National University of Sciences & Technology

The National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) (Urdu: قومی جامعہِ سائنس و ٹیکنالوجی, romanized: Qaumī Jāmi'ā Sāins va Ṭaiknālōjī) is a Pakistani multi-campus public research university with its main campus in Islamabad, and other campuses in Rawalpindi, Risalpur, Quetta and Karachi. It offers degrees in multiple disciplines e.g. engineering, computer sciences, natural sciences, business studies, humanities, architecture as well as health sciences.

National University of Sciences and Technology

Motto	Defining Futures
Type	Public Research university
Established	1991
Chancellor	President of Pakistan
Rector	Dr. Muhammad Zahid Latif
Academic staff	1,758
Students	21,032
Undergraduates	13,314
Postgraduates	7,718
Location	Islamabad , 44000 , Pakistan 33°38′41″N 72°59′22″E
Campus	H-12, Islamabad (707 acres)
Affiliations	Pakistan Engineering Council Higher Education Commission (Pakistan) Washington Accord
Website	nust.edu.pk

The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. NUST was established in March 1991 for the promotion of higher education in the country, especially in the fields of science and technology, and its charter was granted in 1993.^[1] The main campus in Islamabad also contains Pakistan's first National Science and Technology Park, certified by International Association of Science Parks (IASP).^[2]

History

Starting out as primarily an Engineering university, NUST’s strength was derived from its constituent military colleges, some of which have a long and cherished history, having been established soon after the independence of Pakistan. Engineering continues to be the forte of NUST with all programmes accredited under the Washington Accord.

Military College of Signals (MCS) in Rawalpindi is the oldest among NUST’s constituent institutions (established in 1947) and also the first of the military colleges to come under NUST’s umbrella (1991); it was the first HEI in Pakistan to start an undergraduate programme in Telecommunication Engineering (launched in 1974), later expanding to Masters and PhD programmes in the discipline, which has numerous contributions to the growth of the country’s Telecom Sector. MCS is also the first institution in Pakistan to start a Master’s programme in Information Security, started in 2004.

The NUST College of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering (CEME), Rawalpindi, established in 1957, is the largest constituent college of NUST, which became part of NUST in 1993. The college initiated the first Mechatronics Engineering programme of the country in 1998. CEME’s Mechatronics Engineering and Computer Engineering programmes were two of the first four programmes in Pakistan that were shifted to Outcome Based Education (OBE) System under the Washington Accord.

College of Aeronautical Engineering (CAE), Risalpur, established in 1965, came under the NUST umbrella in 1994. CAE was Pakistan’s first HEI to start undergraduate programmes in Aerospace and Avionics Engineering in 1965. CAE is also the only institution in Pakistan offering a PhD in Avionics, as well as the only Engineering college in the country to be co-located with a military academy.

Military College of Engineering (MCE) was established at Risalpur in 1952 and became a part of NUST in 1995. In 2012, MCE became the pioneer institution of the country to introduce MS programme in Disaster Management. MCE’s Structural Dynamics laboratory is equipped with the country’s largest Seismic Testing Facility and state-of-the-art Compression Testing and Universal Testing machines. This unique expertise in Mining is crucial to the country’s needs.

Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC), Karachi, was established in 1962 and joined NUST in 1995; it is NUST’s only constituent institution in the country’s southern region. PNEC’s BE and MS programmes in Naval Architecture, commencing from Fall 2020, are the country’s first programmes in this field.

Amongst the military colleges, Army Medical College was the last one to become a NUST constituent in 1998. In December of 2015, the College was affiliated with National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS).

The acquisition of Sector H-12 for its Islamabad campus has been a gigantic leap forward for the growth of NUST, as it gave impetus to the fast-paced infrastructural expansion facilitating the launch of new NUST institutions in an array of disciplines. NUST is a staunch proponent of inclusive growth and takes conscious initiatives to bring students from the country’s far-flung areas into mainstream education. Among its foremost undertakings, is the establishment of NUST Balochistan Campus (NBC) at Quetta, and a robust Outreach Programme launched in 2017. Initially catering to intermediate students from the underdeveloped areas of Balochistan and KP, the progamme has now expanded to all corners of the country.

Merit is the only criterion for admission at NUST; with an acceptance rate of 4%, the university attracts a pool of the most talented students from all over Pakistan. The true beauty of this merit-based system is reflected in the fact that approximately 60% of our student intake, that qualifies on merit, comes from the lower and lower-middle income groups. NUST maintains an affordable fee structure to promote inclusivity and has a robust need-based scholarship programme.

By aligning our R&D with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), NUST has become an SDGs-engaged university, an achievement that is recognised by international ranking agencies. Moreover, NUST seeks to amass expertise from within as well as outside the country to boost its academic and research activities. These collaborations help our faculty remain up-to-date with current knowledge and ensure a two-way flow of knowledge.  

NUST stands aloft with its Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) soaring high in numbers, and has the highest number of patents filed and awarded in Pakistani academia. NUST is also Pakistan’s first university that has transferred its technology to the industry, impacting import substitutions and industrial innovation across multiple fields like Health, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, etc.

Pakistan’s first Science & Technology Park – the National Science & Technology Park (NSTP) – at NUST’s Islamabad campus, which was inaugurated in December 2019. The Park has brought together industry and academia to work in close synergy and create a robust research and innovation ecosystem, adding value to the technological index of Pakistan.

With many other pioneering initiatives to its credit – like Pakistani academia’s first Technology Incubation Centre (established in 2005 and renamed to TechOne in 2019) to promote entrepreneurship, first Intellectual Property Office to protect innovation, first university-based think tank (NUST Institute of Policy Studies – NIPS), Pakistan’s first university-hosted cloud service by the name of NUSTCloud, and much more, NUST is well-poised to become a regional hub of higher education and innovation.  

University Social Responsibility (USR) is a major focal area at NUST, and our students alone contribute more than 100,000+ hours to community service every year under the banner of NUST Community Services Club (NCSC).

Notwithstanding its young age, NUST’s contributions to the higher education sector and technological as well as socioeconomic progress of Pakistan are immense, making it a benchmark for other Pakistani HEIs to follow. Our academic excellence, market-driven curricula, industry linkages, robust Research and Innovation (R&I) ecosystem, national innovation platform of STP and an alumni network of more than 58000, lay the foundation for NUST as an ideal place for learning, innovation and growth.

Campuses

NUST is a multi-campus university with the main campuses located in Islamabad. Campuses of NUST are located in the following cities:

Islamabad

Sector H-12 Campus

The campus in Sector H-12 Islamabad was initiated in 2008. Besides NUST Headquarters, the schools and institutes that were relocated to this campus include School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, School of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Research Center for Modeling and Simulation^[3], School of Natural Sciences (formerly known as Center for Advanced Mathematics and Physics), Atta-ur-Rehman School of Applied Bio-sciences, School of Art Design and Architecture, NUST Business School, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Professional Development Center, Technology Incubation Center, Marketing and Industrial Relations Organization, NUST Publishing and NUST Outreach and Talent Hunt Initiative. It also has a department for career counselling named Centre for Counselling and Career Advisory (C3A) that helps provide primary mental health facilities.

The campus is spread over 800 acres (3.2 km²) of land.^[4] Sports facilities such as cricket, volleyball courts, basketball, soccer and squash courts are present while hockey stadium and tennis courts are under construction. Hostels for both male and female students are present inside the campus. Facilities in the hostels include badminton courts, basketball and gymnasiums. Some hostel rooms have attached baths while others have community baths. The campus recently inaugurated a central library next to the Headquarters, along with a race course track and a horse riding club. In 2017, a small hiking trail was also opened up for students in order to promote physical well-being. Various cafeterias are constructed on the campus to facilitate the students, along with a tailor shop, a barber shop and various bakeries and shopping marts. A Separate housing facility for the university staff is also present in the campus. Moreover, the campus also houses the NUST Science and Technology Park (NSTP). It also has a central gymnasium (along with several others in hostels) and a lake.

National Science and Technology Park

The National Science & Technology Park (NSTP), established by NUST, stands as Pakistan's first fully integrated hub for science and technology, inaugurated in 2019. This groundbreaking initiative aims to invigorate and enhance Pakistan's knowledge economy by sustaining innovation and facilitating the growth of high-tech enterprises. The project targets eight key verticals: ArgiTech, HealthTech, FinTech, EdTech, EnergyTech, SmartTech,andDefTech.

Since its inception in 2019, NSTP has achieved remarkable milestones, including generating over PKR 20 billion in revenue, creating more than 6,000 high-tech jobs and securing over PKR 10 billion in funds raised by its resident firms. In 2021, the Prime Minister granted NSTP Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status, benefiting 25 companies and injecting over $20 million into the local economy.

NSTP's Hatch8 programme has graduated numerous cohorts, resulting in the emergence of startups like Vyro. The programme has secured international acclaim, extending its reach to the UAE (Badiri) to support female founders. Committed to making a tangible difference in the community, NSTP has initiated startup programmes in Pakistan, partnering with the US Embassy to empower marginalised communities across Pakistan.

R&D is the core of NSTP's mission, attracting globally acclaimed organisations such as ABB, Hytera, Rapidev, Hitit, HATO Agricultural Lighting, Rapid Silicon, and Turkish Aerospace. The resident firms have established state-of-the-art labs at NUST.

NSTP startups continue to attract considerable attention from global investors. PriceOye, an electronic marketplace startup based out of NSTP secured funding from renowned investor Peter Theil. A female-led startup based out of NSTP raised $500,000 from BOOST VC. The park hosts Zayn VC as a resident Venture Capitalist, aimed at enhancing the investment landscape at NUST and the country. This strategic partnership underscores NSTP's commitment to harnessing its technological prowess and enhancing entrepreneurial growth.

Rawalpindi

College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (CEME):

NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (CEME) is the largest military constituent college of NUST. Since inception, it has been playing a pivotal role in the development of Pakistan’s Engineering landscape.

CEME’s journey began in 1957, when it was established as the Electrical and Mechanical Engineers School in Quetta for the training of Pakistan Army’s EME Corps.

Over the years, it has grown in stature, transitioning into a full-fledged Engineering college in 1969, and eventually moving to its current premises in Rawalpindi in 1984. As one of the earliest and most esteemed Engineering institutions of Pakistan, CEME continues to serve as a benchmark in the field of Engineering education, offering top-tier undergraduate and graduate programmes. The college’s expertise, particularly in Electrical, Mechanical, Computer and Mechatronics Engineering, is reflected in the laurels its graduates have earned—from Rhodes, Commonwealth and Science & Technology scholarships to leadership roles in defence and civil industries.

The College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (CEME) offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through its specialised academic departments:

• Department of Electrical Engineering offers BE, MS, and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering, with specialisations in Power, Electronics, Telecommunications, and Control Systems.
• Department of Mechanical Engineering offers BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering, with specialisations in Thermal Systems, Design, and Manufacturing.
• Department of Computer & Software Engineering offers BS, MS and PhD programmes in Computer Engineering; MS and PhD in Computer Software Engineering; and MSc in Artificial Intelligence.
• Department of Mechatronics Engineering offers BS, MS and PhD degrees in Mechatronics Engineering.
• Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities offers MS and PhD programmes in Applied Mathematics.
• Department of Engineering Management offers MS and PhD degrees in Engineering Management.

These programmes are designed to meet the evolving demands of industry and academia, with curricula aligned to accreditation standards.

The college houses leading research centres, including the National Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA), Robots Maker Lab (RML), Digital Pakistan Lab (DPL), Microwave Engineering Research Lab (MERL) and BioMISA. Strong partnerships with industry, government, and global universities have driven groundbreaking research and innovation resulting in several national and international awards and recognition for the students and faculty members.

Sports facilities at CEME include tennis courts, basketball court, squash court, badminton court, football ground, horse riding club, cricket ground, swimming pool, and gymnasia.

The campus hosts various student societies, including Robotics clubs, engineering forums and entrepreneurial initiatives, ensuring a vibrant academic and extracurricular environment.

Military College of Signals (MCS):

Located on Humayun Road, Rawalpindi Cantt, Military College of Signals (MCS) is the oldest constituent college of NUST. It was originally founded as the School of Signals in 1947 after Pakistan’s independence to train the members of Pakistan’s Armed Forces.

MCS has three departments:

1. Electrical Department
2. Computer Software Department
3. Information Security Department

The college’s library is fully computerised and affiliated with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Digital Library Programme. It holds a collection of approximately 33,500 printed books and provides access to over 75,000 electronic resources.

The college has state-of-the-art facilities, including 21 teaching labs and 14 dedicated research labs that support advanced learning and innovation.

To ensure a well-rounded academic environment, MCS is equipped with electronic classrooms, an auditorium, conference halls, dining areas, and on-campus hostel accommodation.

Comprehensive sports facilities are also available, offering students opportunities to take part in sports in table tennis, badminton, basketball, tennis, volleyball, football, hockey, and cricket.

Risalpur

College of Aeronautical Engineering (CAE):

The college comprises four departments; Aerospace Engineering Department, Avionics Department, Industrial Engineering Department and Humanities and Sciences Department.

Aerospace Engineering Department has five major labs; aerodynamics lab, structure lab, propulsion and heat transfer lab, material science lab and numerical analysis lab. Avionics Department has six labs which include guidance lab, navigation and control system lab, antenna lab, communication lab, radar, microwave and digital system lab and embedded system lab.

The campus is equipped with a library, auditorium, conference hall, dining facilities and hostel facilities, although more hostel accommodation is required for a conducive study environment. The college library has a collection of 80,000 technical and reference books. Sports facilities at the campus include table tennis, badminton, basketball, tennis, volleyball, football, hockey, swimming, golf and cricket.

Military College of Engineering (Pakistan) (MCE):

NUST Military College of Engineering (MCE) was established at Risalpur in 1952. In 1962, the college was granted self-degree awarding status, a singular honour among Pakistan Army institutions. In 1991, MCE affiliated with Michigan State University, USA, for a split MS Degree Programme and in 1995, its academic programmes became part of NUST.

In 2012, MCE became the first institution in Pakistan to introduce an MS programme in Disaster Management. The college offers eight academic programmes in the discipline of Civil Engineering, with a student body exceeding 1,000 students.

MCE offers a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Civil Engineering at the undergraduate level and multiple MS and PhD programmes at the postgraduate level. These include:

· MS/PhD in Mining Engineering

· MS/PhD in Construction Engineering & Management

· MS/PhD in Mathematics

· MS/PhD in Water Resources Engineering & Management

· MS Disaster Management.

The institution is structured into specialised departments, including Structural Engineering, Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering, Construction Engineering & Management, Water Resources Engineering, and Basic Sciences & Humanities.

MCE follows an Outcome-Based Education (OBE) system, accredited under the Washington Accord by the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC). The curriculum comprises 70% Engineering and 30% Non-engineering subjects, focusing on problem-based learning, open-ended labs, and research-driven final year projects (FYPs). The college has undergone significant curriculum advancements and PEC accreditation renewals, achieving Level-I/II accreditation in 2015 and 2017, major curriculum updates between 2017 and 2019, and Level-II accreditation under the Washington Accord in 2019 and 2022.

MCE provides state-of-the-art laboratories and modern infrastructure to support academic and research activities. The campus features specialised engineering labs, including the Surveying Lab, Geotechnical Lab, Engineering Mechanics Lab, Hydraulics Lab, Transportation Lab, Strength of Materials Lab, Dynamic Structural Lab and Building Information Modeling (BIM) Lab. Additionally, MCE houses a Geology Lab, Environmental Engineering Lab, Concrete Technology Lab and a Linguistic Lab to facilitate interdisciplinary learning.

The Structural Dynamics Laboratory is equipped with Pakistan’s largest Seismic Testing Facility, featuring a shake table for earthquake simulation, along with advanced compression testing and universal testing machines. Furthermore, MCE has integrated 3D printing technology to support research and prototyping capabilities in structural and material sciences.

MCE also has a two-storey library building, which serves as an essential academic resource. The MCE Main Library includes three research rooms, Archive Books section, MS/UG Projects section, Circulation Hall, Books Bank and a Digital Library. As an integral part of the institutional academic ecosystem, it provides students and researchers with access to extensive learning materials and digital resources.

The institution continues to upgrade its infrastructure to promote learning, research and innovation in Civil Engineering disciplines.

Karachi

Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC)

Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC) is a constituent college of NUST based in Karachi. It is located at Habib Rehmat Ullah Road Near Bahria Auditorium, Karachi.

The campus is spread over an area of about 75 acres. PNEC has established a professional reputation for excellence in teaching and research because of its high academic standards, highly qualified faculty and state-of-the-art academics related facilities available to students and faculty including an auditorium, a mosque, sickbay, multiple student hostels and dining facilities.

The campus offers a range of sports facilities, including table tennis, badminton, basketball, lawn tennis, volleyball, football, and cricket.

Academically, PNEC provides undergraduate degree programmes in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, and Maritime Sciences. It also offers postgraduate programmes, including PhDs in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering & Management. Additionally, MS programmes are available in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Cyber Security, and Artificial Intelligence.

All programmes are offered in accordance with the guidelines of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) and the National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC). The campus reviews its quality policy annually to ensure relevance, continuous improvement and effectiveness.

Graduates of the campus are recognised for their technical competence and are in demand both nationally and internationally.

Quetta

NUST Balochistan Campus (NBC)

The NUST Balochistan Campus (NBC) is a  constituent campus of NUST. NBC was established with the aim of assisting the Government of Balochistan in nurturing a highly skilled workforce in the fields of Engineering and sciences. The campus plays a pivotal role in advancing higher education and research while providing students with superior academic and professional training.  

Located 2.2 kilometres from Quetta Cantonment, NBC is situated within Quetta Health and Education City, an emerging hub for academic excellence in Quetta, Balochistan. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on May 8, 2018, followed by the inauguration and commencement of classes in September 2019. In February 2022, NBC transitioned to its current purpose-built location, further enhancing its academic and research capabilities.

NBC currently offers undergraduate programmes in Civil Engineering, Mining Engineering, and Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence programmes.

The campus ensures inclusive education by allocating 60% of seats for students from Balochistan, while the remaining 40% are open to students from other provinces, fostering a diverse and dynamic learning environment. The campus is home to highly qualified faculty members and actively engages in cutting-edge research initiatives and academia-industry collaborations.

Spanning an impressive 100-acre area, NBC boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure and modern facilities designed to enhance the learning experience. The residential facilities include both male and female hostels with double-occupancy rooms. The university places great emphasis on physical well-being, offering extensive sports facilities such as a 90,000 sq. ft. cricket ground, a football field, a futsal court and a fully equipped gymnasium. Additionally, NBC ensures comprehensive medical support, with an on-campus Medical Officer and 24/7 ambulance service available to students and staff.

With its commitment to academic excellence, pioneering research, and holistic student development, NBC continues to make significant strides in higher education and innovation in Balochistan.

Academics

Research

NUST is a research-led university with a focus on developing a robust research ecosystem. This ecosystem encompasses world-class researchers, advanced facilities, strong stakeholder engagement and a comprehensive administrative support system.

NUST's research output has seen consistent growth, contributing to its increasing international recognition, improved rankings and the ability to attract funding and influence.

The Research Directorate at NUST plays a central role in this process, overseeing research strategy, policy and sustainability, while providing operational support for sponsored research projects, publications, conferences and international collaborations. The Directorate aims to foster a culture of research excellence, recognising its crucial role in knowledge creation and institutional development.

The Research Directorate at NUST aims to establish an impactful research culture, seamlessly integrating research into all academic activities. It prioritises ensuring research relevance and sustainability within Pakistan, addressing national challenges and fostering long-term development. The Directorate actively facilitates grant acquisition and management, supporting researchers in securing diverse funding. It promotes high-quality research dissemination through publication and conference presentations and fosters local research initiatives, enhancing project development, journal growth and conference hosting. To maintain high standards, the Directorate benchmarks, monitors and evaluates research, implementing reward systems and identifying improvement areas. Finally, it prioritises effective communication and collaboration with relevant ministries, funding agencies, and organisations to secure ongoing research support.

NUST University Advancement Office (UAO)

NUST University Advancement Office (UAO) plays a pivotal role in securing philanthropic contributions, strengthening alumni relations and facilitating corporate partnerships to support the university’s development. Originally conceived in 2012 as the University Development Office under the directive of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, it was formally restructured as the University Advancement Office (UAO) in 2015.

Core Functions

UAO operates with a strategic focus on the following core areas:

• Financial Aid and Scholarship 360°: Overseeing and managing financial aid programmes to support undergraduate and postgraduate students, ensuring accessibility and need cum merit based distribution.
• Alumni Affairs & Relationship Management: Cultivating strong connections with NUST alumni globally, fostering engagement, and encouraging contributions to the university.
• Market Research & Outreach: Conducting research to identify potential partners, funding opportunities, and engagement strategies for institutional development.
• Fundraising & Endowment Building: Generating private funds through the NUST Trust Fund (NTF), securing corporate social responsibility (CSR) partnerships, and establishing scholarship endowments.
• Donor Stewardship & Compliance: Ensuring transparency in fund utilisation, reporting to donors, and maintaining regulatory compliance.

UAO is responsible for:

• Enhancing NUST’s brand image as a premier partner for CSR and endowment funding through strategic and transparent donor engagement.
• Facilitating private-sector collaborations to support NUST’s strategic priorities in education, research and innovation.
• Building and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders, fostering long-term mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Creating a dynamic alumni network, encouraging active engagement and leveraging their contributions for institutional growth.
• Developing sustainable fundraising models to ensure consistent year-on-year (YoY) revenue generation for university development.
• Administering financial aid programmes, ensuring that deserving students receive the necessary financial support.
• Upholding donor stewardship, ensuring transparency, trust and impact-driven fund management through periodic reporting and compliance measures.

Fund Management and Transparency:

The NUST Trust Fund (NTF), established in 2012 under the Trust Act 1882, is a not-for-profit entity overseeing donor contributions. It is governed by a board of highly skilled individuals and operates under strict governance policies to ensure efficient fund allocation and impact assessment, with regular reporting on investments, expenditures, and scholarship disbursements.

Impact and Vision

Through initiatives like the NUST Endowment for Educational Development (NEED) Initiative, UAO aims to position NUST as a need-blind institution, ensuring that talented students receive quality education regardless of financial constraints. The office continues to expand donor engagement, strengthen industry-academia linkages and develop innovative funding solutions to advance NUST’s mission of academic excellence, research and global impact.

Rankings and awards

University rankings
Global – Overall
QS World[5]	334 (2023)
THE World[6]	601-800
USNWR Global[7]	950
Regional – Overall
QS Asia[8]	74
THE Asia[6]	150-200

NUST was the first university in Pakistan to achieve ISO 9000 certification. The constituent colleges that have been certified for ISO Quality Management System include College of Aeronautical Engineering, Military College of Engineering (Pakistan), College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Pakistan Navy Engineering College and Military College of Signals.^[4] NUST won two gold and a silver medal out of three gold and three silver medals awarded by the Pakistan Engineering Council for 2005, 2006 and, 2007 for Best Graduate of the Year Award.^[4] NUST faculty members won seven awards, including President's gold medal, Best Researcher, Distinguished Scientist and Best University Teacher awards during 2007.^[4]

According to a survey, NUST is the most popular choice for engineering students in Pakistan.^[9] Google Trends show that NUST is the most searched Pakistani university ever since 2004 outranking some of the famous international universities as Sabancı University of Turkey.^[10][11]

In 2013, SCImago ranked NUST as 1568 in the world, 480 in the region and 6th in the country for the reporting period of 2007–11.^[12] In 2014, Webometric world university rankings ranked it at 150 in the world, 3rd in the country and 22nd in South Asia.

Higher Education Commission of Pakistan ranked NUST as the number one university in the category of 'General University: Large' in 2013 and in the category 'Engineering and Technology' in 2014 and 2015.^[13]

According to the QS World University Rankings for 2022 - 2023, ranked NUST as 334th in the world^[5] and in the Engineering category, the university was ranked as 251–300. NUST ranks #74 in Asian University Rankings in 2022.^[8]

Foreign collaborations

International Collaborations

NUST has established academic and research collaborations with over 250 universities and organizations across 50+ countries. These partnerships facilitate faculty and student exchanges, joint research initiatives and knowledge sharing opportunities. Some of NUST's notable international partner institutions include Cornell University (USA), Michigan State University (USA), Coventry University (UK) and Seoul National University (South Korea).

Student Exchange Programmes

Additionally, NUST has active student exchange agreements with more than 30 universities worldwide, including the University of Malaya (Malaysia), Rennes School of Business (France) and Sapienza University of Rome (Italy). These collaborations provide students with global exposure and diverse academic experiences.

International Student Representation

NUST also has a diverse international student community, with representation from more than 20 countries, including China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Qatar, Syria, and Somalia, among others.

Quality networks and associations

NUST is a member of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE)^[14] and Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN).^[15] NUST has also been granted the membership of Association of Commonwealth Universities^[16] and International Association of Universities.^[4][17]

Other entities

NUST has the following international collaborations:^[4]

• Collaboration with CERN since December 2001. NUST has been awarded Associate Membership of CERN.
• Collaboration with Caltech on a project titled 'Interactive Grid Analysis Environment'. Research funding of US$0.18 million has been approved under Pak-US collaboration for this project.
• Collaboration with Stanford University since February 2004 in a project titled 'Measurement and Analysis for the Global Grid and Internet End-to-End Performance (MAGGIE)'. Research funding of US$0.162 Million has been approved under Pak-US collaboration for this project.
• NUST School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (formerly NUST Institute of Information Technology) has been declared Microsoft Authorized Academic Training Program Institute (AATPI) by Microsoft Corporation, USA.
• Intel Corporation has established a computer lab at SEECS.
• NCR Corporation has established their Data warehouse and Data mining lab at SEECS.
• IBM has registered NUST on worldwide offering for higher education to selected universities.
• Artificial Intelligence R&D Lab has been set up in NUST School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS) in collaboration with German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (German DFKI) and University of Kaiserslautern (TUKL), Germany.

Student life

Active participation in a vibrant campus life is essential for students' holistic development and success. At NUST, a diverse range of student-run clubs and societies, operating under the aegis of the Student Affairs Directorate, provide opportunities for extra curricular and co-curricular engagement. Through events and activities such as seminars, interactive sessions, excursion trips, competitions and contests, social events, and community service initiatives, these platforms foster essential soft skills like leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. By blending learning with experience, they empower students to grow beyond the classroom and prepare for future challenges.

Students Clubs & Societies

At present, there are 45 Clubs & Societies in NUST H-12 Campus. These include:

Academic & Professional Societies

1. NUST BioReach Society
2. NUST Economics Society
3. NUST Materials Society
4. NUST Science Society
5. NUST Literary Circle
6. NUST Public Administration Society (NUSTPAS)
7. NUST Society of Legal Excellence (NSLE)
8. American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
9. American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME)
10. NUST Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineering (IEEE)
11. NUST Institute of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE)
12. NUST American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineering (ASHRAE)
13. NUST Biomedics Club
14. NUST Physics and Astronomy Society
15. American Chemical Society (ACS)

Technical & Innovation Clubs

1. NUST Hack Club
2. NUST Robotics Club
3. NUST Technical Amusement Club
4. NUST Digital Club

Arts, Culture & Media Societies

1. NUST Music Society
2. NUST Dramatics Club
3. NUST Fine Arts Club
4. NUST Media Club
5. NUST Ni Hao Club
6. NUST Bazm-e-Pakistan

Debating, Quizzing & Literary Clubs

1. NUST Debating Society
2. NUST Quiz Club
3. NUST Book Club

Sports & Fitness Clubs

1. NUST Archery Club
2. NUST Water Sports Club
3. NUST Paragliding Club
4. NUST Fitness Club
5. NUST Adventure Club
6. NUST Trekking Club
7. NUST Chess Club
8. NUST Excursion Club

Leadership, Development & Social Impact Societies

1. NUST Leaders Society
2. NUST Skill Development Club
3. NUST Entrepreneurs Club
4. NUST Community Services Club
5. NUST Character Building Society
6. Women of Impact at NUST (WIN)
7. NUST International Club (NIC)

Environment & Welfare Societies

1. NUST Environment Club
2. NUST Stray Animal Club

Sports facilities

All NUST campuses offer dedicated sports facilities, including courts for indoor games such as table tennis, badminton, and squash. Outdoor facilities include courts for tennis, basketball, and volleyball, along with grounds for hockey, football, and cricket. Some campuses also have swimming pools and gymnasia.

The H-12 campus is particularly well-equipped, offering:

• A state-of-the-art gym

• An all-weather swimming pool

• A bowling alley

• A saddle club

Student residence

The H-12 campus of the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) provides separate hostel facilities for male and female students. These are categorised as follows:

Undergraduate Male Hostels: Ghazali, Beruni, Razi, Rahmat, Attar, Liaquat, Hajveri, and Zakariya

Postgraduate Male Hostels: Rumi and Johar

Undergraduate Female Hostels: Zainab, Ayesha, Khadija, Amna, and Fatima-III

Postgraduate Female Hostels: Fatima-I and Fatima-II

Each hostel is equipped with its own messing facilities.

Dining and Recreational Areas

The H-12 campus includes several cafeterias and commercial areas to meet student needs. The four primary cafeterias are:

• C-1 (Concordia-1)
• C-2 (Concordia-2)
• South Edge Café
• Retro Café

C-1 and C-2 are multipurpose buildings that include a cafeteria, juice shop, stationery and print shops, bakery, mini-mart, barber shop, mobile and computer services, and general refreshment corners. South Edge Café offers scenic views of the sports complex and is known for its popular desi cuisine. Retro Café primarily caters to students of NUST  School of Natural Sciences (SNS) and  School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME), which are located farther from the central food areas.

Additionally, Isra Shopping Complex serves the needs of faculty, staff, and their families. It includes a mini-mart, naan shop, tailor, laundry service, barber shop, chicken shop, milk and yogurt shop, and a fruit and vegetable store.

The Coffee Lounge, an outdoor café located near the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (IESE), is a popular spot among students for coffee and pizza.