NUST teaches Mechanical Engineering at three schools: SMME in Islamabad, CoEME in Rawalpindi and PNEC in Karachi. Admission runs through NET-Engineering (Mathematics 50%, Physics 30%, English 20%), and you need at least 60% in both SSC and HSSC to apply.
Key facts
- ME schools: SMME (Islamabad), CoEME (Rawalpindi), PNEC (Karachi)
- Paper: NET-Engineering, Mathematics 50%, Physics 30%, English 20%
- Minimum 60% in SSC and in HSSC
- Merit: NET 75%, HSSC 15%, SSC 10%
- BS Robotics and AI starts Fall 2027 at SMME and CoEME
Source: NUST list of UG programmes, eligibility criteria, subjects included in NET, updates on UG admissions, checked October 2026
The three ME schools
| School | City | Related undergraduate programmes there |
|---|---|---|
| School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME) | Islamabad (H-12) | Aerospace Engineering, BS Robotics and AI (from Fall 2027) |
| College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (CoEME) | Rawalpindi | Mechatronics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, BS Robotics and AI (from Fall 2027) |
| Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC) | Karachi | Naval Architecture, Electrical Engineering, BS CS |
SMME started in 2007 as the Institute of Manufacturing Engineering in rented space in F-11, according to its own site, and was renamed the same year. It now runs departments in mechanical, aerospace, design and manufacturing, robotics and AI, and biomedical engineering. CoEME is one of NUST's oldest colleges, with roots in the EME School founded at Quetta in 1957. PNEC is NUST's only college in Karachi and the only one that teaches Naval Architecture.
Programmes next to ME
If you like the mechanical side but aren't fixed on the exact title, NUST has neighbours worth listing:
- Aerospace Engineering at SMME and at CAE, Risalpur
- Mechatronics Engineering at CoEME
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at PNEC
- BS Robotics and Artificial Intelligence at SMME and CoEME, new for Fall 2027
- Metallurgy and Materials Engineering at SCME, Islamabad
Robotics and AI is a BS, not a BE, but NUST still uses NET-Engineering for it and applies the same Pre-Medical maths condition as engineering.
Eligibility
You need SSC with Science and HSSC, each with at least 60%. Accepted HSSC groups:
| HSSC background | Can apply for ME? | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Engineering | Yes | None |
| ICS | Yes | Clear Chemistry as a remedial course in the first semester |
| Pre-Medical with additional Maths | Yes | None |
| Pre-Medical without additional Maths | Yes | Pass NUST's 8-week online Mathematics course before admission |
For NET-2027 NUST requires that course to be done before 25 July 2027, with at least 60%.
DAE holders can apply on open merit with 60% in Matric and in DAE. NUST's DAE table allows Mechanical Engineering for many diplomas, including Mechanical, Auto and Diesel, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Dies and Mould, Biomedical, Aerospace and Automation technology.
The paper
Mechanical applicants sit NET-Engineering. NUST publishes weights, not counts. The derived split on a 200-question paper is about 100 Mathematics, 60 Physics and 40 English.
The physics in NET is FSc physics. The chapters that feel most "mechanical" are a good place to start because you will use them in first-year statics and dynamics anyway:
Don't let the physics crowd out the maths, though. Mathematics is half the paper. The NET mathematics guide has a chapter order.
Fees
ME uses the engineering column of NUST's 2026-27 fee table: Rs 216,750 tuition per semester, Rs 5,000 miscellaneous per semester, a Rs 35,000 non-refundable admission processing fee and a Rs 10,000 refundable security deposit. The fee is the same at SMME, CoEME and PNEC. The fee guide has the full breakdown.
Picking between SMME, CoEME and PNEC
People argue about this in every NET group. My take: choose the city first and the school second.
- If you live in Karachi, PNEC saves you a move, and NUST's H-12 hostels are only for students at the Islamabad campus anyway.
- If you want Islamabad hostels, SMME is the ME option on H-12. Hostel places are allotted by priority and merit, so read the hostel guide.
- CoEME runs its own hostel with limited places, first come, first served, and it excludes students from Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Wah and Taxila.
NUST ranks applicants each cycle, so the school that closed lower last year may not this year. Put every ME school you would accept on the form, plus the neighbouring programmes, then push your NET. Check where you stand with the aggregate calculator.
FAQ
Which NUST campuses offer mechanical engineering?
SMME in Islamabad, CoEME in Rawalpindi and PNEC in Karachi, according to NUST's official programme list.
Is NUST mechanical engineering hard to get into?
It is competitive and NUST publishes no fixed cutoff. Your aggregate is 75% NET, so a strong NET-Engineering score is what moves you up the list.
Can I do mechanical engineering at NUST after DAE?
Yes, on open merit, with at least 60% in Matric and DAE. NUST lists which diplomas qualify for Mechanical Engineering.
Is aerospace engineering at NUST under mechanical?
Aerospace is a separate programme, offered at SMME and CAE. It uses the same NET-Engineering paper.
