Gone are the days when career options were limited to medicine and engineering. The onset of globalization, postmodernization, and interdependence of states has sprouted the mushroom growth of genres that stood nowhere a few decades ago. One such genre is global politics. The subject that specializes in the complex nature of global politics is international relations.
Now that the world has understood how war in Europe can cause irreparable damage to the economies of developing countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, etc., being versed in world politics has become the need of the hour. Taking into consideration this necessity, many public and private sector universities are offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs in international relations. This article provides an insight into the top 10 universities in Pakistan that offer a degree in international relations (IR).
1. Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
Ranked 84th in Top 500 Asian Universities Ranking 2025
Situated in the middle of the capital, Quaid-i-Azam University is universally known for providing top-notch education to its students. Considering the job market, QAU has started programs in IR. With the help of these programs, we can polish the skills of students and make them competent enough to understand happenings in the world.
2. National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)
Ranked 67th in Top 500 Asian Universities 2025
NUST is one of the most sought-after educational institutions in Pakistan that promises exceptional education to hundreds of students countrywide. To be admitted to the IR department, students must obtain at least 50 percent cumulative test scores in the GAT (General), 50 percent in the Graduate NUST Entry Test (GNET), and 50 percent in the Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT).
3. University of Punjab, Lahore
Ranked 138th in Top 500 Asian Universities 2025
The University of Punjab is the oldest and most prestigious institution in the country. The course is modeled to focus on the changing world scenarios, the politics of realists and idealists, national interests, and the behavior of states in evolving times. The course enables the students to observe the causes, benefits, and harms of treaties and wars from the standpoint of scholars and strategists.
4. University of Peshawar
Ranked 205th in Top 500 Asian Universities 2025
Introduced in 1984, the International Relations Department at the University of Peshawar is the epitome of top-quality academics and unmatched skill development. The program enhances a deep understanding of the point of convergence and divergence among the states that leads to either conflict or peace. From peace to war, colonization to decolonization, and negotiations to sanctions, the program covers every aspect of global politics.
5. National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Rawalpindi
Ranked Between 481 and 490 in Top 500 Asian Universities 2025
The primary objective of the Department of International Relations at NUML is to broaden the horizon and understanding of the political, economic, social, and global issues like climate change, growing trends in world population, food shortages due to wars and conflicts, depletion of natural energy sources, international trade, and proliferation of nuclear arsenals. The department promises academic excellence and rigorous scholarships to deserving students.
6. National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad
Ranked 48th in Social Sciences and Humanities in Pakistan
The National Defense University was established in 1970 as an Army War College. It is the largest military university in Pakistan that imparts military education and training to the armed forces. It also offers education to about 200 foreign students. The Department of International Relations is focused on national security, command instructions, war studies, and military strategy. The university also has enrollments reserved for civil servants.
It’s important to note that NDU is a specialized institution, and traditional university rankings often prioritize broader research output and a wider range of academic disciplines, which may not fully capture the strengths of institutions focused on military and strategic studies. Hence, it is not typically featured prominently in broad international rankings like QS or THE due to its specialized nature.
7. COMSATS University, Islamabad
Ranked 129th in Top 500 Asian Universities 2025
The Department of International Relations at COMSATS Islamabad imparts top-notch education in the field of world politics, with emphasis on skill development, research, and generation of unique knowledge to provide insight into issues occurring in different parts of the globe. From the Strait of Malacca to the politics of the South China Sea, it emphasizes anything and everything that is affecting global politics.
8. University of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Ranked 267th in Top 500 Asian Universities 2025
The Department of International Relations was introduced at the prestigious University of Karachi in 1958. Before that, international relations were offered under the Department of General History. Since its initial stages, it has been involved in organizing conferences and seminars for students. A plethora of articles have been published by the students of the department in international journals. In the 1980s, the syllabus of IR was revised to make it more inclusive.
9. University of Lahore
Ranked 182nd in Top 500 Asian Universities 2025
The University of Lahore has recently jumped onto the bandwagon by offering IR programs. With this program, the university guarantees a thorough understanding of international issues like foreign policy, relations between states, strategic plans of different countries, and sustainable development dilemmas at the international level.
10. University of Balochistan
Ranked Among Top 5 Universities in Balochistan
The Department of International Relations at the University of Balochistan was established in 1984. Since then, the department has been offering a 2-year M.A. in IR. It focuses on the transition of the world from the medieval ages to contemporary times. It explains how the balance of power curtailed military confrontations in the past and how economic wars have overshadowed conventional war techniques. The university is one of the most popular public sector universities in the province.
Mentioned hitherto are some of the best public and private sector universities in Pakistan you can join to acquire a degree in international relations. Details like fee structure, credit hours, faculty, and course content can be studied by clicking the links mentioned in the article.
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The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Paradigm Shift.
Gul Naz received a degree in MPhil Zoology in 2023 from the University of Okara. Besides deriving strength from bibliotherapy, she finds solace in producing articles based on contemporary issues from different parts of the globe.