For 2026-27, NUST charges national undergraduates Rs 216,750 tuition per semester for engineering, computing, natural and applied sciences, and Rs 302,950 per semester for architecture, social sciences and business. On top of that you pay Rs 5,000 miscellaneous per semester, a Rs 35,000 admission processing fee and a Rs 10,000 refundable security deposit.
Key facts
- Engineering, Computing, Natural Sciences, Applied Sciences: Rs 216,750 per semester
- Architecture, Social Sciences, Business Studies: Rs 302,950 per semester
- Miscellaneous: Rs 5,000 per semester
- Admission processing fee: Rs 35,000, non-refundable
- Security deposit: Rs 10,000, refundable
- International students: USD 5,400 tuition per year
Source: NUST undergraduate financial matters page, fee structure for 2026-27, checked October 2026
The official table for national students
This is NUST's own 2026-27 table, copied line for line:
| Item | Engineering, Computing, Natural Sciences, Applied Sciences, HND | Architecture, Social Sciences, Business Studies |
|---|---|---|
| Admission processing fee (non-refundable) | 35,000 | 35,000 |
| Security deposit (refundable) | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Tuition fee per semester | 216,750 | 302,950 |
| Miscellaneous per semester (sports, library, health, IT) | 5,000 | 5,000 |
BBA, BS Accounting and Finance and BS Tourism and Hospitality Management students also pay a Harvard Business School licensing fee of Rs 15,000 a year.
"Natural Sciences" means BS Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. They sit in the cheaper column with engineering, a Rs 86,200 gap per semester if you are torn between, say, BS Physics and BS Economics.
What you pay at admission
When you accept a seat you pay the admission processing fee, the security deposit and the first semester's fee in one invoice. Using the 2026-27 numbers:
| Programme group | First invoice (PKR) |
|---|---|
| Engineering, computing, natural and applied sciences | 266,750 |
| Architecture, industrial design, social sciences | 352,950 |
| BBA, Accounting and Finance (with HBS fee) | 367,950 |
These totals are our sums of NUST's line items: 35,000 + 10,000 + one semester of tuition + 5,000, plus 15,000 HBS where it applies. If you are offered a need-based scholarship, the award letter says what it covers.
NUST says to pay through a 1-Bill invoice using any bank's mobile app, Easypaisa or JazzCash. Pay on time. Its selection page says a candidate who misses the dues deadline drops out of selection for that discipline.
What a full degree costs
NUST's fee FAQ says four-year programmes charge tuition for 8 regular semesters, and B Architecture for 10. Multiplying at 2026-27 rates:
| Programme | Semesters | Tuition at 2026-27 rates (PKR) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering or computing | 8 | 1,734,000 |
| BBA, social sciences, B Industrial Design | 8 | 2,423,600 |
| B Architecture | 10 | 3,029,500 |
Add Rs 5,000 miscellaneous per semester and hostel costs if you live on campus. Treat these as a floor, not a quote. NUST's FAQ says fees are usually announced once a year for the next year and can change without notice, so later semesters will likely cost more.
International students
NUST charges foreign nationals and SAT international-seat students in US dollars, the same for all undergraduate programmes:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Admission processing fee (non-refundable) | USD 600 |
| Tuition per year | USD 5,400 |
| Security deposit (refundable) | USD 250 |
| Health facilities per year | USD 120 |
The first year's tuition, both semesters, is paid with the selection letter. Summer or repeat courses cost USD 40 per credit hour, and the HBS fee for business students is USD 50 a year.
Other charges worth knowing
From NUST's "other fee charges", refund and FAQ pages:
- Repeat, improvement or summer course: Rs 11,000 per credit hour.
- Missed exam make-up: Rs 5,000 per paper.
- Late semester fee: 2% fine within 15 days of the due date. After that, NUST suspends the semester.
- Deferring a semester: 25% of that semester's tuition. Deferring your first semester costs 100%.
- Transfer within NUST: Rs 5,000.
- Advance tax on fee: discontinued after 30 June 2022.
Before all of this comes the NET itself, which costs Rs 5,000 per series for Pakistani candidates. Each series needs its own registration and its own fee.
Refunds if you leave
The admission processing fee is never refunded. The security deposit is refundable, but NUST moves unclaimed security into its endowment fund three years after you finish or withdraw. Tuition refunds follow this schedule, counted in calendar days from the start of classes:
| When you withdraw | Tuition refunded |
|---|---|
| Up to day 10 | 100% |
| Up to day 15 | 80% |
| Up to day 20 | 60% |
| Up to day 30 | 50% |
| Day 31 onward | None |
This matters if you are holding a NUST seat while waiting on another university. NUST's FAQ also says that if you pay for one programme and later get selected in another, your paid dues carry over and only the difference is charged or refunded.
If the numbers scare you
They should not stop you applying. NUST runs need-based scholarships, interest-free loans through Ihsan Trust, and an installment facility (not available for admission or first-semester dues). Its FAQ says applying for aid has no effect on your admission decision. The form is due on the same date as your NET application, though, so read the scholarships guide before you register.
FAQ
What is the NUST fee per semester for engineering?
Rs 216,750 tuition plus Rs 5,000 miscellaneous per semester for 2026-27, for national students.
How much is the NUST BBA fee?
Rs 302,950 tuition plus Rs 5,000 miscellaneous per semester, plus a Rs 15,000 yearly Harvard Business School licensing fee.
How much do I pay at the time of NUST admission?
The Rs 35,000 admission fee, Rs 10,000 security and the first semester's fee. For engineering in 2026-27 that comes to Rs 266,750.
Is the NUST admission fee refundable?
No. The admission processing fee is non-refundable. The security deposit is refundable, and tuition follows a sliding refund schedule for the first 30 days of classes.
