Quaid-i-Azam University

Quaid-i-Azam University, founded as the University of Islamabad, is a public research university in Islamabad, Pakistan. Founded as the University of Islamabad in 1967, it was initially dedicated to postgraduate study, but later expanded to an interdisciplinary university offering both undergraduate and postgraduate education. The university became known by its current name in 1976.

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Overview

, QAU has grown into the largest university in Islamabad with a total enrollment exceeding 13,000 students. The university is on a 1700 acre campus on the foothills of the Margalla. Divided into four faculties and nine affiliated research institutes, QAU is among Pakistan's largest and highest-ranked universities.
The university has interacted with international institutions, including the United Nations, University of Tokyo and the ICTP. It counts several public figures and intellectuals among its current and former faculty, researchers, or alumni since its establishment, including Maleeha Lodhi, Nasim Zehra, Shamshad Akhtar, Suhail Zubairy, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, Farzana Aslam, Tasneem Zehra and Salma Zahid.
The university is currently led by Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhtar, and has four different faculties and 38 departments, institutes, schools and centers.

History

The University of Islamabad was established on 22 July 1967 by the Government of Pakistan. It was renamed as Quaid-i-Azam University in honor of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, in 1976, the centennial of his birth. However, the spelling of the university's name was kept different.
The university offered teaching and research programs for PhD and MPhil degrees upon its founding and later offered Master's programs. The university now also offers undergraduate programs in both evening and morning shifts.

Faculties and departments

Quaid-i-Azam University consists of four faculties. The following departments, institutes, and schools work under these faculties.

Faculty of [Natural Sciences]

Department of Chemistry
Department of Computer Science
Department of Earth Sciences
Department of Electronics
Institute of Information Technology
Department of Mathematics
Department of Physics
Department of Statistics

Faculty of [Social Sciences]

School of Law
Quaid-i-Azam School of Management Sciences
Department of Anthropology
School of Sociology
Department of Linguistics
Department of Defence & Strategic Studies
School of Economics
Department of History
School of Politics and International Relations
Taxila institute of Asian civilizations
Department of Psychology

Faculty of [Biological Sciences]

National Center for Bioinformatics
Department of Animal Sciences
Department of Biochemistry
Department of Microbiology
Department of Plant Sciences
Department of Environmental Sciences
QAU School of Medicine
Department of Pharmacy
Department of Biotechnology

Faculty of [Medical Science]

Al-Shifa Eye Trust Hospital Rawalpindi
Army Forces Post Graduate Medical Institute
Health Services Academy, Islamabad
Federal Medical & Dental College
Quaid e Azam Postgraduate Medical College, PIMS

Institutes

Institute of Information & Technology
National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research Center for Excellence
Saulat Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research
Center of Excellence in Gender Studies
National Institute of Psychology
National Institute of Pakistan Studies
Area Study Centre for Africa, North & South America

; Chairs

Quaid-i-Azam Chair
Benzair Bhutto Chair
Rumi Chair

Central Library

The university has central library, named as DR. Raziuddin Siddiqi memorial library situated at the centre of the university campus and having total covered area is approximately 102,500 sq. ft. On 06-02-1999, the Central Library was renamed the Dr. Raziuddin Siddiqi Mermorial Library in honour of Dr. Raziuddin Siddiqi's illustrious and meritorious achievements as the founding Vice Chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University. University offers DRSM Library services for faculty and students of the university.

Rankings and reputation

In the 2024 QS World University Rankings, the university was ranked 315th globally and 86th in Asia. The physics department is ranked 201st250th, the mathematics department is ranked 150th200th, the agriculture department is ranked 201st250th. In the 2010 rankings, the university was ranked 6th in the natural science category, and was ranked 100th200th in the 2007 and 2009 rankings.
Into the 2019 Higher Education Commission of Pakistan rankings, the university was ranked 1st in the general category. In the 2023 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QAU was ranked 401st500th.