinkle SohailPowerlifter, the first Pakistani woman to win an international powerlifting gold medal (2015); BS Sports Sciences
Frequently asked questions
Is the University of Lahore a public or private university?
It is a private university, founded in 1999 and awarding its own degrees since 2002. It describes itself as the largest private-sector university in Pakistan.
What is the University of Lahore's QS ranking?
UOL is in the 951-1000 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027 table (QS's own profile page for the university shows 1001-1200 for 2027, so treat the band as approximate) and the 601-800 band of the THE World University Rankings 2026.
Do I need the MDCAT for MBBS at the University of Lahore?
Yes. MBBS and BDS admission requires the PMDC's MDCAT; the 2026 test was rescheduled from 16 August to 20 September 2026 (a date that has now passed), so ask UOL about the current timetable.
Does the University of Lahore accept international students?
Yes. Foreign seats are available in almost all degree programmes, including Medicine, Dentistry and Engineering, and the university reports more than 700 international students.
How many students does the University of Lahore have?
QS lists about 21,900 students, around 77% of them undergraduates, and THE lists 21,224. The university's own figure is higher, at over 36,000.
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.
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- QS TopUniversities: The University of Lahore profile (students, staff, subject ranking)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
- University of Lahore: About Us (archived August 2025)
- University of Lahore: International Students (archived November 2025)
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Universities ranked close to UOL in the QS World University Rankings 2027.