NUST says it puts the previous session's closing merit on its website for guidance, but when we checked in October 2026 we could not find a closing merit table anywhere on nust.edu.pk or the admissions portal. So this post has no table of closing aggregates. It explains what closing merit means, why the figures you see online are shaky, and how to make your own estimate.
Key facts
- NUST's procedure page: closing merit of session 2025 "will be available on the website for guidance"
- No closing merit document was linked from any undergraduate admissions page in October 2026
- Fall 2025 merit lists were posted to the portal's merit search page, which now shows the 2027 admission page
- Merit is ranked per discipline, using NET 75%, HSSC 15%, SSC 10%
- Selection keeps running until about the 2nd week after classes start
Source: NUST admission procedure, selection process and Fall 2025 merit list pages, checked October 2026
What we looked for, and where
We went through every page under NUST's undergraduate admissions section, the UG admissions portal, the downloads and prospectus pages, and the site's own search. This is what we found.
| Place | What it says or shows |
|---|---|
| Procedure of admission on NET basis | "Closing merit of session 2025 for different programmes will be available on the website for guidance." No link. |
| NUST Prospectus 2025 | The same sentence, for session 2024. No figures. |
| UG Merit Lists Fall 2025 notice | Merit lists for Fall 2025 uploaded to the portal's merit search page. The notice is dated 31 July 2025. |
| Portal merit search page | In October 2026 it shows the Admission 2027 page. The 2025 lists are no longer there. |
So NUST promises the figures and briefly shows the lists during selection. A clean, permanent table of closing aggregates by programme is not something we could find. If you find one on a nust.edu.pk address, trust that over anything here, including this post.
What closing merit means
Closing merit is the aggregate of the last candidate who got a seat in a programme. Three details make it slippery.
It moves during the year. NUST fills seats through upgradation. When a selected candidate drops out or does not pay, the seat goes to the next person on merit. So a programme's last admitted aggregate in the first list is higher than in the final list. A senior who says "it closed at 80" may mean the first list, the third, or the last.
It is per programme and per discipline. Engineering, Computing, Business and Applied Sciences are separate merit lists, and inside each list, programmes fill in order of candidate preference. A popular programme fills from the top of the list. Others fill further down.
It depends on that year's applicants. A closing figure from one year is a description of that year's pool, not a rule for the next.
Why online numbers are unreliable
Most closing merit figures you see are reposted screenshots or tables on coaching and news sites. Some are accurate. Many have no year, no list number, no campus, or no source. A few mix NET-basis and ACT/SAT-basis lists, which NUST prepares separately.
Before you plan around a number, ask:
- Does it name the year?
- Does it say which list, first or final?
- Does it link to a nust.edu.pk or ugadmissions.nust.edu.pk page?
If the answer to the third is no, treat it as a rumour with decimals.
How to make your own estimate
You can still plan. The method below uses only things you can check.
Step 1. Collect real data points. Ask two or three seniors admitted to your target programme for their aggregate and which list selected them. One data point from a person you know beats ten from a stranger's table.
Step 2. Build a band, not a line. If your data points sit between, say, 76 and 79, your band is roughly 76 to 79. That is the range where admission happened, not a promise.
Step 3. Convert the band into a NET score. Use the formula with your own school marks:
NET needed = (target aggregate - HSSC% * 0.15 - SSC% * 0.10) / 75 * 200
With HSSC 82% and SSC 88%, school marks give 12.3 + 8.8 = 21.1 points. A target of 79 then needs (79 - 21.1) / 75 * 200 = 154.4, so 155.
Step 4. Add margin. Each NET mark is worth 0.375 aggregate points. Five extra NET marks buy you nearly 2 points of cushion. Aim for the top of your band plus a few marks.
Step 5. Fill your preferences sensibly. Put your dream programme first, then the realistic ones, then the safe ones. A preference you are above the merit for costs nothing. One you left off can never be offered. The merit list post explains how preferences and upgradation work.
Reading your own position during selection
Once NUST releases merit lists, you stop needing estimates. The admissions portal shows your actual merit position in your discipline. That number, and whether you were selected, is the only real closing merit that matters to you. Pay your dues on time if you are selected, because you stay eligible for upgradation only if you have paid. Selection closes about two weeks after classes start.
If you missed the merit this time, the what next post covers your options.
FAQ
What was NUST's closing merit last year?
We could not find an official closing merit table on NUST's website in October 2026, even though NUST says one will be available. We do not repeat unofficial figures. Ask admitted seniors and check NUST's procedure page for an update.
Does closing merit go down in later lists?
Usually the last admitted aggregate falls as later lists fill seats left by candidates who drop out or do not pay. How far it falls is different for each programme and year.
Is closing merit the same as the NET score needed?
No. Closing merit is an aggregate that includes your SSC and HSSC marks. The NET score you need depends on your own school marks.
Where can I see the NUST merit list?
On the UG admissions portal, using your registration number, once NUST generates the lists. NUST says this happens tentatively in the last week of July.
