Established in March 1991 in the outskirts of the Pakistani capital, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) has become one of the top-ranked, most well-known and sought after institutions of higher learning in the country.
Buoyed by a fiery focus on academic innovation, curricular and training progress and cutting-edge research, NUST is considered no less than a ‘dream university’ by thousands of students across Pakistan. NUST was given a degree-awarding status in 1993, and though it was first set up to promote the cause of science and technology in the country’s higher education landscape, it has since broadened its scope of services and curriculum to economics, finance and management, social sciences. The university has subsidiary campuses in Rawalpindi, Risalpur and Karachi as well. NUST is now looking to expand its academic jurisdiction further with a planned Science and Technology Park and a medical complex with 500-bed Teaching Hospital, School of Pharmacy and School of Nursing and Paramedics.
Premises/Location
The NUST main campus is located at the foothills of Margalla Hills in Islamabad and covers a massive area of more than 707 acres. Though it was once on the fringes of the main city, rapid expansion and development has brought NUST right into heart of the busy federal capital, making it highly approachable from all corners of the city through public or private transportation.
Institutes/Colleges/Centres
The institutes, colleges and centres at NUST represent a diverse choice of disciplines with flexible study hours that meet the needs and interests of students at the undergraduate, masters and PhD levels.
NUST has 10 schools that include NUST Business School (NBS), Atta-ur-Rehman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), School of Art Design and Architecture (SADA), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE), School of Chemical and Materials Engineering (SCME), School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS), School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME), Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (NIPCONS), School of Social Science and Humanities (S3H) and School of Natural Sciences (SNS).
The university also maintains five colleges that include College of Aeronautical Engineering (CAE), College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (E&ME), Military College of Engineering (MCE), Military College of Signals (MCS) and Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC).
Besides, the Centre for Counselling and Career Advisory (C3A), US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCAS-E), Research Centre for Modelling and Simulation (RCMS), Centre for International Peace and Stability (CIPS) and Research Institute for Microwave and Millimetre-Wave Studies (RIMMS) lead the way to state-of-the art research and exemplary guidance for students. A Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) has also been setup to enhance technology, innovation and entrepreneurship skills of participants.
Degrees and Faculty
As of 2016, NUST had over 15,000 full-time students enrolled in 115 programmes at the undergraduate, MS/MPhil and PhD levels. The degree falls under three main categories -- Engineering, IT and Computer Science; Business Studies, Social & Natural Sciences and Architecture; and Applied Biosciences. At present, NUST offers 34 degree programmes at the bachelor’s level, while students can elect one of the 75 programmes on offer to pursue a master’s degree. Similarly, NUST offers PhD programmes in 46 disciplines.
The teaching faculty at NUST comprises of more than 1,280 (per 2016 stats) members who teach at the undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels. A majority of the faculty members hold PhD degrees, while many professors and lecturers from international universities also visit NUST under joint arrangements.
International Collaborations/Linkages
NUST has a vast and proud list of collaborations and linkages with foreign universities and institutions of repute with an objective of encouraging two-way flow of knowledge at minimum expense. To name a few, the university has developed collaborations with Stanford University, Iowa State University, University of Michigan, University of Central Florida, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Harvard University Medical School and others. In All, NUST has so far developed linkages with as many as 102 international universities and organizations in 29 different countries.
Rankings and Rewards
NUST has a long history of ranking and rewards and continues to lead Pakistani academia with pride. NUST has been included among the top 500 universities in the world by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in its 2019 ranking. NUST is placed 417th in the world. The university also features in the top 60 young universities in the world in the latest QS Top 50 under 50 ranking for 2019.
Fee Structure/Scholarships and Financial Aid
Students from all backgrounds within Pakistan and abroad are part of the NUST community, as the varsity facilitates both foreign and local students to avail scholarships, have flexible fee waivers and deferred payments to continue on their path of learning. The annual fee structure of undergraduate programme varies from Rs 87,000 to Rs 100,000 per semester, whereas the postgraduate programmes cost between Rs 64,000 to Rs 95,000 per semester.
NUST continues to facilitate brilliant deserving students across the globe by offering them multiple scholarships from outside sources too, which include need based scholarship, scholarship programme for talented students of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa under Chief Minister Education Endowment Fund (CMEEF), Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF) and Department for International Development (DFID) UKAID Scholarship and others. The NUST Financial Aid Programme is a part of its need based scholarship and given to students hailing from low and middle tier families.
Facilities/Services
Facilities at NUST are comparable to those in any leading university in the world, making study, research and extracurricular activities at the campus an exciting affair. The NUST Research and Development (R&D) Directorate is dedicated to the growth of research and also publishes journals. The university has state-of-the-art labs, workshops and studios for art and design work, while a specialized career centre helps and guides students the year round. NUST Technology Incubation Centre is designed for business opportunity seekers and facilitates entrepreneurship competitions, while the campus also has provisions for engaging in all kinds of sports. The students’ lives usually remain abuzz with activity owing to myriad bodies (organisations, clubs and societies) that keep engaged with various on-campus and off-campus activities. Also, the university has two publications and an FM Radio Station. Want more? There is even a hiking track that snakes around the campus in case you wanted some essential outdoors experience to fight stress.
Hostel Facilities & Transport Services
The university administration goes the extra mile to ensure the wellbeing of its students in the guise of comfortable residential and transportation facilities. NUST has four well-maintained hostels for males and an equal number for females, whereas married students can live comfortably in fully furnished apartments. Students are provided dining and mess facilities in all campuses. Environment-friendly buses, vans and coaches ply almost all routes in and around the city to provide stress free commuting for students, staff and residents. The shuttle service is provided for routes both on and off campus.
So, this should get you fair idea of NUST and the life at this outstanding university. Do you think there is more that can be shared? Or know something we don't? Enlighten us with your comments in the section below.
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