Eight Pakistani universities have been recognized in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings: Asia 2026, marking a significant achievement for the country’s higher education sector. Leading the list is the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), which ranked 238th in Asia. It is followed by Air University at 328 and Bahria University at 416. These rankings reflect the growing academic standards, research development, and educational progress of institutions across Pakistan.
The complete list of Pakistani universities ranked in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026 includes the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad, at rank 238; Air University, Islamabad, at rank 328; Bahria University, Karachi, at rank 416; The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, at rank 434; University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pattoki, at rank 607; Hazara University, Mansehra, at rank 614; University of Swat, Mingora, ranked between 761 and 770; and University of Sahiwal, Sahiwal, ranked between 951 and 1000.
These achievements showcase Pakistan’s improving position in regional higher education, as universities continue to enhance their academic performance, global partnerships, and research output. PIEAS and Air University maintain strong reputations in engineering, science, and technology, while emerging institutions such as the University of Swat and the University of Sahiwal are gaining recognition for their contributions to education and innovation.
The QS Asia University Rankings methodology evaluates universities based on several key indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, international research network, citations per paper, papers per faculty, and the proportion of academic staff holding PhDs. It also considers internationalization factors such as the number of international faculty and students, as well as exchange programs. These metrics collectively measure a university’s academic quality, research influence, and global engagement.
The University of Hong Kong has topped the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, followed by Peking University in second place. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) share the third position, while Fudan University ranks fifth. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is in sixth place, followed by City University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong sharing the seventh rank. Tsinghua University is ranked ninth, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University completes the top ten.
This year’s rankings feature more than 1,500 universities across Asia, reflecting the region’s expanding role in global education and research. Pakistan’s inclusion among the top-ranked institutions highlights the nation’s growing commitment to academic excellence, research innovation, and international collaboration. These results reaffirm Pakistan’s potential to further strengthen its global presence in higher education.