QS Asia University Rankings 2027: 90 From Pakistan
Ninety Pakistani universities have secured a place in the QS Asia University Rankings 2027, according to the latest rankings published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The official QS rankings website displays 90 institutions when the results are filtered by Pakistan.
The latest edition scores universities on academic reputation, employer reputation, research, faculty and international engagement. The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) leads the Pakistani institutions, followed by Quaid-i-Azam University and LUMS.
COMSATS University Islamabad and the University of the Punjab complete Pakistan’s top five. ProPakistani reported the full national list after the rankings were published on Thursday.
QS Asia University Rankings 2027: Pakistan’s top 10
| Pakistan rank | University | QS Asia rank 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) | =76 |
| 2 | Quaid-i-Azam University | 111 |
| 3 | Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) | =143 |
| 4 | COMSATS University Islamabad | 171 |
| 5 | University of the Punjab | 172 |
| 6 | University of Lahore | 206 |
| 7 | University of Engineering and Technology Lahore | 208 |
| 8 | Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) | 221 |
| 9 | University of Peshawar | 250 |
| 10 | Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology | =251 |
Beyond the top 10, the University of Agriculture Faisalabad sits at 286, the University of Management and Technology at joint 325, the University of Karachi at 348 and Aga Khan University at joint 366.
NUML and the rest of the national list
The National University of Modern Languages (NUML) stands at joint 472nd in Asia, 26th among Pakistani institutions. Its Rawalpindi campus sits at the heart of the city’s university belt, and its ranking will matter to students weighing admissions in the capital region.
Iqra University is at joint 476, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur at 482, and FAST-NUCES and NED share joint 509th. The list runs to 90 names, ending with Federal Urdu University at 1501-plus, and covers every province, including the University of Balochistan at 1401-1500 and the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir at 601.
Ninety ranked institutions means Pakistani higher education now shows up across the full Asian table, from NUST near the top 75 to newer universities entering for the first time. University news this year has also included harder stories, such as QAMC Bahawalpur expelling Afghan doctors and students, which shows how closely campus decisions are watched.
Two Pakistani universities in Southern Asia’s top 10
Pakistan holds two of Southern Asia’s 10 highest-ranked universities. NUST placed second in the subregional rankings, behind the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) at 66th in Asia.
Quaid-i-Azam University secured 10th position, the second Pakistani institution in the Southern Asian top 10. The regional rankings cover Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Iran and Maldives. The Indian Institute of Science is third in the region at joint 79th in Asia, followed by IIT Bombay at joint 83 and IIT Madras at 85.
Who leads Asia, and how QS scores universities
The University of Hong Kong retained its position as Asia’s highest-ranked university. Peking University secured second place, while Tsinghua climbed from ninth to third. City University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong completed the top five, with Fudan and the National University of Singapore sharing joint sixth.
QS uses 11 performance indicators. Academic reputation carries the largest weight at 30 per cent, followed by employer reputation at 20 per cent. The faculty-to-student ratio, international research network and citations per paper each contribute 10 per cent, and the rest covers research output, PhD-qualified staff and international engagement.
Feature Pakistan reported today that the Higher Education Commission has set up a task force on national university rankings. The QS results give that work a clear benchmark: Pakistan’s universities are present in Asia in numbers, but only two sit in the Southern Asian top 10. The latest rankings are on the official QS website.
Pakistan’s standing in global measures of knowledge has been mixed. The country ranked 95th in the Global Innovation Index 2026, and GCU Lahore has won international recognition for a specialist school. The QS list adds a concrete marker for where the sector stands in Asia.
Frequently asked questions
How many Pakistani universities are in the QS Asia University Rankings 2027?
Ninety, as shown when the official QS results are filtered by Pakistan.
Which Pakistani university ranks highest in Asia?
NUST, at joint 76th in Asia, also ranks second in Southern Asia behind IIT Delhi.
Which other Pakistani universities lead the list?
Quaid-i-Azam University is second at 111th, followed by LUMS at joint 143rd, COMSATS at 171st and Punjab at 172nd.
How does QS rank universities?
QS uses 11 indicators, with academic reputation at 30 per cent and employer reputation at 20 per cent, and the rest spread across research, faculty resources and international engagement.
