Pakistan’s higher education sector has gained notable international recognition as 43 universities from the country have secured positions in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject 2026, reflecting steady progress in academic quality, research output, and global engagement.
The latest subject-wise rankings place Pakistani institutions across multiple disciplines, including Business and Economics, Engineering, Computer Science, Medical and Health, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Education Studies, Psychology, and Social Sciences. The results highlight Pakistan’s growing footprint in global academia, particularly in science, technology, and management-related fields.
According to THE, universities are assessed using 18 performance indicators that measure teaching excellence, research volume and impact, international collaboration, knowledge transfer, and industry engagement. The methodology mirrors that of the overall THE World University Rankings 2026, ensuring consistency and comparability across institutions worldwide.
Strong presence in Business, Engineering, and Computer Science
In Business and Economics, leading Pakistani institutions such as COMSATS University Islamabad, LUMS, NUST, and Quaid-i-Azam University were ranked in the 401–500 band, while several others appeared in the 501–800 and 801–1000 ranges, underlining the depth of management and economics education in the country.
Computer Science also saw strong representation, with NUST and UET Taxila placed in the 401–500 bracket, followed by institutions including COMSATS, Quaid-i-Azam University, FAST-NUCES, Air University, and GIKI across higher ranking bands.
In Engineering, universities such as LUMS, University of the Punjab, UMT, Sukkur IBA, and Capital University of Science and Technology featured prominently, reflecting Pakistan’s continued emphasis on technical and applied sciences.
Progress in health, life sciences, and social disciplines
Pakistani universities also made headway in Medical and Health, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences, with institutions like the University of Lahore, University of Management and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, University of the Punjab, and University of Peshawar securing global positions.
In Education Studies and Psychology, representation remained limited but impactful, with the University of the Punjab earning recognition in both subjects. Meanwhile, Social Sciences rankings included NUST, Quaid-i-Azam University, University of the Punjab, and University of Lahore, among others.
Areas needing growth
Despite the positive momentum, no Pakistani university was ranked in Law or Arts and Humanities, highlighting areas where further investment, research development, and international collaboration may be needed.
Global context
Globally, US and UK universities continued to dominate the top positions. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) led several categories including Business and Economics and Social Sciences, Harvard University topped Engineering and Life Sciences, while the University of Oxford ranked first in Medical and Health and Computer Science.
The inclusion of 43 Pakistani universities in the THE Subject Rankings 2026 underscores the country’s gradual but consistent progress in higher education, offering valuable insights for students, policymakers, and academic leaders seeking to strengthen Pakistan’s global academic standing.
