108 Pakistani Universities in THE World University Rankings 2027: Full Top 10 List
Pakistan has 108 universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, released on 1 October 2026. The 2027 edition assesses 2,297 institutions worldwide, which makes it one of the largest global university rankings.
Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad is again Pakistan’s highest-ranked university, placed in the 551–600 band.
Top 10 Pakistani universities in THE Rankings 2027
| # | University | City | World rank band |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quaid-i-Azam University | Islamabad | 551–600 |
| 2 | National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) | Islamabad | 601–650 |
| 3 | COMSATS University Islamabad | Islamabad | 651–700 |
| 4 | Bahauddin Zakariya University | Multan | 701–800 |
| 5 | University of Agriculture, Faisalabad | Faisalabad | 701–800 |
| 6 | University of Lahore | Lahore | 701–800 |
| 7 | Abdul Wali Khan University | Mardan | 801–1000 |
| 8 | Air University | Islamabad | 801–1000 |
| 9 | Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (GIKI) | Topi | 801–1000 |
| 10 | International Islamic University | Islamabad | 801–1000 |
Universities in the same band are listed in no particular order. THE publishes exact positions only for the top 200.
How THE ranks universities
THE uses 18 performance indicators grouped into five areas:
- Teaching: the learning environment
- Research environment: volume, income and reputation
- Research quality: citation impact and research strength
- International outlook: international staff, students and collaboration
- Industry: income from and links with industry
What this means for students
Rankings are a useful starting point, but they should not be the only reason to choose a university. For admissions in Pakistan, also consider:
- The strength of your specific department and programme
- HEC recognition and, for professional degrees, accreditation by PEC, PMDC or other councils
- Fees, scholarships and location
- Graduate employment in your field
For students applying abroad, a degree from a well-ranked Pakistani university can strengthen applications for master’s and PhD programmes and for scholarships such as Chevening and Commonwealth.
Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027; reporting by Daily Pakistan and ProPakistani, 1 October 2026.
