University Admission Deadlines 2026: Key Dates for Pakistani Universities

Why Deadlines Matter for Pakistani University Admissions

University admissions in Pakistan run on strict deadlines. Late applications are rarely accepted. Missing a single deadline can delay your admission by a full year. Each university follows its own schedule for entry tests, form submissions, merit lists, and last dates. This guide covers the major universities and entry test dates for 2026.

NUST NET (NUST Entry Test)

NUST conducts four NET series per year. NET-1 registrations open in January, NET-2 in March, NET-3 in May, and NET-4 in July. You can appear in multiple NETs — your best score counts. The test is held at NUST campuses in Islamabad and other cities. NUST admissions close in August with the final merit list.

UET Lahore ECAT

UET Lahore conducts the Engineering College Admission Test (ECAT) for admissions to UET Lahore, UET Taxila, UET Peshawar, and other engineering universities in Punjab. ECAT registrations open in July. The test is held in August. Merit lists are announced in September-October. ECAT scores are valid only for the current year.

FAST NUCES Admission Schedule

FAST NUCES admission forms are released in May. The entry test is held in June-July at FAST campuses in Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, and Faisalabad. Merit lists are announced in August. FAST also considers SAT scores for admission. Late applications with a late fee are accepted until mid-July.

GIKI Admission Schedule

GIKI Institute admission forms are released in April. The entry test (GAT) is held in June-July. GIKI also accepts NUST NET and SAT scores. Merit lists are published in August. GIKI has a separate application for its engineering and computer science programs.

COMSATS Admission Schedule

COMSATS University admission forms open in June. Entry tests are held in July-August. The university accepts NTS NAT scores. COMSATS has seven campuses (Islamabad, Lahore, Wah, Abbottabad, Sahiwal, Vehari, and Attock). Merit lists appear in August-September.

Medical College Admissions (Centralized)

Medical college admissions are centralized through the PMDC system. After MDCAT results (usually October-November), students fill out centralized preference forms. Merit lists are published in December-January. First-year MBBS classes start in January-February. Private medical colleges have their own separate schedules.

How to Never Miss a Deadline

• Create a calendar in January with all expected deadlines for your target universities
• Bookmark the official admissions page for each university
• Set multiple reminders: one month before, one week before, and one day before each deadline
• Prepare your documents (CNIC copies, marks sheets, photos) in advance
• Keep your digital copies ready for online forms
• Apply in the early window to avoid last-minute website crashes