10 Cheapest Universities in Pakistan for International Students

Pakistan may not be the top choice amongst foreign students, but it should be! After all, this Islamic Republic is brimming with a colorful culture and beautiful sceneries. To top it off, the country plays host to many reputable universities, and in this article, we will be looking at the cheap universities in Pakistan for international students.

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What is higher education like in Pakistan?

Pakistani Bachelor’s degrees come in 2 types: Pass and Honours. The former entails 2 years of studies and covers the normal curriculum plus 3 optional subjects. The Honours program, on the other hand, covers 4 years of specialized education.

To enroll in Masters or Doctorate programs, an applicant must have at least 2 years of tertiary education.

Do Pakistani universities offer English-taught degrees?

Yes. With the English language being used in Pakistani primary and secondary education, the universities offer English-taught programs as well.

How much is the tuition fee in the universities in Pakistan?

Undergraduate and Graduate programs at public universities start at $2,000 a year. Private universities, on the other hand, levy fees of up to $7,100 for graduate programs and $9,300 for undergraduate courses.

What languages do Pakistani universities use in teaching?

Apart from Urdu, English is also used for teaching university students.

Cheap Universities in Pakistan

1. University of Punjab

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: $2,000 a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $2,000 a year
  • Tuition Fee Link

The University of Punjab is a public research institution situated in Lahore, Pakistan. Founded in 1882, Pakistan’s oldest university also has campuses in Khanspur, Jhelum, and Gujranwala. With the tuition of $2,000 a year, the University of Punjab is the cheapest university in Pakistan.

Punjabi University is home to 13 faculties and 10 constituent colleges and as such offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programs to international students. Admission for these students is based on the applicant’s qualifications, entrance exam result, and interview result. For post-graduate applicants, journal publications and relevant professional experience are merited as well.

2. Forman Christian College

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 358,200 to 536,700 PKR ($2,216 to $3,186) a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 260,000 to 618,000 PKR ($1,544 to $3,667) a year
  • Tuition Fee Link

Forman Christian College is a liberal arts school founded by Dr. Charles William Forman in 1864. Based in Lahore, Pakistan, the Presbyterian-administered college follows an American-style curriculum.

Forman’s undergraduate and graduate programs are administered by its 5 faculties (Computer & Mathematical Sciences, Education, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences) and 1 School of Management.

The college offers financial aid, with the school distributing as much as PKR 172 million in assistance to about 1,500 students.

3. Virtual University of Pakistan

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: $2,400 a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $3,000 to $3,600 a year
  • Tuition Fee Link

The Virtual University of Pakistan is a public institution headquartered in Lahore, Pakistan, with affiliated campuses run by private organizations. Founded in 2002, this affordable university in Pakistan aims to deliver world-class education to the student’s doorstep.

The university offers 2-year and 4-year Bachelor’s programs, as well as 2- to 3-year Master’s degrees and Ph.D. courses. These programs are geared towards the disciplines of Information Technology, Computer Science, Economics, and Business Administration.

4. Institute of Business Administration, Karachi

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 436,400 to 520,000 PKR ($2,672 to $3,028) a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 206,500 to 327,500 PKR ($2,672 to $3,028) a year
  • Tuition Fee Link

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi is one of the most respected business schools outside North America. Founded in 1955, it was established with the help of specialists from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Southern California.

IBA offers 6 undergraduate courses in Business Administration, Computer Science, Economics & Mathematics, Accounting & Finance, Social Science, and Economics. It also has various graduate programs for Business Administration, Economics, Mathematics, Management, Journalism, and Data Science.

5. The National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 450,000 to 510,000 PKR ($2,672 to $3,028) a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 480,000 PKR ($2,850) a year
  • Tuition Fee Link

The National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES) is a cheap university in Pakistan and is also known as the Foundation for Advancement of Science and Technology. It is the first multi-campus school in the country and has branches in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Chiniot-Faisalabad.

The university offers bachelor’s programs in Business Administration, Artificial Intelligence, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, and Software Engineering. Apart from its 13 Master’s programs, NUCES also has 6 Ph.D. courses.

6. Pakistan Institute of Community Ophthalmology

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: $3,600 to $3,800 a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $3,600 to $3,800 a year
  • Tuition Fee Link

Founded in 1998, the Pakistan Institute of Community Ophthalmology is a joint project between the local government and the International Center for Eye Health. Located in the Hayatabad Medical Complex, the institution is supported by multiple foundations, including Sightsavers International (UK) and Light for the World (Australia), to name a few.

The university offers a Doctor of Optometry course, as well as an MPhil in Vision Sciences. Two Masters in Public Health programs and an Ophthalmic Technician Course are offered to applicants as well.

7. Lahore University of Management Sciences

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 680,400 PKR ($4,040) a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 427,350 to 962,700 PKR ($2,537 to $5,715) a year
  • Tuition Fee Link

Next on our list of cheapest universities in Pakistan is Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), a non-profit institution based in Punjab, Pakistan. It was founded in 1984 by Dr. Zahid Rahim with the help of a $10 million grant from USAID. A member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, LUMS is recognized as one of the best business schools in the country.

The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in Business, Social Sciences, Engineering, Law, and Education.

True to its statement of “Learning without borders,” LUMS plays home to a bevy of foreign students. After all, the university offers generous scholarship programs to international applicants who meet the merit criteria. To see a more detailed disclosure of tuition fees, visit the specific program page.

8. Habib University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 997,500 PKR ($5,922) a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: N/A (Undergraduate programs only)
  • Tuition Fee Link

Habib University is a private liberal arts institution located in Karachi, Pakistan. Founded in 2014, this affordable university in Pakistan has a joint venture contract with Carnegie Mellon University and Texas A&M, Qatar.

At Habib’s 6.3 acre campus, students get to study Bachelor’s courses in Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, Science, and Engineering. As a liberal arts school, the curriculum incorporates 7 forms of thought – historical & social thought, philosophical thought, language & expression, creative practice, formal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and natural scientific analysis.

9. Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: $7,500 a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $7,500 a year
  • Tuition Fee Link

The Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, also known as GIKI, is a private research university founded in 1993. Based in Swabi district, the school is known for its lush 400-acre campus.

It has 5 faculties that offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Engineering, Computer Science, Management, and Humanities.

Foreign applicants need to undergo an entrance test, which evaluates one’s knowledge of English, Mathematics, and Physics. Admission is competitive, as there is only a limited number of slots for both local and international students.

10. Ilma University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: $8,900 to $9,300 a year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $2,100 to $7,100 a year
  • Tuition Fee Link

We end our list of cheapest universities in Pakistan with Ilma University, a private institution situated in Karachi, Pakistan. Founded in 2001, the former Institute of Business & Technology offers undergraduate degrees in Business Administration, Computer Science, Software Engineering, and Media Science. It also offers Master’s degrees in Business Administration, Management, Media Science, Computer Science, and Software Engineering. Ilma also has a joint MS-Ph.D. in Management Science.

Foreign students are eligible for scholarships based on need, merit, and athletic performance.

 

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