Top 15 Best Universities in Islamabad 2023

Original Source : Universities in Islamabad

“The foundation of every state is the education of its youth”.

~ Diogenes

This beautiful but short quote by Diogenes (a Greek philosopher) tells us the importance of education for the development of a person and a nation.

Pakistan is a country rich in culture, history, monuments, hill stations, mountain ranges, and state of art universities. Because of the increasing development in infrastructure, balance in the economy, and improvement in the science and IT sector; Pakistan is also growing in the education sector and in the real estate sector day by day.

Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, is playing a massive role in the educator sector of the country. It has become the center point to perform many activities like politics, education, and religion. If you are a resident of Islamabad and looking for a school, you must read our blog about schools in Islamabad, and Colleges in Islamabad. Getting a good degree from an authorized and well-reputed university is a gateway to your success. To put it simply, a good degree is your lead to get better jobs and opportunities.

It is a commonly-known fact that searching for a good university, that can facilitate students by offering different services with education, is not that easy. Normally, students prefer to get admission to a university that can offer a hostel, transport, and restaurants/eateries nearby. Currently, there are a lot of universities in Islamabad that are famous for their quality education. We have researched and compiled a list of universities in Islamabad for those of you who have just finished your college education and are searching for the top universities in Islamabad.

So before any further delay, let’s start our blog with the list of universities in Islamabad.

List of Top 15 Universities in Islamabad:

1. COMSATS University, Islamabad

COMSATS University Islamabad is a public university established in 1998 that was later, in April 2018, been upgraded to a Federally Chartered University. It was the very first university for information and technology (IT) in Pakistan to promote and learn of the advancement of the field. The main campus of the university is located at Park Road, Tarlai Kalan, Islamabad. However, the campuses of the university are spread in the following cities of Pakistan:

• Islamabad
• Abbottabad
• Wah
• Lahore
• Attock
• Sahiwal
• Vehari

When it comes to the top government universities in Islamabad, COMSATS takes the 3rd position. The reason behind this success is the university’s 2,600+ faculty bases, 100 academic programs, 7 campuses in major cities, and 22 academic departments. Some of the other facilities that it offers include:

• Library
• Sports
• Hostel
• Cafeteria
• Scholarship Programs
• Club and Societies
• Virtual Study Programs
• Graduation Programs for Overseas Pakistani’s

2. National University of Modern Languages (NUML)

National University of Modern Languages, also known as NUML, was established in 1969 as an institute and is one of the oldest universities in Islamabad. In the start, it only trained the personnel of armed forces to communicate with each other in various oriental and occidental languages. In May 2000, it upgraded to a public university. NUML is not just specialized in offering degrees in multiple languages such as French, Arabic, German, etc. It also offers vibrant research programs like MS/MPhil and Ph.D. research degrees. The main campus of the university is located at H-9 Islamabad, Pakistan; while other campuses are situated at the prime location of the below-mentioned major cities of Pakistan:

• Quetta
• Karachi
• Faisalabad
• Multan
• Hyderabad
• Peshawar
• Lahore
• Gwadar

For being listed as one of the top government universities in Islamabad it offers multiple facilities to its students. These facilities include:

• Cafeterias
• Scholarship Programs
• Virtual Study Programs
• Graduation Programs for Overseas Pakistani’s
• Library
• Auditorium
• Video Conferencing
• Mosque
• Hostel
• Sports Programs

3. Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU)

Allama Iqbal Open University, also known as AIOU, was established in 1974 to offer educational opportunities to those who cannot leave their homes. Also, it offers jobs to people who wish to continue their education. AIOU is the second biggest open university in the world and the very first in all of Asia and Africa. Previously, it was named People’s Open University, and then on the occasion of the first centenary of the national poet, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, this university was renamed as Allama Iqbal Open University.

AIOU offers a wide range of degree programs that start from the basic literacy programs and extend to Ph.D. programs. It has only one campus that is located at sector H-8, Islamabad, Pakistan. The best thing, for which AIOU is considered one of the top universities in Islamabad, is that it goes doorstep to doorstep to educate and facilitate the students. Besides all this, it also offers a lot of services that include:

• Publication Exchange Program
• Internet-Connected Computers
• Scan and Deliver
• Researchers’ Lounge
• Discussion Hall
• Libraries
• Online Study Programs

4. FAST University, Islamabad

The Foundation for Advancement of Science and Technology, also known as FAST, was established in 1980. It’s one of the best private universities in Islamabad with campuses in almost all major cities of Pakistan. These cities include:

• Islamabad
• Lahore
• Karachi
• Peshawar
• Faisalabad

It’s a leading institution in offering computer science and IT, under the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan. The university specializes in offering undergraduate, mathematics, postgraduate, Business administration, civil engineering, a Ph.D. degree in computer science, and electrical engineering. Besides all this, the university offers a wide range of services that includes:

• Library
• Auditorium
• Cafeterias
• Scholarship Programs
• Virtual Study Programs
• Auditorium
• Hostel
• Sports Programs

5. PIEAS (Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences)

When we talk about the best engineering universities in Islamabad PIEAS, this university is the best option to choose. It’s a public university located at Lehtrar Road, Nilore, Islamabad. It was established in 1967 as a small training school named “Reactor School”. Later, in 2000, the school was upgraded to a degree-awarding institute by the Government of Pakistan. The university has almost 135 faculty members in the medicine, physical sciences, and engineering fields. The university has other campuses in the following cities:

• Faisalabad
• Karachi
• Islamabad

Now, let’s talk about the facilities that the university offers. It has a big list of them and we are going to mention some of them here:

• Hostel facility
• Library and Information Service
• IT Lab
• Maintenance Department
• Workshops
• Healthcare center
• Sports center
• Transport
• Convenience Center
• Extracurricular Activities

6. IST (The Institute of Space Technology)

The Institute of Space Technology also, known as IST, was established in 2002. It’s a public sector university administered by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs and focuses on astronomy, aerospace engineering, and astronautics. The campus is located at Toll Plaza, Islamabad Highway, Near Rawat, Sector H DHA Phase II, Islamabad. IST is one of the top universities in Islamabad, ranked by the Higher Education Commission, spread in a total area of 73-acre on the outskirts of Islamabad. Department of Student Affairs specifically targeted at enriching on-campus students’ experience to assure that students can achieve the top level of professionalism, values, and morals.

• Student Societies
• Alumni Affairs
• Student Discipline
• Internship & Placement
• Media & Outreach
• Career Counseling
• Sports & Recreation
• Space Awareness & Popularization
• Community Services

This one of the leading Universities in Islamabad specializes in offering, Aeronautics, Astronautics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Avionics Engineering, Space Science, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, Humanities & Sciences degrees. Besides all this, the university offers a wide range of labs: Some of them are mentioned below:

• Failure Analysis Center (FAC)
• Astronomy Resource Center (ARC)
• Space Systems Lab (SSL)
• Artificial Intelligence & Computer Vision Lab (iVision)
• Wireless & Signal Processing Lab (WiSP)
• Geospatial Research & Education Lab (GREL)
• Scanning Electron Microscopy Lab (SEM)
• Cyber & Information Security Lab (CISL)
• Bio-signal processing & Computational NeuroScience lab (BiCoNeS)
• Center for Vibration Testing and Condition Monitoring
• Advanced Manufacturing Facility

7. Foundation University Islamabad

Foundation University Islamabad is a Federally Chartered private sector university established in 2002. In Islamabad, it’s located in Defence Avenue, DHA Phase-I, Islamabad. This leading university is sponsored by the Fauji Foundation – the largest welfare organization in the country. The university has been rated in the W4 category – the highest rating category by the HEC of Pakistan. It has three campuses in the following cities:

• Rawalpindi
• Sialkot
• Islamabad

The university offers the following Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees:

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
• Bachelor of Computer Software Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
• Bachelor of Business Administration (honors)
• Bachelor of Computer Arts
• Bachelor of Science in Media and Communication
• MS Management Sciences
• MS Information Security
• MS Computer Sciences
• MS Engineering Management
• MS English (Linguistics & Literature)
• MS Media Sciences
• Master of Business Administration
• Ph.D. Computer Sciences
• Ph.D. English
• Ph.D. Management Sciences
• Ph.D. Psychology

Besides all this university also offers a large number of services to its students. Some of them are given below:

• Auditorium
• Labs
• Transportation
• Hostel
• Gym
• Cafetaria

These all are the reasons that make it one of the leading government universities in Islamabad.

8. Bahria University, Islamabad

Bahria University is a Federally Chartered Public Sector university founded in 2000 by the Pakistan Navy. In a very short time, it has taken place to be one of the top universities in Islamabad. The university status has been granted as a semi-government university. It specializes in offering undergraduate, doctoral, and post-graduate studies. Recently it has also launched MBBS and BDS programs for the Islamabad campus. The university has spread its campuses in different cities, including:

• Islamabad
• Karachi
• Lahore

Bahria is a leading university with multidisciplinary programs, including Computer Sciences, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Law, Engineering Sciences, Management Sciences, Psychology and Maritime Studies, Earth and Environmental Sciences. Besides this, the university also facilitates its students by offering various services to them. Some of them are given below:

• Health Care Discounts
• Microsoft DreamSpark
• Scholarship
• Student Loan
• Auditorium
• Cafeteria
• Transportation
• Hostel Facility
• IT Services
• Medical Facility
• Gymnasium
• Pern Facility
• Media Lab
• Geophysics Lab

9. Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad

Quaid-i-Azam University is one of the oldest Universities in Islamabad. It was established as a public research university in 1967 under the Act of National Assembly. Initially, it was known as the University of Islamabad. Later on, in honor of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah – founder of Pakistan, it was renamed to Quaid-i-Azam University. The university is specialized in offering Ph.D., MPhil, graduate, and undergraduate programs. The university is spread over an area of 1700-acres on the foothills of the Margalla. Quaid-i-Azam University is the highest-ranked public university in Pakistan. Quaid-i-Azam University consists of the following four faculties.

• Faculty of Natural Sciences
• Faculty of Social Sciences
• Faculty of Medical Science
• Faculty of Biological Sciences

Besides this, the university also offers extraordinary services to its students. Some of them are given below:

• Libraries
• Transportation
• Hostel
• Games and sports
• Cafeteria and shops
• Utility Stores
• Bank
• Mosque
• Security
• Auditorium
• Medical Services
• Postal Services
• Central Workshops

The university has intellectual synergy with international institutes, including the University of Tokyo and the United Nations, and ICTP. There are many beautiful places to visit in Islamabad new this university.

10. Air University, Islamabad

Air University is a public sector university founded in 2002 and chaired by the Chief of Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force. The university offers various post-graduate and undergraduate programs in given fields:

• Medicine
• Computer science
• Cybersecurity
• Artificial intelligence
• Engineering
• Business management
• Humanities

Air University is listed in between the top 10 engineering universities in Islamabad. It consists of the following faculty programs:

• Faculty Aerospace Sciences & Strategic Studies
• Faculty of Avionics and Aeronautics
• Faculty of Basic & Applied Sciences
• Faculty of Computing & Artificial Intelligence
• Faculty of Engineering
• Air University School of Management
• Faculty of Social Sciences

Its headquarter is located in Margalla Hills, southeast corner of Sector E-9, Islamabad. The reasons for being one of the top universities in Islamabad are its services to their students. Some of them are given below:

• Research Labs
• Auditorium
• Scholarship
• Transportation
• Hostel
• Medical Services
• Postal Services
• IT Services
• Cafeteria

11. National Skills University

From 1985 to 1989, the GOP – Government of Pakistan organized two institutes named NTTTC – National Technical Teachers’ Training College and IPSET – Institute for Promotion of Science Education. Later, in 1997, both institutes were merged and named NISTE – National Institute of Science and Technical Education under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. After a few years, in 2010, NISTE was promoted into a Degree Awarding Institute. Then on March 07, 2018, the Parliament of Pakistan passed the order to update NISTE into National Skills University, Islamabad. Then finally, National Skills University came into being on March 12, 2018, and became one of the top universities in Islamabad. Located at Sector H-8/1, Faiz Ahmed Faiz Road, Islamabad, the university has become the center point for offering several undergraduate and graduate-level engineering technologies programs. It’s a public sector university based on fast job conversion. The management has hired highly qualified and professional staff to educate the students. Some of the facilities that the university is offering are mentioned below:

• Jamia Masjid
• Hostel Accommodation
• Academic Support
• Library
• Auditoriums
• equipped classrooms
• Laboratories – Auto, Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Material testing, Computer, Mechanical, Chemical
• Sports Venues

These all are the reasons that make NSU one of the top public and engineering universities in Islamabad.

12. Riphah International University

Riphah International University is a private university founded in 2002. The main goal for the creation of the university was to build up Islamic moral and ethical values. The best thing about this university in Islamabad is, it’s financed by a not-for-profit trust called IIMCT – Islamic International Medical College Trust. The cause for this success is the 07 faculties, several academic departments, and an overseas project, known as RAK College of Dental Sciences, in UAE – the United Arab Emirates. It has many campuses all over Pakistan and an overseas campus as well:

• Main Campus, Sector I-14, Islamabad
• I, G-7/4, 7th Avenue, Islamabad
• II, Evacuee Trust Complex, Islamabad
• WISH Campus, H-8, Islamabad
• Al-Mizan Campus, Rawalpindi
• Riphah International University Lahore, Raiwind Road
• QIE Campus, Lahore
• Riphah International University Faisalabad
• RAK College of Dental Sciences, Ras Al-Khaimah

When it comes to the management, they have highly qualified teachers and professors to share their knowledge and experience with their students in a disciplined manner. Some of the facilities that it offers include:

• Cafeteria
• Book Shop
• Play area
• Internet Access
• Transport
• Hostel
• Male Hostel
• Libraries
• VLE & CMS
• Security
• Auditorium
• Riphah FM 102.2
• First Aid

13. Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University

Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, also known as SZABMU, was established on March 21, 2013. The name was decided to convey honor to the 4th President of Pakistan – Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. It’s a medical university that offers various undergraduate and postgraduate programs in medicine, surgery, dentistry, basic medical sciences, and associated health services. Moreover, M. Phil. and Ph. D. programs are also awarded to the students. Located at Sector G-8/3, Ravi Road, Islamabad, it’s one of the top universities in Islamabad. The university is well-reputed because of its highly disciplined staff and outstanding management. Its other campuses are also in Islamabad. Some of its facilities are:

• Cafeteria
• Play area
• Internet Access
• Transport
• Hostel
• Libraries
• Security
• Auditorium
• First Aid

14. Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University

Next on our list is Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, also known as STMU. It’s a private sector university founded in 2012. It offers sessions and programs beginning to officially identify higher education degrees such as bachelor’s degrees in various areas of education. It administers most of the courses related to health sciences and computer sciences. This one of the best universities in Islamabad has its particular teaching hospital called Shifa International Hospitals Ltd. The university offered degrees in three different faculties, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, and Faculty of Pharmaceutical. It’s located in Pitras Bukhari Rd, H 8/4, Islamabad. With highly educated staff, the university offers several facilities to its students. Some of them are written below:

• Financial Assistance
• Library
• Administrative services
• Air-conditioned classrooms
• Equipped with Multimedia and LED
• Lecture halls
• Tutorial rooms
• Laboratories
• Faculty offices
• Student cafeteria
• Lawns
• Hard courts for sports activities

These all facilities are the reason for being one of the best Islamabad universities.

15. International Islamic University Islamabad

Last but not least, we have International Islamic University Islamabad, also known as IIUI. It’s a public sector university founded in 1980 but later on, rebuilt in 1985. International Islamic University is always the top priority of HEC – Higher Education Commission to be the leading and valued government university in Islamabad. It is the most prestigious degree awarding institute in Pakistan. The university is recognized as the hub of Islam, theology, and Islamic studies in a modern context. The old campus was near Faisal Masjid. The new campus was built in 2013 and settled in Sector H-10, Islamabad. The university offers degrees in Islamic law, public prosecutors, teachers of madrassas, preachers of Friday sermons, and imams. Some of the university’s facilities are:

• Central library
• Islamic Research Institute library
• Hostels (Male and Female separate)
• IT Services
• First Aid
• Pharmacy
• Model Pathology Lab
• Ambulance Service
• Psychological Assessment
• Tele Counseling Services
• Auditorium
• laboratory
• Play Grounds
• Security

There we have it! The top 15 universities in Islamabad – a land that is rated as the second most natural and beautiful capital in the world.
We hope the article was helpful for you.

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