Eight Pakistani universities have been recognized among the best in Asia in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings: Asia 2026, reflecting the country’s strengthening position in higher education and research.
The Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) leads the national list, securing rank 238, followed by Air University (328) and Bahria University (416).
Below is the complete list of Pakistani universities featured in the rankings:
| S. No. | University | City | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) | Islamabad | 238 |
| 2 | Air University | Islamabad | 328 |
| 3 | Bahria University | Karachi | 416 |
| 4 | The Islamia University of Bahawalpur | Bahawalpur | 434 |
| 5 | University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences | Pattoki | 607 |
| 6 | Hazara University | Mansahra | 614 |
| 7 | University of Swat | Mingora | 761–770 |
| 8 | University of Sahiwal | Sahiwal | 951–1000 |
The QS Asia University Rankings, first published in 2009, use a combination of academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, and international research collaboration to assess institutions. Additional region-specific indicators include the proportion of international students and staff, and research impact measured through citations per paper and papers per faculty.
This year’s rankings evaluated more than 1,500 universities across Asia, showcasing the continent’s dynamic higher education landscape.
Globally, The University of Hong Kong topped the list, followed by Peking University in second place. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and National University of Singapore (NUS) shared the third spot, continuing Singapore’s dominance in regional education excellence.
Top 10 Universities in QS Asia University Rankings 2026:
| Rank | University | City | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| 2 | Peking University | Beijing | China |
| 3 | Nanyang Technological University (NTU) | Singapore | Singapore |
| 3 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore | Singapore |
| 5 | Fudan University | Shanghai | China |
| 6 | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| 7 | City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) | Kowloon | Hong Kong |
| 7 | The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) | Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| 9 | Tsinghua University | Beijing | China |
| 10 | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
