Nust Admissions 2020: Guidance and Updates

National University of Science and Technology (NUST) is a semi-government research institute that operates under the administrative control of Pakistan Armed Forces. Conceived in 1991, the institute was initially intended solely to train and educate the commissioned officers in the various fields of engineering and sciences. However, a few years after its inception, the institute achieved the status of a public research institute.

As of today, NUST boasts being the number one education and research institute in the country and also being among very few of the internationally revered higher education institutes in Pakistan. It has slightly north of 15,000 students, over 20 separate departments with their own specializations, and about 1300 faculty members. It has 4 campuses, namely, in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi and Risalpur.

NUST also has a number of accolades to it name. The most notable one was perhaps becoming the 1st ever institute in Pakistan to be awarded the ISO 9000 certification for their engineering excellence. Furthermore in terms of international recognition, QS World University Rankings placed NUST at 355 in the world and for the Engineering category whereas the university was placed as 251-300. In the Asian University rankings, NUST came in at #83.

In Pakistan, NUST is regarded by the engineering and business students as THE place to go to. Google Trends data revealed that NUST is the most searched Pakistani education and research institute, a status that it has held for over 16 years.

All You Need to Know About NUST Admissions:

As mentioned prior, NUST offers a wide array of higher education programs. Each program has its own set of eligibility criteria for admission. Following are some of the important detail that you must bear in mind, with respect to the different programs:

Undergraduate:

NUST allows the aspiring students the opportunity to choose from a wide assortment of undergraduate programs. Being a standout contender in terms of the quality of instruction, NUST is regarded as a gold standard of educational prowess by the students and the teachers alike. To stay true to their reputation, the institute maintains high quality education and also sets a high bar for the hopefuls to achieve that privilege. With that said, following are the details that are to be borne in mind while applying for an undergraduate program at NUST:

Programs:

Following are some of the particulars pertaining to the nationality status of the candidates:

NUST offers a wide array of undergraduate programs for the aspiring candidates to choose from. Following is the list of all the undergraduate programs and the prior degrees that the students must have to apply for each program:

Eligibility Criteria:

Furthermore, as mentioned prior, the applicant must fall under the eligibility criteria set against each program offered by the institute. With that said, following is the general eligibility criteria for all undergraduate programs:

• Minimum 60% aggregate marks each in SSC and HSSC OR equivalent exams (as per IBCC equivalence).
• Candidates of FA/FSc stream may apply for NET based on FA/FSc Part-I result. However, the confirmation of admission is subject to provision of FA/FSc certificate or Detailed Marks Certificate.
• All non-FSc stream candidates must have equivalence certificate of their qualification, duly obtained from IBCC, Pakistan in relevant groups/subjects and with minimum 60% marks.
• Candidates of O/A Level or any other foreign equivalent qualification can apply on the basis of O Level (SSC) equivalence certificate obtained from Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) office but confirmation of their admission is subject to provision of A Level (HSSC) equivalence certificate duly obtained from IBCC, Pakistan.
• Candidates of O/A level or any other foreign qualification are advised to contact IBCC, Pakistan for issuance of equivalence certificates as per university requirements with more than 60% marks in required subjects / group, well in time. Any deficiency of subjects or non-provision of IBCC equivalence certificate before start of classes will lead to cancellation of admission at any stage.
• Merit for BS Applied Biosciences program will be based on complete FSc / A Level or equivalent qualification (as per IBCC Equivalence Certificate) result.

Admission Schedule:

Ever since the outbreak of Coronavirus across the country, many institutes including NUST have had to go to online education methods to accommodate the currently residing batches of students.

Due to some concerns regarding their capacity pertaining to online teaching methods, the university is holding back the admission opportunity for new students. However, the university is set to open the admissions for new batches back up again once the pandemic goes away.

For now, subject to any betterment in the COVID-19 situation, NUST plans to conduct Entry Test Series-2 & 3 in months of Aug & Sep respectively. Exact dates will be intimated by end of July 2020. Registration for Series-3 and SAT is likely to commence from the 1st of July 2020.

Following are some of the important dates you should bare in mind:

Entry Tests Schedule – 2020:

S.A.T. Basis Application Schedule – 2020:

Undergraduate Programs Commencement – 2020 (Tentative):

Engineering & Computer Sciences:

Business Studies, Social & Natural Sciences and Art and Design:

BS Applied Biosciences:

Submission of SAT Results:

SAT scores should reach NUST from College Board, USA by 15 July 2020 (will be reviewed). The candidate is responsible for providing the SAT scores by due date.

Selection of Candidates:

Selection of candidates for Engineering / Computer Science / Natural Sciences / Business Studies & Social Sciences / Architecture and Industrial Design was to commence in August 2020 and Applied Biosciences in October 2020 as per given dates. However, these dates are subject to change, given the current situation pertaining to COVID-19.

How to Apply:

Suppose you’re up to the mark in terms of eligibility criteria and you wish to apply for an undergraduate program in NUST. Here’s how its done:

• Visit http://www.ugadmission.nust.edu.pk and register with a valid e-mail ID.
• Enter the password provided by NUST to access the online application form.
• Upload a recent passport size photograph (with plain background)
• Fill and submit the online form.
• Successful submission of form will be confirmed through an e-mail.
• Re-Login to the account and Print the Challan from ‘My Account’ page.
• Fee can be deposited at any branch of HBL or Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Ltd. Upon fee submission, a confirmation e-mail shall be sent to the candidates within 10 days.
• Islamabad centre candidates will have to choose Test Date and Session out of the available options. Allocation of Test Date and Session shall be done on ‘First Come First Served’ basis.
• Islamabad centre candidates will be provided their Roll Numbers, Test Centres, Test Sessions, Log-in IDs and Passwords for Computer Based NUST Entrance Test (CBNET).
• For Paper Based Test at Karachi and Quetta in July, candidates will be informed through email regarding printing of Admit Card containing exact time and centre. For Entrance Test, Admit Cards will be retained at the Test Centre for further verification.
• Candidates are required to print their Admit Cards and bring them to the Test Centre along with the original CNIC or a document with a Photo ID such as Passport, original Matric/FSc certificate bearing photograph, etc.
• Result for computer based test will be announced within 24 hours. For paper based test, the result will be announced within 7 days.

Refer to the “admission schedule” section of the article for relevant dates.

Fee Structure:

The fee structure for the undergraduate programs is as follows:

Note: ‘Harvard Business school licensing fee’ will be charged from BBA and BS Accounting & Finance students at Rs.7000/year.

Masters

Like the undergraduate programs, you can find a plentiful variety of masters programs at NUST as well, all while resting assured of the top-notch instruction quality and learning opportunity. Following is a comprehensive list of Departments, programs being offered within the departments and the eligibility criteria against each of the programs:

Departments:

IT & Engineering:

Following is the eligibility criteria against each of the programs being offered within the said department:

• Sixteen years of mandatory schooling or 4 years education after HSSC/A’ Level in relevant discipline with minimum CGPA of 2.0 out of 4.0 OR 55% marks (percentage will only be considered if CGPA is not mentioned on the transcript).
• GAT (General) conducted on or after 01 August 2018 by NTS with at least 50 accumulative test score or Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) conducted by HEC in or after March 2019 with at least 50 accumulative test score or GRE (General) conducted by ETS, USA, with following minimum score separately in each section:-
  • Quantitative – 151/170
  • Verbal – 146/170
  • Analytical Writing – 3.5/6.0

Bachelors/Masters degree must be accredited by PEC/HEC (as applicable) in the disciplines relevant to each of the following programs:-

Natural Sciences:

Following is the eligibility criteria against each of the programs being offered within the said department:

• Sixteen years of schooling or 4 years education after HSSC/A’ Level in relevant subjects with a minimum CGPA of 2.0 out of 4.0 OR 55% marks (percentage will only be considered if CGPA is not included on the transcript).
• GAT (General) conducted on or after 01 August 2018 by NTS with at least 50 accumulative test score.
• Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) conducted by HEC on or after March 2019 with a minimum of 50 accumulative test score.

Bachelors/Masters degree must be accredited by PEC/HEC (as applicable) in the disciplines relevant to each of the following programs:-

Business Studies and Social Sciences:

Following is the eligibility criteria against each of the programs being offered within the said department:

• Sixteen years of schooling or 4 years education after HSSC/A’ Level in relevant subjects with a minimum CGPA of 2.0 out of 4.0 OR 55% marks except for MBA, MS Logistic & Supply Chain Management, MS Innovation and Entrepreneurship and MS Career Counselling & Education, in which case, the minimum CGPA of 2.5 out of 4.0 OR 60% marks are required. Percentage will only be considered if CGPA is not included on the transcript.
• The candidate must have cleared GAT (General) conducted on or after 01 August 2018 by NTS with at least 50 accumulative test score or Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) conducted by HEC on or after March 2019 with at least 50 accumulative test score or GMAT conducted by GMAC, USA with minimum 50 percentile score.

Bachelors/Masters degree must be accredited by PEC/HEC (as applicable) in the disciplines relevant to each of the following programs:-

Applied BioSciences:

Following is the eligibility criteria against each of the programs being offered within the said department:

• Sixteen years of schooling or 4 years education after HSSC/A’ Level in relevant subjects with minimum CGPA of 2.0 out of 4.0 OR 55% marks (percentage will only be considered if CGPA is not included on the transcript).
• GAT (General) conducted on or after 01 August 2018 by NTS with at least 50 accumulative test score or GRE (General) conducted by ETS, USA with minimum eligible score.
• Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) conducted by HEC on or after March 2019 with a minimum of 50 accumulative test score.

Bachelors/Masters degree must be accredited by PEC/HEC (as applicable) in the disciplines relevant to each of the following programs:-

Admission Schedule:

Following are some of the important details pertaining to admission schedule that you must remember:

Also, the details pertaining to the submission of GAT (General)/HAT/GRE/GMAT final results are as follows:

• The scores of GRE (General) / GMAT, should reach NUST by 8 July 2020. Note that NUST will only accept the scores of GRE (General) / GMAT examinations conducted on or after August 01, 2017.
• NUST will accept the scores of GAT (General) conducted by NTS on or after August 01, 2018.
• NUST will obtain the GAT (Gen) score held on or after August 01, 2018 till July 2020 directly from NTS Pakistan

Note: All the candidates must provide the correct CNIC number on the NUST Online Admission Application Form and on NTS form. Failing to do so may result in their scores becoming invalid.

• Score of Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) conducted by HEC on or after March 2019 will also be accepted. For more details, visit http://eportal.hec.gov.pk
• Candidates, whose final result is awaited, can also apply for Masters admission (2020), provided that they submit their final result before commencement of classes.

How To Apply:

Here’s how you can apply for a graduate program at NUST:

• Visit http://pgadmission.nust.edu.pk/ (site is accessible at time of admissions only) to fill out the application form. Then, you’ll be given a password to access the application form, after providing their valid e-mail addresses.
• Candidates can apply for more than one discipline through single registration. However, they will be charged admission application fee for each discipline applied.
• A recent photograph of candidate is required to be provided.
• If both the percentage and CGPA are mentioned on Bachelors/ Masters Degree/ Transcript, then only the CGPA will be entered.
• Candidates, whose final results have not yet been announced, will enter the earned percentage/ CGPA of the last term/ semester.
• The eligibility criteria of the desired program must be consulted before selecting the preferences. Candidates will not qualify for the programs which they aren’t eligible for.
• Candidates can deposit the fee online, after taking the print of the fee bill in any branch of HBL.
• Scanned copies of academic documents are to be attached with the online application. Following documents must be provided:
  • Matric/equivalent certificate.
  • Undergraduate degree(s) along with transcript showing the exact duration.
  • Postgraduate degree(s) along with transcripts showing the exact duration.
  • Computerized National Identity Card.
  • NOC from employer (for employed candidates).
  • Experience certificate (for MBA/EMBA candidates).
  • Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) result card (as applicable)

Fee Structure:

The fee structure for the undergraduate programs is as follows:

Note: “Harvard Business school licensing fee” will be charged from business students (MBA, MS HRM, EMBA, MS Logistics & Supply Chain Management & MS Innovation & Entrepreneurship) at Rs.17, 000/year. Miscellaneous charges shall be Rs.2700/- per Semester.

PhD Programs:

Like the Undergrad and Masters programs, the aspiring researchers and academicians also have a fair few specializations to choose from. Following are the PhD programs and their Prerequisites:

Applied BioSciences:

Natural Sciences:

Engineering & Sciences:

Computer & IT Studies:

Social Sciences:

Eligibility Criteria:

The PhD programs has set eligibility criteria that the candidates fall under in order to qualify:

• 18 years of education in subjects relevant to program of interest, with minimum CGPA 3.0/4.0, 3.75/5.0 (in the Semester System) or First Division (in the Annual System) in M.Phil/MS/Equivalent with research work.
• The candidate should have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours, out of which, 24 credit hours must be coursework. Percentage shall be entertained only if the CGPA is not included in the degree/transcript.
• MS/MPhil/Equivalent degree must be approved by HEC.
• GRE/GAT score must be valid at the start of semester date/joining date of PhD programme.
• Foreign qualified candidates to provide recognition and equivalence certificate of MS/MPhil from HEC.
• Percentage will be valid only if CGPA is not mentioned in degree / transcript.
• The candidate must also have qualification in the following:-
  • GAT (Subject) Test for Direct PhD programme by NTS with the score higher than or equal to 60%. If NTS (Subject) Test is not offered in particular subject then NUST local GRE Subject type test must be qualified with the 70% score or higher. You can find more details about the test on NUST’s own website. (It may be noted that NUST will only accept the scores of GAT (Subject), NTS conducted on or after September 02, 2017 for PhD admission Fall 2019 only.)OR
  • GRE(General) conducted by ETS, USA, with following minimum score separately in each section
    • Quantitative – 151/170
    • Verbal – 146/170
    • Analytical Writing – 3.5/6.0

Note: It may be noted that NUST will only accept the scores of GRE (General) conducted by ETS, USA on or after September 02, 2016 for PhD admission Fall 2019 only.

Admissions Schedule

Following are some of the important details pertaining to admission schedule that you must remember:

Note: PhD Admission for Fall 2020 will tentatively begin from April 2020.

How to Apply:

Here’s how the PhD candidates can apply for the programs:

• Visit www.phdadmission.nust.edu.pk to fill the application form. Afterwards, you shall receive a password to access the application form after providing the valid e-mail addresses.
• A recent photograph is required to be uploaded.
• If both percentage and CGPA are mentioned on Bachelors/Masters Degree/MPhil Transcript, then only CGPA is to be entered.
• Eligibility criteria of the program, for which applying, must be consulted before selecting the preferences. Candidates will not be considered for the programs for which they are not eligible.
• Candidates can deposit the fee via online deposit, after taking print of Challan form amounting to Rs. 2000/-, in any branch of HBL.
• Candidate will have to upload scanned copies of his Research Proposal and all the related documents with the application form. List of HEC approved supervisors is available on NUST Website https://bit.ly/3epLixk
• Remember your Roll No for all future references.

Note: Candidates willing to undertake research related to National Needs will be given due preference.

Fee Structure:

The fee structure for the undergraduate programs is as follows:

Note: “Harvard Business school licensing fee” will be charged from business students (MBA, MS HRM, EMBA, MS Logistics & Supply Chain Management & MS Innovation & Entrepreneurship) at Rs.17, 000/year. Miscellaneous charges shall be Rs.2700/- per Semester.

There you have it! This is everything you need to know before taking admission in NUST. It bears mentioning however that the dates are all tentative at the moment, due to the current pandemic-induced uncertainties. However, we shall keep you posted as and when new details surface.

Stay tuned!