COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) admits thousands of undergraduates every Fall and Spring across its campuses in Islamabad, Lahore, Abbottabad, Wah, Attock, Sahiwal and Vehari. The process is uniform: an online application, an NTS NAT score (or a CUI-arranged test), and a merit aggregate built from Matric, Intermediate and the test. This guide covers eligibility, the official merit weightages, every step of the application, fees and scholarships, and the errors the admission office itself warns about. Facts are drawn from the official FAQs at ww2.comsats.edu.pk and the Undergraduate Guide 2025-26 (PDF). Our COMSATS University Islamabad profile covers campuses and programs.
Eligibility: Minimum Marks by Program Type
| Program group | Minimum Intermediate requirement |
| Engineering (BS EE, CE, ME and similar) | 60% in Pre-Engineering, DAE, or ICS with Physics, Maths and Computer Science |
| Most non-engineering programs (CS, SE, BBA, Accounting, etc.) | 50% in Intermediate or equivalent |
| Pharm-D and Bachelor of Architecture | 60% in Intermediate |
| Bachelor of Interior Design | 50% |
Source: https://ww2.comsats.edu.pk/ro/Prospectus/UG_Prospectus/Undergraduate-Guide-2025-26.pdf. ICS students entering engineering must take Chemistry as a remedial course in the first semester. Engineering applicants also need a valid NTS score of at least 33% under PEC policy, while other programs require a valid score “as per CUI policy”. Individual programs may add subject conditions, so check the campus admission page for your program.
The Merit Formula
For both engineering and non-engineering degrees the Undergraduate Guide gives the weightage as Matriculation 10%, Intermediate 40%, NTS test 50% (Source: https://ww2.comsats.edu.pk/ro/Prospectus/UG_Prospectus/Undergraduate-Guide-2025-26.pdf). Architecture, Design and Interior Design programs use a different split in which a departmental Creative Aptitude Test and interview carry most of the weight. The FAQs add two useful rules: no marks are deducted for a non-fresh Intermediate result, and when a candidate holds both an older valid score and a new test score, the higher one is used (Source: https://ww2.comsats.edu.pk/admissionoffice/faqs.aspx).
A simple example: Matric 85% contributes 8.5, Intermediate 78% contributes 31.2, NAT 64% contributes 32.0, giving an aggregate of 71.7. Because the test carries half the weight, improving the NAT is the fastest way to raise merit, which is why the office recommends retaking even if you already hold a valid score. Our COMSATS NAT Guide — Which NAT Category Should You Take? explains which NAT category to register for.
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Register on the admissions portal (admissions.comsats.edu.pk) with an email address you check daily.
- Pay the processing fee through the bank challan generated by the portal. The fee is non-refundable and is paid separately for each campus.
- Upload a clear image of the paid challan; no hard copy is required.
- Select program choices within the same degree level. You may list several programs on one form.
- If you have no valid NTS NAT score, register for the CUI-arranged test through the campus with the earliest closing date, then reuse the CUI roll number on other campus forms.
- Review the form carefully and click final submit. After the office receives it, edits require a request through email or the portal’s message centre.
- Watch the online console until the status shows “verified”, and print your roll number slip if a test is required.
- Clear any objections raised in the portal before the deadline, then wait for merit lists, the offer letter and the fee challan.
Source: https://ww2.comsats.edu.pk/admissionoffice/faqs.aspx. Applying to a second campus requires a completely separate form with a different email address and a separate processing fee. Late applications are not accepted.
Fees, Scholarships and Financial Support
CUI does not publish a single fee figure in the Undergraduate Guide; fee structures are listed per campus and per program on the campus websites, so check the official website for the current semester. The university runs several support schemes, including need-based scholarships, stipends and Qarz-e-Hasna interest-free loans. The FAQs also describe a merit-based fee waiver for the top five entrants in listed programs: 100% at an aggregate of 75 or above and 50% at 65 to below 75. See our scholarships section for more options.
Common Mistakes Flagged by the Admission Office
- Choosing a program you are not eligible for; the form is rejected after the fee is paid.
- Misspelling your name or father’s name compared with the CNIC or result card.
- Uploading unclear result or challan images.
- Not clicking final submit, so the form never reaches the office.
- Letting an NTS score expire before the closing date without registering for the CUI test.
- Submitting an NTS result taken for another university; it is not accepted.
Program Length and Timeline
Most bachelor’s programs run a minimum of 8 semesters (4 years) and a maximum of 12 semesters; Pharm-D and B.Arch run 10 to 15 semesters. General education courses must be finished within the first four semesters, and a mandatory 6 to 8 week internship ideally takes place in the summer after semester four (Source: https://ww2.comsats.edu.pk/ro/Prospectus/UG_Prospectus/Undergraduate-Guide-2025-26.pdf). Admissions open twice a year, though some programs are Fall-only. Expect roughly six to eight weeks between the advertisement and the first merit list; exact dates are published per campus, so check the official website.
FAQs
Is NAT compulsory for COMSATS undergraduate admission?
Yes. The official FAQs state that bachelor-level applicants appear in NAT, either through NTS directly or a CUI-arranged test if no valid score exists.
What is the COMSATS merit formula?
Matric 10%, Intermediate 40%, NTS test 50% for engineering and non-engineering programs. Source: Undergraduate Guide 2025-26.
Can I apply to Lahore and Islamabad on one form?
No. Each campus needs its own form, login, email address and processing fee, though one NTS or CUI test score serves all campuses.
Does an old Intermediate result reduce my merit?
No. The FAQs confirm that no marks are deducted for a non-fresh FA/FSc or A Level result.
Is there an official merit calculator?
The FAQs state there is no merit calculator on the website. Use the weightages above to estimate your own aggregate.
Related Guides
- COMSATS NAT Guide — Which NAT Category Should You Take?
- COMSATS University Islamabad profile
- COMSATS entry test page
- NUST Undergraduate Admission Guide — NET & Application Process
- UAF Undergraduate Admission Guide — Entry Test & Merit
- HEC Undergraduate Education Guide — BS Degree Structure
- All admissions
- All entry tests
- Admission guides
Last updated: 18 October 2026. Always confirm details with the official university source.