Ms Fatimah Naeem is pursuing her Bachelor's in Peace and Conflict Studies from National Defence University Islamabad.
A Comprehensive Embodiment of Defence and Diplomacy
Initially, the premises of the National Defence University (NDU) in Pakistan were bound to military-affiliated exercises and war courses, but over the years, an additional status of public university was infused within the institute. The university offers a plethora of discourses that encompass prospects such as strategic analysis, foreign relations, conflict management, leadership skills, diplomacy, and policy-making with a driven and accomplished faculty of professors and lecturers.
The main campus is positioned within the nexus of the federal capital territory, Islamabad, offering a marvelous view of the Margalla Hills at its back. A couple of affiliated constituent colleges include Command and Staff College, Quetta, and Naval War College, Lahore. With an innovative outlook on narrative-building and strategic prosperity, national as well as international students take to pursuing their higher education within the prestigious institute.
Aims and Objectives of NDU
The need for a higher educational institute that singularly focuses on understanding the various social, political, and economic affairs within the contemporary world was dire in Pakistan. Since the country was already geographically compromised, the institute’s establishment offered courses and degrees that highlighted the issues in strategic alliances, diplomatic relations, and state-human welfare policies.
NDU believes in providing state-of-the-art academic and research pursuits of wide-ranging relevant disciplines. Offering an intricately composed input on national security at both policy and strategy aims, the university encourages an environment of free, open, and critical inquiry along with pedagogical arguments in the service of society.
Moreover, the National Defence University takes pride in preparing future leaders from both the public and private sectors of Pakistan as well as other friendly countries by inculcating multi-disciplinary educational and research programs, professional exchanges, and outreach, riveting on security and contemporary studies.
Accreditation and Academic Recognition
While pursuing their higher education degrees, students think it necessary to complete their professional academics at universities that are formally accredited. National Defence University (NDU), fortunately, is one of the numerous reputable institutes in Pakistan that is befittingly recognized by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (HEC), ultimately proving the authenticity and relevancy of the courses and degrees that the establishment has to offer.
Quality Education at an Affordable Cost
As compared to other higher education institutes in Pakistan, the National Defence University is relatively affordable to masses belonging to varying financial backgrounds. The fee structure is carefully designed to cater to the considerations and opportunities that it schemes to offer to students from all over Pakistan. Unfortunately, no concessions are offered to individual students but can be granted on a special basis such as enrollment of two siblings within the university and/or being a distinctive high achiever within respective departments.
A special quota is also reserved for students from less privileged areas such as FATA, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan as well as Wards of Shaheed and disabled persons. The facility to deposit fees in installments is available and is formally introduced at the beginning of every semester but this scheme does not apply to admission/1st-semester dues.
| Reserved/Quota Seats* allocation | ||||||
| S. No | Program | FATA | G/B | Balochistan | Ward of Shaheed* | Disabled |
| 1. | BS | 2 in each dept. | 1 in each dept. | 1 in each dept. | 2 in each dept. | 2 in each dept. |
| 2. | MS/M.Phil. | 1 in each dept. | – | – | 2 in each dept. | 2 in each dept |
* A copy of the domicile/ medical certificate must be submitted with the application form for consideration under quota seat/ disabled seat. However, there is no concession in the Fee structure for candidates applying under Quota.
** Ward of Shaheed shall be recommended by respective services only.
Faculties
NDU comprises two primary faculties, namely FCS, formally known as the Faculty of Contemporary Studies, and FSS, known as the Faculty of Security Studies. The Faculty of Security Studies revolves around war courses and drafting military personnel and scholars within the state as well as beyond the borders.
Since the induction of private students to pursue their degrees is only concerned with the Faculty of Contemporary Studies, the article will follow the academic dispositions of the said segment within the entirety of the National Defence University.
The Faculty of Contemporary Studies comprises the following discourses and their respective departments:
- Department of Government and Public Policy and/or Bachelors of Economics
- Department of Peace and Conflict Studies
- Department of Strategic Studies
- Department of International Relations
- Department of Leadership and Management Studies
The chosen members of the permanent faculty include lecturers, professors, and Heads of Departments who are distinctively recognized within their particular fields and are internationally acclaimed.
List of Programs/Courses Offered by NDU 2024 (National and International Students)
Encompassing the undergraduate degrees and their affiliated courses, NDU offers the following:
- Bachelors in Government and Public Policy:
- Bachelors in Economics:
- Bachelors in Peace and Conflict Studies:
- Bachelor in Strategic Studies:
- Bachelors in International Relations:
- Bachelors of Leadership and Management Studies
Encompassing the graduate degrees and their respective courses, NDU offers the following:
- M.Phil. in Government and Public Policy
- M.Phil. in Economics
- M.Phil. in Peace and Conflict Studies
- M.Phil. in Strategic Studies
- M.Phil. in International Relations
- M.Phil. in Leadership and Management Studies
Encompassing the post-graduate degrees and their courses, NDU offers the following:
- Ph.D. in Government and Public Policy
- Ph.D. in Peace and Conflict Studies
- Ph.D. in Strategic Studies
- Ph.D. in International Relations
- Ph.D. in Leadership and Management Studies
NDU Admissions 2024
The admissions for the NDU-Spring 2024 enrollment opened on 21st November 2023 and closed on 8th December 2023. For the upcoming Fall 2024 session, the admission schedule will be posted on the website by April 2024.
Eligibility Criteria for NDU Admissions 2024
The following eligibility criteria will be followed during the Fall 2024 enrollment:
| S. No | Program | Education | GAT (G/S) | Entry Test | Interview |
| 1 | BS | HSSC/A- levels or equivalent. Candidates awaiting the HSSC result shall be allowed to apply for admission based on the HSSC Part-I result. Admission confirmation shall be made on the production of the complete result of HSSC/A-levels. In case of failure of the requirement, the admission shall stand canceled. | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| 2. | BS Bridging | BA/BSc or its equivalent 14 years degree from an accredited university/ institution with at least a second division or its equivalent grade. | Mandatory | Mandatory | |
| 3. | MS/M.Phil. | MSc/BS (4 Years) or equivalent (Min. 16 years of education) in a relevant discipline from an HEC-recognized institution List of the relevant disciplines is available on the NDU website. Candidates must submit an MA/MSc/BS (relevant) degree. Candidates submitting HEC attested last degree will be given preference. | NDU-GAT (General) or Valid Result of NTS/GAT (General for Social Science). | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| 4. | Ph.D. | MPhil/MS or equivalent (Min. 17/18 years of education*) in relevant discipline from an HEC-recognized institution with minimum 1st division in Annual System or 3.0/4.0 CGPA in Semester system in the last degree. Candidates must submit an MS/MPhil HEC attested (relevant) degree. Preference will be given to candidates submitting research-based degrees. | NDU-GAT (Subject) or Valid result of NTSGAT (Subject) Social Science for IR only. NTS-GAT (Subject) Business Administration for LMS only. | Mandatory | Mandatory |
* Candidates having foreign certificates/degrees are required to submit HEC equivalence with a minimum of 17-18 years of education along with letter grades conversion to numerical marks/CGPA certificates from respective universities for consideration of merit calculation. Applications without numerical ratings shall be evaluated with minimum required criteria that is 60% for Annual and 3.0/4.0 for semester-based degrees.
Note: Foreign degree holders must provide an equivalence certificate from IBCC & HEC with the application form.
Result Awaiting Applicants
The merit of result awaited candidates shall be determined on HSSC-Part-I marks. Candidates having foreign certificates should provide equivalence certificates from IBCC. In case the IBCC equivalence is delayed, merit shall be determined with minimum eligibility criteria of 2nd Div. (45%). The candidates have to deposit an affidavit that they will have to submit their mark sheet before
Merit shall be determined based on the HSSC Score, entry test, and interview.
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)/ A’ Levels Candidates
Candidates applying for the BS program while waiting for the announcement of their A’ Level (Part 2) result will be admitted provisionally on the basis of A-1 (subsidiary level/clearing all 3 compulsory subjects). However, NDU will calculate their merit on the basis of the (official) grade Sheet of A-1 level (as per numerical marks determined by IBCC). IBCC equivalence of O’ levels must be provided in any case. Admitted Candidates shall be required to submit IBCC equivalence for A’ levels within 4 weeks after the commencement of classes failing which their provisional admission will be canceled.
| Actual Scores | Grades | Pak. Equivalent Marks |
| 90-100 | A | 80.75 |
| 80-89 | B | 71.25 |
| 70-79 | C | 61.75 |
| 60-69 | D | 52.25 |
| 50-59 | E | 42.75 |
| 40-49 | F | 38 |
| 35-39 | G/N/P | 33.25 |
M.Phil. and Ph.D. Programs
- Candidates awaiting results are NOT eligible to apply for MS/MPhil & PhD programs.
- MS/MPhil & PhD candidates are required to submit their official transcript and relevant degree with admission form.
- Ph.D. candidates are required to submit their HEC-attested relevant degree (MS/M.Phil. or equivalent) with the admission form.
Campus and Contact Information
Address: P2CC+GR8, E-9/3 E-9, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory 44000
Contact Information: (051) 92620668
Fax Number: 051-9262066-8/ 051- 9261818
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