The QS World University Rankings 2026 has been released, featuring over 1,500 leading universities from more than 100 countries. Among them, 18 Pakistani universities have earned a spot, marking the country’s growing presence in global higher education.
Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad has once again emerged as Pakistan’s top-ranked university, securing the 354th position globally and maintaining its place in the top 400. The rankings are compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a UK-based higher education analytics firm, and are considered one of the most prestigious assessments in the academic world.
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Here’s the full list of Pakistani universities included in the 2026 edition:
| Rank | University |
|---|---|
| 354 | Quaid-e-Azam University |
| =371 | National University of Science and Technology (NUST) |
| =542 | University of the Punjab |
| 555 | Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) |
| =654 | University of Agriculture, Faisalabad |
| =664 | COMSATS University Islamabad |
| 721–730 | Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) |
| 761–770 | Government College University, Faisalabad |
| 801–850 | University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore |
| 901–950 | University of Peshawar |
| 951–1000 | The University of Lahore |
| 1001–1200 | Aga Khan University |
| 1001–1200 | University of Karachi |
| 1201–1400 | Bahauddin Zakariya University |
| 1201–1400 | International Islamic University, Islamabad |
| 1201–1400 | Riphah International University |
| 1201–1400 | University of Management and Technology (UMT) |
| 1401+ | The Islamia University of Bahawalpur |
The QS Rankings evaluate institutions based on several key metrics, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, research citations per faculty, international student and faculty presence, and a new focus on sustainability.
This achievement highlights the increasing global recognition of Pakistan’s higher education sector, and reflects efforts by local institutions to improve quality, research output, and international collaborations.
