University of the Punjab
جامعہ پنجاب
Pakistan's oldest and largest university, founded in Lahore in 1882, with 54,000 on-campus students and two Nobel laureates.
- Students
- 54,000
- International
- 1%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 21.6:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- PKR 31,500
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1882
About PU
The University of the Punjab (PU) was formally established on 14 October 1882, growing out of Punjab University College (1869), whose Law College and Oriental College are still among its oldest parts. It was one of the first universities created in British India and is today Pakistan's oldest and largest university, with more than 54,000 on-campus students across ten campuses, over 1,300 full-time faculty and 513 affiliated colleges.
PU is a comprehensive university: it offers more than 220 undergraduate, 108 MPhil and 73 PhD programmes through faculties ranging from agriculture, arts and humanities, and behavioural and social sciences to business, commerce, engineering, law, pharmacy, computing (FCIT) and the College of Art and Design. Many programmes run in several streams (morning, afternoon, evening, 'replica' and self-supporting), with different fees and seat numbers.
Two Nobel laureates are counted among its alumni and former staff: Har Gobind Khorana (BSc and MSc at PU) and Abdus Salam, who also headed its mathematics department. Admission is highly structured and merit-based, combining school results with departmental entry tests. PU suits students who want a large, affordable public university in Lahore with a very wide choice of subjects.
Aiman, Ittehad, Tanzeem
University motto
Why students choose PU
PU is Pakistan's oldest and largest university, with more than 220 undergraduate programmes and over 54,000 on-campus students.
Tuition is low: regular (morning) BS programmes cost Rs 15,750-55,000 per semester in 2026-27, plus about Rs 14,000 in service and exam charges.
Nobel laureates Abdus Salam and Har Gobind Khorana are linked to the university.
PU is ranked joint 588th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 801-900 in ARWU 2026, joint first in Pakistan.
Admissions
Undergraduate programmes 2027-28 (2026-27 dates shown as the latest published)
Selectivity
PU does not publish an acceptance rate. Each programme ranks applicants by a merit formula combining academic record (matric and FA/FSc marks plus additional marks, e.g. 20 for Hafiz-e-Quran) with the departmental entry test, and publishes last year's closing merit for every programme.
Typical entry requirements
| Pakistani FA/FSc/ICS (intermediate) | Programme-specific; merit is based on one quarter of matric marks plus FA/FSc marks and additional marks, combined with the entry test |
|---|---|
| A-levels or foreign 12th grade | IBCC equivalence to FA/FSc required before admission is confirmed |
| Foreign nationals | 1% of seats in BS and regular M.A./M.Sc. programmes reserved; apply through your country's embassy, with no entry test, application fee or age limit |
| English language | English is the medium of instruction for all degree programmes except language programmes (such as Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi and Persian). PU does not publish an IELTS or TOEFL requirement. |
Deadlines
- Undergraduate admissions 2026-27, phase 1 (past) Non-binding Passed2 July - 4 August 2026
Online portal for BS 1st and 5th semester programmes; merit lists followed.
- Undergraduate admissions 2026-27, phase 2 vacant seats (past) Non-binding Passed8 - 28 September 2026
First come, first served for eligible applicants against remaining seats.
Both 2026-27 windows have closed. The 2027-28 schedule has not been published; based on 2026, expect the main undergraduate portal to open in early July 2027. Foreign students applying through embassies should start well before then.
How to apply
Pakistani students and children of overseas Pakistanis apply online at admissions.pu.edu.pk during the admission window, then sit any departmental entry test and follow the merit lists. Foreign nationals apply through their home country's embassy under the Government of Pakistan's procedure, against the 1% of seats reserved for foreign students; admission is confirmed after the department reviews documents and IBCC equivalence.
What admissions looks for
- Strong intermediate (FA/FSc) and matriculation marks, which make up 67-75% of merit.
- Entry test performance where the department runs a test (25% of merit, or 33% for engineering).
- Programme-specific subjects and minimums, such as FSc Pre-Medical at 60% for some science programmes.
- For art and design, a drawing or aptitude test score of at least 50%.
Tips for applying to PU
- 1 Check the 'Merit of Last Year' document for your programme before applying: closing merit varies widely between departments and streams.
- 2 Apply to more than one stream (morning, replica or self-supporting) if eligible, since fees and seat numbers differ.
- 3 Foreign students should start with their home country's embassy, as PU admits foreign nationals through that route rather than the open portal.
- 4 Get IBCC equivalence early if you studied A-levels or abroad.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in PKR
Foreign students and students on overseas-Pakistani reserved seats pay US$500 per semester on top of the normal programme fees, and must provide a bank guarantee for later years. PU lists an ETPB scholarship programme for students from SAARC countries and runs a scholarships portal (scholarships.pu.edu.pk) for its students.
- US$500 per semester on top of normal fees
- Foreign student surcharge
- Registration Rs 9,000, development fund Rs 500, refundable library security Rs 5,000
- One-time charges at admission (Pakistani students)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (Fall and Spring)
BS Computer Science / Software Engineering / Data Science (FCIT)
PU's highest-fee regular undergraduate programmes (Rs 55,000 per semester in 2026-27), with separate online admissions.
LLB (5 years), University Law College
Taught in one of PU's founding constituent colleges, dating from 1869.
B.Sc. (Engg.) Chemical Engineering
Offered in morning and self-supporting streams, including a specialisation in Petroleum and Gas Technology.
BBA (IBA)
Run by PU's Institute of Business Administration in morning and self-supporting streams.
BFA Fine Arts, Graphic Design and Textile Design (College of Art and Design)
Admission requires a separate drawing/aptitude test with at least 50%.
BS Physics and Mathematics
Departments linked to Abdus Salam, who headed PU's mathematics department in 1952.
Research
- Two Nobel laureates are linked to PU: Har Gobind Khorana (Physiology or Medicine, 1968) and Abdus Salam (Physics, 1979).
- PU offers more than 73 PhD and 108 MPhil programmes.
- It is ranked 801-900 in ARWU 2026, joint first among Pakistani universities.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Business, Economics and Administrative Sciences
- Faculty of Chemical and Materials Engineering
- Faculty of Computing and Information Technology (FCIT)
- Punjab University Law College
- Oriental College
- College of Art and Design
- Hailey College of Commerce
- Hailey College of Banking and Finance
- Institute of Business Administration (IBA)
Student life
PU spreads across ten campuses. Its main Lahore sites are the Quaid-e-Azam (New) Campus, where the undergraduate admissions office is based, and the historic Allama Iqbal (Old) Campus, home to the College of Art and Design. With more than 54,000 students, the university has a big-campus culture of sports, debating and community service. Hostel places are limited: PU's admission regulations exclude students admitted to self-supporting and replica (afternoon/evening) programmes from hostel accommodation.
- Historic Allama Iqbal (Old) Campus alongside the main Quaid-e-Azam (New) Campus.
- More than 220 undergraduate programmes across morning, evening and self-supporting streams.
- Sports, debating societies and community services listed among student activities.
- Campuses outside Lahore, including Gujranwala and Jhelum.
Housing. Hostels are available for some students, but PU's admission regulations exclude students admitted to self-supporting and replica (afternoon/evening) programmes from hostel places.
Location
Lahore is the capital of Punjab province and one of Pakistan's largest cities. PU teaches on two main Lahore campuses, the Quaid-e-Azam (New) Campus and the historic Allama Iqbal (Old) Campus, and also has campuses in other cities, including Gujranwala and Jhelum. Allama Iqbal International Airport serves the city.
Nearest airport: Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore (LHE)
Notable alumni
- HG Har Gobind KhoranaNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1968; BSc 1943 and MSc 1945 from PU
- AS Abdus SalamNobel Prize in Physics 1979; record score in PU's matriculation examination, MA (1946) via Government College Lahore, head of PU's mathematics department from 1952
- MI Muhammad IqbalPoet and philosopher; studied at Government College Lahore, then a college of the University of the Punjab
- IK Inder Kumar Gujral12th Prime Minister of India; studied at Hailey College of Commerce, Lahore (now a PU college)
- YR Yousaf Raza Gillani18th Prime Minister of Pakistan; studied journalism at the University of the Punjab
- AJ Asma JahangirHuman rights lawyer, co-founder of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan; LLB from Punjab University Law College (1978)
Frequently asked questions
Can foreign students study at the University of the Punjab?
Yes. PU reserves 1% of seats in BS and regular M.A./M.Sc. programmes for foreign students, who apply through their home country's embassy and are exempt from the entry test, application fee and age limit.
How much are University of the Punjab fees?
For 2026-27, regular BS programmes cost Rs 15,750-55,000 per semester in tuition, and self-supporting programmes up to Rs 1,32,500, plus about Rs 14,000 in service and exam charges. Foreign students pay an extra US$500 per semester.
Is there an entry test for PU admission?
Many departments run a pre-admission entry test, worth 25% of merit (33% for engineering). Art and design programmes also require a drawing/aptitude test.
When do PU undergraduate admissions open?
In 2026 the online portal was open from 2 July to 4 August, with a second phase for vacant seats from 8 to 28 September. The 2027 schedule has not been published yet.
What is the medium of instruction at PU?
English, for all degree programmes except language programmes such as Urdu, Arabic, Punjabi and Persian.
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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