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Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Complete Guidance

This guide will give you the picture about Quaid-i Azam university (QAU). It will tell you about the strengths of QAU that other websites do not bother to explain. It will also tell you about the problems of QAU that the admission portal will not mention.. It will cover everything else about QAU like the programs offered by QAU, the fees of QAU, the admission process of QAU, the scholarships offered by QAU, the hostels of QAU and the rankings of QAU in an honest way. This will help you make a decision about QAU based on facts, not just what the marketing people say.

Whether you are a student trying to decide between QAU and another university, a parent who wants to know what life is like on the QAU campus or an international student who is looking at QAU and other research institutions in Pakistan, this guide is for you.

QAU Islamabad: History, Founding Purpose

Founded in 1967 as a Research Institution 

The way most universities in Pakistan work is that they focus on teaching people. They have a lot of students, big classrooms and people get degrees. Quaid-i-Azam University was not like that. When it started in July 1967 it only had PhD and MPhil programs. The main reason it was made was for research not for teaching a lot of people.

This is what makes Quaid-i-Azam University special today. It has more postgraduate students than almost any other public university in Pakistan. The departments at Quaid-i-Azam University are built around research labs, not classrooms. The teachers at Quaid-i-Azam University are mostly researchers who also teach and a lot of them used to work at universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Columbia and the University of Tokyo. This is very different from universities in Pakistan.

Quaid-i-Azam University started having undergraduate programs on. In 1976 Islamabad University was renamed Quaid-i-Azam University. Now Quaid-i-Azam University has more than 13,000 students in four main areas: 38 departments, research centers and nine other places that work with Quaid-i-Azam University. All on a big campus, at the foot of the Margalla Hills that is 1,700 big acres.

Quick Reference Table: QAU 2026

DetailInformation
Established1967 (as Islamabad University)
Renamed1976 (Quaid-i-Azam University)
LocationMargalla Hills, Islamabad
Campus Size1,700 acres (6.9 km²)
Total Enrollment13,000+ students
TypeFederal Public Research University
RegulatorHigher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan
QS World Ranking 2026#354 (Pakistan #1)
QS Citations per Faculty 2026#51 Globally
THE Asia Ranking 2025#137 in Asia
HEC National Ranking#1 Public Research University
BS Eligibility50% HSSC (60% for Pharm-D)
Application FeeRs. 2,650 per discipline
Admissions Portalugadmissions.qau.edu.pk
Scholarship Officeqau.edu.pk/financial-assistancescholarships
Official Websiteqau.edu.pk

Table of Contents

1,700-Acre Campus at the Foot of Margalla Hills: Layout, Facilities, and What Students Actually Find Here

The campus is about 6.9 km². It is located below the Margalla Hills, a mountain range at the base of the Himalayas. A canal runs through the campus and divides it into two parts: the academic blocks are in the north. The student residential areas are in the south. The Margalla Hills have lots of things to do like birdwatching, hiking trails, rock climbing and paragliding. You can access them right from campus.

It’s not about looks. For students who do research and spend years on campus the surroundings really affect their mental health, ability to focus and overall quality of life. The Quaid-i-Azam University setting is really different from any city university in Pakistan. The Margalla Hills are a place to be.

The university has a location. I like the Margalla Hills a lot.

The campus and Margalla Hills are great for activities.

* You can go birdwatching.

* Hiking trails are available.

* Rock climbing is an option.

* You can go paragliding.

The Margalla Hills have a lot to offer.

The campus is very big. Has everything.

The Quaid-i-Azam University is very good.

It is not like universities.

The Margalla Hills are nearby.

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QAU Research Strength

Actually Means for Your Degree

You often see this number on websites but rarely get an explanation: in the QS World University Rankings 2026 QAU ranked #51 globally in Citations per Faculty. Not just in Pakistan. Worldwide.

This metric shows how often QAUs research papers are cited by researchers around the world. A university ranked #51 in this category is alongside institutions with more resources, infrastructure and funding. It means QAUs scientists, chemists, biologists and physicists are producing work that other researchers actually read, reference and build on.

In specific rankings QAU is top in Pakistan for Chemistry and Physics and second for Biology. They have over 17,000 publications in Chemistry with 460,000 citations. These are not numbers from low-quality journals; these are publications counted by QSs own method.

If you’re choosing a university for a masters or PhD in natural sciences this number is the most important. It means your supervisor is likely still doing research, your thesis might get published in a journal and your degree has real international value.

National Research Centers at QAU

Quaid-e-Azam University has a lot of advantages when it comes to research. It is not about how many times the university’s work is cited by other people.

Quaid-e-Azam University is home to the National Centre for Physics, the National Institute of Psychology, the National Centre for Bioinformatics, the Area Study Centre for Africa, North and South America and the National Institute of Pakistan Studies. All of these are located on or near the campus of Quaid-e-Azam University.

This means that Quaid-e-Azam University researchers have access to facilities that most other universities in Pakistan do not have.

For students who want to do research in biology, quantum physics, computational sciences or social policy, these centers are great opportunities to work on the latest things in their fields.

Quaid-e-Azam University has faculty members who have worked with other people from around the world. Some of them have worked with UNESCO, ICTP, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor network and universities in Europe.

These faculty members are not hard to find at Quaid-e-Azam University. They are actually working in the departments at Quaid-e-Azam University.

International Recognition of a QAU Degree

The people who graduate from QAU who study natural sciences and social sciences get jobs at really good places like the United Nations, the World Bank, the State Bank of Pakistan and even foreign governments. This is not a coincidence. It means that the degree you get from QAU is known and respected around the world, which is not something that most other universities in Pakistan can say.

For students who’re not from Pakistan or for Pakistani students who want to work outside of Pakistan this is really important. If you get a PhD in Chemistry or Physics from QAU it can help you get a job at an international research institution, which is something that not many other degrees from Pakistan can do. QAU graduates, those with a QAU PhD, in Chemistry or Physics have a lot of opportunities.

QAU Faculties and Departments 2026: All Programs from BS to PhD

Faculty of Natural Sciences: Departments, Programs

Quaid-i-Azam University is really well known because of its core. The university has departments such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Electronics, Earth Sciences and Pharmacy.

The Physics department and the Chemistry department are very famous all over the world and they do a lot of research. The Computer Science department and the Pharmacy department are very popular. They get the best students every year.

The Earth Sciences department and the Statistics department and the Electronics department are smaller. This means that the teachers can give attention to the students. This is great, for students who want to learn from their teachers

Faculty of Social Sciences

The university has departments like Economics and International Relations and Psychology and Sociology and History and Anthropology and Gender Studies and Pakistan Studies and Law.

The School of Politics and International Relations and the School of Law are important departments at the university.

The School of Politics and International Relations has taught many of Pakistan’s well known diplomats and foreign policy thinkers.

The National Institute of Psychology is one of the real psychology research centers in Pakistan. This makes the Psychology program at the university really special because it is focused on research.

To get into the Law program you need to have a score on the HEC Law Admission Test.

For the Law program they use a formula to decide who gets in. The formula looks at your HSSC score which’s fifty percent and your LAT score which is thirty percent.

Faculty of Biological Sciences

The university has departments like Biochemistry and Biotechnology and Bioinformatics and Environmental Sciences and Microbiology and Zoology and Botany and Plant Sciences.

They do research in lots of areas including genetics and stem cell biology and environmental health and nanobiotechnology and genomics.

The MPhil and PhD programs at this faculty are really good at producing research that has an impact.

Students who like biology or want to start a biotechnology company or work in pharmaceutical research or make environmental policy will find that this faculty has a lot to offer.

It is a place for students who want to learn about these things because it has a stronger research foundation than almost any other university in Pakistan.

Faculty of Medical Sciences and Pharm-D

QAUs medical education is handled by affiliated institutes.

These include:

* Armed Forces Post Graduate Medical Institute

* Health Services Academy

* Federal Medical and Dental College

and a few others.

The Doctor of Pharmacy program is provided directly through the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

To get into this program you need at least 60% marks in FSc Pre-Medical.

This 60% requirement is actually the eligibility bar for any undergraduate program, at QAU.

The Pharm-D program is quite competitive.

QAUs Pharm-D program is very popular.

Getting into QAUs Pharm-D program is tough.

QAU’s 9 Affiliated Research Institutes: 

Quaid-e-Azam University has a lot of things it does besides its four faculties. It has nine research institutes that are connected to it like the Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations, the National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research and the Centre of Excellence in Gender Studies. These research institutes at Quaid-e-Azam University have their programs for MPhil and PhD and they are pretty small which means students get a lot of attention from their supervisors. This is really good for students who want to study something that’s not very common or something that combines a lot of different subjects, like Quaid-e-Azam University’s research programs. 

QAU Admission 2026: Step-by-Step Process for BS, MPhil, and PhD Programs

BS Admission Requirements, Merit Formula, and Application Timeline

Admissions open in June every year for the Fall semester. To be eligible for Bachelor of Science programs you need to have at least 50 percent marks in your HSSC Part-I or something similar. For the Doctor of Pharmacy program you need to have at least 60 percent marks in FSc Pre-Medical.

The way they decide who gets into the Bachelor of Science programs is by looking at your HSSC marks. You do not need to take an entrance test for most departments at Quaid-i-Azam University. Some departments will give you a test to see how good you are at subjects and they will tell you about it when they announce the admission schedule.

You have to apply through the Quaid-i-Azam University Online Application System at ugadmissions.qau.edu.pk. It costs Rs. 2,650 To apply for each discipline. You can pay using QuickPay or 1-Bill. You need to upload copies of your documents when you submit your application. If your application is not complete it will be rejected.

Here is what usually happens:

  • * Application window opens: June
  • * Closing date, for Bachelor of Science programs: mid-July
  • * They show the merit lists: August
  • * Classes start: September

At Learnistiq, we don’t just show the glossy side. Here are the genuine student concerns that matter:

  • Ethnic councils have significant control in hostels — a situation officially reported by The News.
  • Major issues during summer semesters, including incidents where 50+ students were arrested.
  • Many MSc students deliberately delay their dissertation work just to continue staying in hostels.

These are real, lived experiences that affect daily student life — the kind of honest information most competitors avoid sharing. Click Here…….

How QAU Merit Is Calculated

The Merit Calculator is available on QAUs official admissions portal. You can enter your HSSC Part-I marks. It will give you a computed merit score.

This is something that most guides do not tell you: the merit scores that are required to get into a department can change a lot from one year to another. This depends on how many people apply. For example a department that required a merit score of 75 percent a year might require a merit score of 72 percent this year if fewer people applied.

If you check the merit lists for the two or three years on the QAU website you will get a better idea of what the merit score might be. This is better than looking at one year’s merit list.

Some departments at QAU are very popular such as Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry and SPIR. These departments usually require merit scores. On the other hand departments like Earth Sciences, Statistics and Anthropology usually have more seats available. This can be good, for students who do not have high marks but still want to study at QAU.

MPhil and MS Admission Criteria

To be eligible for this program you need to have a 4-year Bachelor of Science or Master of Science or Pharm-D degree or something that is recognized as equivalent by the Higher Education Commission. There are some conditions that you have to meet. For example you should not have a division in any part of your academic record. However there is an exception to this rule. If you got a degree with a first division then it is okay if you had a third division earlier.

The merit for this program is based on your record, a test in your subject that is given by the department and sometimes an interview. The MPhil or Master of Science program has two intakes, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. If you want to apply you have to pay an application fee of Rs. 2,650 For each discipline you apply to. The deadline for applying for the MPhil program in the Fall of 2025 was August 21 2025. We can expect the deadline for the Fall of 2026 to be around the time. The MPhil program and the Master of Science program have the intake schedule. The MPhil and Master of Science programs are available in the Spring and the Fall.

PhD Admission at QAU

People who want to do a PhD must already have an MPhil or MS degree. To get a PhD you have to do some coursework. You also have to write a research proposal. Your supervisor will keep checking on you. If you are a PhD student and you do not get any salary then you will get a fellowship from the university. This fellowship is Rs. 7,000 Per month. It is not a lot of money. It is enough for a PhD student who lives on the university campus. PhD students like this will find the fellowship very helpful. PhD applicants should know about this fellowship when they apply for a PhD. 

QAU Fee Structure 2025–26: Exact Semester Fees for BS, MPhil, and PhD — Regular vs. Self-Finance

BS and BA Program Fees

For students who’re in the regular seats at Quaid-i-Azam University the fees for undergraduate studies are really low compared to other universities in Pakistan that are ranked. The cost of programs like Physics and Chemistry and Zoology and Psychology is seventy thousand three hundred and fifty six rupees per year. This includes the fees for tuition and registration and other academic things.

Technology and professional programs like Computer Science and Pharm-D and Law cost seventy three thousand two hundred rupees per year for students who are in the regular seats.

For students who’re on self finance the fees are a lot more. The fees for self finance students are different depending on the program they’re in. They have to pay between forty eight thousand rupees and ninety thousand nine hundred and seventy rupees per semester. This is still less than what private universities charge for the programs.

When you first enroll at Quaid-i-Azam University you have to pay a one time fee for processing your admission, which’s about two thousand eight hundred and sixty rupees. You also have to pay a fee for your degree. If you need a fee, for a migration certificate.

MPhil and MS Fees per Semester

Regular MPhil students pay around Rs. 49,650 Every semester.

Self-support MPhil students pay about Rs. 89,870 Every semester.

The difference in fees between self-finance MPhil students is quite large.

If you are a student it is worth trying to get a regular merit spot to save money.

MPhil students should check their standing to qualify for regular merit.

PhD Fee per Semester at QAU

The fees for a PhD semester are about Rs. 53,530. This PhD semester fee covers the cost of tuition and the fees for things. It also covers the costs that are related to research for the PhD. If you are doing a PhD that needs a lot of lab work you might have to pay extra for the PhD. This extra cost, for the PhD is because you will be using a lot of equipment and other things for the PhD. 

Self-Finance to Regular Seat Conversion

If your grades are good enough for a seat at QAU you should take it. The difference in fees over four years is really big. If you do not get a seat but you really want to go to QAU, paying for yourself is a good option. What is important to know about QAU is that you can change from paying for yourself to a seat, in later semesters. This happens when regular seats become available and you meet the requirements. Many students do not know this and other universities do not often talk about it. QAU is a choice because it allows you to change from self finance to regular status. 

QAU Scholarships 2025: Merit Awards, Need-Based Aid, and Foreign Scholarship Programs

The Quaid-i-Azam University Office of Scholarship and Financial Assistance, which was set up with the help of the Higher Education Commission, gave out more than 208 million rupees in scholarships from 2019, to 2022. The Quaid-i-Azam University Office of Scholarship and Financial Assistance did this across different programs. This is not a small scholarship program. The Quaid-i-Azam University Office of Scholarship and Financial Assistance is a financial aid system that has many different parts to it. 

Merit Scholarships and PhD Fellowships

Criteria

BS and MSc students who are in the three of their departments get a scholarship every month.

The amount they receive depends on their position.

* First position: they get Rs. 15,000.

* Second position: they get Rs. 12,000.

* Third position: they get Rs. 8,000.

MPhil students who score 75% or more in their exams get a fellowship.

The fellowship amount is between Rs. 3,000 And Rs. 4,000 Per month.

PhD students who do not have any income get Rs. 7,000 Per month.

They receive this amount to support their studies.

PhD students are eligible for this support if they do not draw any income.

Ehsaas, HEC, and Provincial Need-Based Scholarships

The Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship is a deal for the students at QAU. It is part of the scholarship program at QAU with a total of Rs. 129.5 Million given out from 2019 to 2022. The Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship is for students who are struggling financially.

The university looks at the applications for the Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship through the OSFA office. They check the income documents and the family situation of the students who apply for the Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship.

There are programs that help students who need it. These include the USAID Merit and Need-Based Scholarships, which gave out Rs. 4.2 Million from 2019 to 2022. Then there are the HEC Need-Based Scholarships with Rs. 17.6 Million, the Pakistan Bait ul Mal grants with Rs. 8.4 Million and the District Zakat Committee support.

The university also has funds for students from certain areas like Balochistan, FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Sindh. These are called endowment funds and they are just for students from these places.

Chinese Ambassador Scholarship

QAU students can get money from international scholarship programs. In May 2026 47 QAU students got the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship because of the partnership between QAU and China. This program has gotten a lot bigger since it started in 2023-24. The Aga Khan Foundation, British Council and Karwan-e-Ilm Foundation also give money to QAU students who’re eligible. The British Council gave QAU students Rs. 1.5 Million from 2019 to 2022.

The Student Advancement Fund for Endowment also called SAFE gives scholarships to QAU students. This scholarship started with Rs. 1 Million from the PEP Foundation. Now it has Rs. 30 Million. In the semester 46 QAU students got this scholarship. This scholarship is for both BS and MPhil QAU students.

QAU students can also get laptops from the PMs Laptop Scheme if they meet the criteria set by the HEC. The university shares the list of QAU students who get laptops with the department each time.

QAU Hostel Facilities and Campus Life: Cost, Allotment Process, and the Real Situation Students Face

QAU Hostel Fees, Room Facilities, and Allotment Process for Male and Female Students

The university, Quaid-i-Azam University charges students who live in the hostel around thirty thousand rupees each semester. This is a fixed fee that includes things like electricity and water. To give you an idea this is for a place to stay in Islamabad for five months. Islamabad is one of the most expensive cities in Pakistan. With all the issues the hostel is a really good deal when it comes to money.

The Quaid-i-Azam University website, bh.qau.edu.pk is used to manage the hostels. The female hostels are managed separately. All the places where students live are on the side of the canal, which is close to all the classrooms. The basic things you need are provided, like a bed and a table, in your room a place to eat, electricity and people who keep the campus safe.

Ethnic Councils, Campus Unrest, and Hostel Governance: What the Official Website Does Not Tell You

This is the part that no other university talks about. And it is the important thing you need to know if you are thinking of living in a hostel at QAU.

The hostels at QAU have a problem with how they are run that has been written about in newspapers like Dawn, The News, The Friday Times and Pakistan Observer.

Students have made their groups based on where they are from. Like Punjabi, Pashtun, Baloch, Sindhi and Seraiki. And these groups have become very powerful in the hostels over time.

They decide who gets which room and who can stay on campus even though they are not officially part of the university.

This has caused a lot of trouble on campus.

For example in September 2024 there was a fight between the Punjabi Students Council and the Pakhtun Students Council that left at least 25 students hurt.

In October 2024 there was even gunfire during a fight in the hostels at night. Some rooms were set on fire. Many students were injured.

In 2025 there were protests that stopped classes and over 50 students were arrested by the police in July after a big argument about vacating the hostels.

This kind of thing has been happening for a time. It started in the early 2000s when student unions were banned.

The groups based on where students are from filled the empty space.

Teachers have said they are scared to move when there is trouble.

Some female teachers have even been treated badly when they tried to stop classes from being shut down.

Families who live on campus have had to stay inside their homes during strikes.

We are telling you that you know what is going on. We do not want to stop you from choosing QAU.

You should know about this before you make a decision.

Students who live off campus and come to QAU every day are usually not affected by the trouble in the hostels.

If you need to live in a hostel you should think about this when you are planning.

The people in charge of the university know about the problem and are trying to do something about it. As of 2025-26 they are trying to make sure students follow the rules and are taking back control of the hostels.

We will have to wait and see if this works in the run.

Sports, Library, Cafeteria, and Daily Campus Life at QAU

The campus life at QAU is really great for students who do not have to worry about where they will live. These students can just focus on their studies and other things. QAUs campus life has a lot of things to offer.

The Margalla Hills are very close to the campus and students can easily walk there. The campus has a lot of facilities like a cricket ground, basketball courts, tennis courts and a swimming pool. The Sports Directorate at QAU is in charge of a sports event every year and competitions with other universities.

The library at QAU is very good. It has a lot of books and other resources. It also has access to the National Digital Library which is provided by the HEC. This library has a lot of information that students in Pakistan can use. Each department at QAU also has its library which has books and resources related to that subject.

QAUs campus has everything that students need. There are places where students can eat, a store where they can buy things, banks, a post office and medical facilities. All of these things are inside the campus. QAUs campus life is very convenient for students. The campus life at QAU is really great, for students who commute to the university or who live in the hostels.

QAU World Rankings 2025–26

QS World University Rankings 2026:

QAUs ranking at number 354 globally in the QS 2026 rankings is its result in years.

This ranking is important because it shows where QAU is doing well and where it needs to improve.

QAUs high ranking comes mainly from two areas: Citations per Faculty, where it ranks 51 globally and Academic Reputation.

The Citations per Faculty score is a result of years of focused research in the natural sciences at QAU.

The Academic Reputation score reflects QAUs position in the international academic community.

QAU does not do well in two areas: Employer Reputation and International Faculty/Student ratios.

These are areas where private universities, with a lot of resources, often do better even if their research is not as strong.

This means QAUs ranking might be a little lower than it should be based on its research strength and a little higher than it should be based on how its graduates are hired compared to some other universities.

HEC National Rankings:

Under HECs framework QAU keeps the top spot as Pakistan’s best public research university.

The framework checks things:

* Quality assurance

* Teaching quality

* Research output

* Faculty qualifications

* sustainability

This ranking is done in a way that’s independent of international rankings. It is about evaluating how good a university is, in the context.

QAU has held this position for a time.

The HEC framework gives us a picture of QAUs quality.

Should You Apply to QAU? An Honest Assessment for Pakistani and International Students

QAU Is the Right Choice for These Students

If you are working towards an MPhil or a PhD in sciences or biological sciences or social sciences and you are really serious about doing some good research then QAU is the best place for you in Pakistan. This is because QAU has an environment where you can do your research with a supervisor and the teachers are very well known all over the world. Also you get to use research centers which is a big plus.

You want a degree that is recognized all over the world and you do not want to pay a lot of money for it. QAU is an option because the fees are very low especially if you get a regular seat. You get an education and a degree that is recognized everywhere all at a very low cost.

If you are studying science and you want to do some research and work in laboratories then QAU is a good place for you. The science departments at QAU are very good at teaching students about research. They start doing this very early on. You get to work on projects with your teachers, attend seminars and discuss research papers, which’s not very common in other universities in Pakistan.

If you want to study or get a scholarship from another country then having a degree from QAU is very helpful. This is especially true if you are studying sciences or international relations. QAU degrees are recognized by universities in a way that degrees from many other Pakistani universities are not. QAU degrees are really valued by universities in countries.

When QAU May Not Be the Right Fit: Engineering, Campus Stability, and Corporate Recruitment

You need a place to stay in a hostel. You cannot afford to have your studies disrupted. The problem with the hostel management is well known. It keeps happening. It has not been solved yet. If the hostel were to close for a semester it would seriously affect your academic plans so this is a risk you should think about.

You want to study engineering. QAU does not offer the engineering courses like Electrical, Mechanical, Civil or Chemical Engineering. If you want to study engineering you should consider NUST, UET Lahore, PIEAS and GIKI.

You want to get a job after you graduate and you want to have connections with companies. Schools like LUMS and IBA have connections with companies and can help you get a job. QAU is better for people who want to work in research, academia, government or civil service. It may not be as good for getting an entry-level job in a private company.

You need a university that’s well organized and stable. QAUs administration has not always been consistent in following its rules. If you need to know exactly what is going to happen with your classes and when then this is a risk you should think about. You want to know what to expect from your university. You want things to run smoothly. QAUs administration and hostel governance are things to consider if you need an environment.

QAU Notable Alumni: Diplomats, Scientists, and Policymakers Who Graduated from This University

The alumni record of Quaid-i-Azam University is the proof of what the university really produces in the long run.

Quaid-i-Azam University’s alumni include people like Dr. Maliha Lodhi who was Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and then Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. She is one of the well known Pakistani diplomats of her time.

Shamshad Akhtar was the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan. Then she led the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

Sartaj Aziz was Pakistan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.

General Khalid Shameem Wynne became the Chief of the General Staff.

Muhammad Zakaullah was the Chief of Naval Staff.

When we look at academics and science, Asghar Qadirs work in relativity and mathematical physics is known all over the world.

The research alumni of Quaid-i-Azam University are working in departments at CERN, international universities, national research organizations like PAEC and scientific institutes in Asia and Europe.

This is a thing about Quaid-i-Azam University. It produces people who make policies for the country, diplomats who work internationally and scientists who are known globally. And this is something that most institutions in Pakistan cannot do.

It is because Quaid-i-Azam University has been doing research and has had good faculty for many decades even when there were problems with administration and governance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is QAU a good university for undergraduate studies, or mainly for postgraduates? 

Both are good.. The situation is different. The undergraduate science programs at QAU are very good for people who want to do research. They are also very hard to complete. The undergraduate science programs at QAU are research-exposed and academically rigorous. However QAUs undergraduate science programs are not where QAU really stands out. QAU really stands out at the MPhil and PhD level. At the MPhil and PhD level QAU has good research facilities and the teachers are known all over the world. This makes a difference, to the quality of your degree from QAU and how well it is known around the world. QAUs MPhil and PhD programs are where QAUs research infrastructure and recognized faculty make a big difference. 

Does QAU offer engineering programs? 

The thing is QAU does not have Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or Civil Engineering or Chemical Engineering. If you want to study engineering you should look at NUST, UET Lahore, PIEAS and GIKI because they are the places for that. 

Can I convert from a self-finance seat to a regular seat?

Yes. QAU allows students to change when regular places become available in the semester and you meet the requirements that QAU has set. This is something that QAU officially does. It is a good way for students who get in on self-finance merit at QAU. 

Is the QAU degree recognized internationally? 

Yes, for natural sciences, biological sciences and social sciences. QAUs degree is well-recognized at research institutions, foreign graduate schools and international organizations. The university’s global ranking of #51 in Citations, per Faculty shows that its research output is taken worldwide. 

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