Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please consider this page as the first resource for answers to queries about applying to the LUMS Undergraduate and Graduate Programmes
Questions by Programmes
Please visit the mentioned link https://admission.lums.edu.pk/undergraduate-programmes
Applicants with a diploma may apply if they have secured a minimum of 70% marks or above. However, they are required to submit an equivalence certificate issued by the IBCC, Pakistan.
Please visit the following link to get details about admission criteria: https://admission.lums.edu.pk/undergraduate-programmes
Yes, an applicant can apply for admission if (s)he has sat the November 2026 retakes, for the 2027 admission cycle.
Applicants appearing for the November 2026 retakes must check the result awaiting option in the online application. Applicants must inform the Admissions Office about the estimated time period in which the result of any retake exam will be announced.
A minimum of two Teacher Evaluations is required.
The recommendation form(s) should be from teacher(s) of your current or last institution. Recommendations from school/college counselor(s) are not acceptable.
No, after the application submission, the application fee becomes non-refundable.
Since the number of students who accept our first round of admission offers varies each year, a small number of applicants stay on our waitlist and in case space becomes available after the first round, students on the waitlist are offered a place in the second round.
The number of candidates placed on the waitlist fluctuates from year to year, depending on the size and quality of the applicant pool.
The SAT/ACT/LCAT is mandatory for all applicants applying to the Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB), Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School of Humanities & Social Sciences (MGSHSS), Syed Ahsan Ali & Syed Maratib Ali School of Education (SOE), and Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law (SAHSOL). SAT Registration can be done online through the following link: https://www.collegeboard.org. Applicants can register for ACT through https://www.act.org
In addition to the SAT/ ACT/LCAT, applicants are required to take the Law Admission Test for Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law (SAHSOL). It is a requirement set by the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan for admission to the five-years LL.B Programme. Detailed information is available at the following link: http://hec.gov.pk
All applicants applying to the Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE) undergraduate programmes are required to take the following one (1) admission test in order to be considered for Fall 2027 admission:
- SAT; OR
- ACT; OR
- LUMS Common Admission Test (LCAT).
If you have not yet received your SAT/ACT score report, submit a printed copy of your online test scores.
Applicants are required to report test scores of all attempts to the University by submitting a copy of score report(s) and through the online application. Best score of a single attempt reported through the online application will be considered for application evaluation.
The application submission deadline for all UG applicants for the admission of Fall 2027 is January 27, 2027, 5:00 pm (Pakistan Standard Time).
No, there is no minimum score required for SAT/ACT.
Kindly visit the mentioned link for dates and deadlines https://admission.lums.edu.pk/critical-dates-all-programmes
Best score of a single attempt reported through the online application will be considered for application evaluation.
After the successful submission of the online application form through the LUMS Online account on or before the application submission deadline, applicants will be able to print a system-generated Application Processing and LUMS Test Registration (if applicable) Fee payment voucher.
Test Registration Cards will not be mailed. Test cards will be available within the application in printable form TWO weeks before the test.
Test cards will be available within the application in printable form TWO weeks before the test. If any applicant is unable to view his/her Test Registration Card despite completing all the requirements then he/she can write to us at admissions@lums.edu.pk
Yes, LUMS accepts results of the ACT.
The test centre can only be changed in special circumstances (provided with a reason) and the applicant must inform the Admissions Office no later than March 15, 2027. No request later than the specified date will be entertained.
We only accept applications submitted electronically. This allows us to process your application more quickly. It also keeps you informed of the status of your application throughout the process by checking it online.
An online application account can be created through the LUMS website i.e. https://admissions.lums.edu.pk/. To create an online application account with the LUMS Online Application System, you are required to have a valid email address. Please use your Yahoo or Gmail account to create your online application account. Applicants are advised to have at least two active email addresses so that in case of any problem with their email account they can still correspond with the LUMS Office of Admissions through their second address. It is advised to create only one account for the online application submission.
No, applicants who have created their accounts with the LUMS Online Admission portal within the last two years, do not need to create a new account this year. They can apply for admission using the same account. Such applicants need to use last year's credentials, i.e. User Name and Password to access their account.
No, admission to LUMS takes place once a year and freshmen are admitted to the Fall semester only.
There are no quotas.
Admission to the LUMS Undergraduate Programme is highly competitive and the University is able to offer admission to only a small fraction of applicants.
No, applicants are evaluated on their academic grades regardless of whether they have taken the final exam through a school/college or privately.
Candidates who have either completed or are in the last year of completion of their education which does not lead to Matric/FA/ICS/ICOM/FSc. will be required to get an equivalence certificate from the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), Islamabad, Pakistan. For further information please contact:
The Chairman
IBCC
FBISE Building, H-8/4
Islamabad.
http://www.ibcc.edu.pk
Yes, academic records from international universities, "if not in English", must be accompanied by an official English translation along with other supporting documents.
Documents sent to the Admissions Office cannot be returned as they are for administrative purposes. Please make sure to keep a copy for your own use before sending the documents to our office.
Yes, LUMS accepts transfer students from accredited institutions at the undergraduate level. Applicants interested in transferring to the LUMS Undergraduate Programmes should be enrolled in an undergraduate Programme in an HEC-recognised institution and should have completed one year or expect to complete one year before joining as a full-time student. Transfer is offered twice a year before the Fall and Spring semesters, respectively.
Please visit the mentioned link https://admission.lums.edu.pk/programmes/transfer for detailed information.
No, attending the first semester at LUMS is compulsory and deferment is not an option for undergraduates.
All admission decisions taken by the University are final. During the admission evaluation process, some applicants are admitted, some are placed on a waiting list, and the remaining applicants are denied admission. Acceptances are offered between April and July. For this reason, your admission decision may arrive at a different time from a friend or classmate.
Applications cannot be submitted after the deadline. There is no late application policy.
The admission process is a well-deliberated and thorough process. Each year we receive a large number of outstanding applications. Unfortunately, not all of them qualify because of the limited number of available seats. The decision regarding admission is final.
If your application is unsuccessful, you will also receives a letter informing you of this. Due to the volume of applications the University receives, it is not possible to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.
Please note that a passport is not mandatory for a Local applicant; you can apply on the basis of your NADRA smart card / CNIC/ B-Form No.
No, by default the LUMS online application system allows you to apply for SDSB, MGSHSS, SBASSE, SOE and SAHSOL simultaneously.
For the Programmes offered by the MGSHSS/SDSB/SBASSE/SAHSOL/SOE, submit an online admission application through the following link: https://admissions.lums.edu.pk
Yes, by default the LUMS online application system allows you to simultaneously apply for SDSB, MGSHSS, SBASSE, SOE and SAHSOL. Applicants may choose to apply for admission into any TWO schools (SDSB, MGSHSS, SBASSE, SOE and SAHSOL) at LUMS.
Applicants can mention their major preference(s) for the BS Programme at SBASSE, BA/BSc. (Honours) Programme at SDSB, SOE and MGSHSS, and BA-LL.B at SAHSOL through the online admission application form.
Applications are evaluated according to the preferences mentioned by applicants in this section. Based on the evaluation of each School, applicants are offered the highest preference they qualify for. This means that if an applicant qualifies for more than one School, they are sent an offer from the School of their highest qualifying preference. Therefore,it is strongly recommended that you select school preferences very carefully.
No, you can only apply for one stream: either Humanities & Social Sciences (HSS) or Economics.
You should recheck the completion and proper submission of your application form.
It is highly recommended to fill out the application form carefully. Changes cannot be made after the submission of the online application. In case of genuine need, an applicant may send the updated information to admissions@lums.edu.pk with the specific header "Change in Application Form".
Once you have successfully submitted your online application, you can generate and download the fee payment voucher. The available payment methods will be mentioned on the voucher. Please use the payment option most convenient for you to complete the transaction.
If you have any questions regarding a programme, please email us at admissions@lums.edu.pk
No, applicants who have created their accounts with the LUMS Online Admission portal last year, do not need to create a new account this year. They can apply for admissions using the same account. Such applicants need to use last year's credentials, i.e. User Name and Password to access their account.
It's important for us to get a complete and accurate picture of your academic history. Failure to list and submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended is considered to be a violation of academic ethics and may result in the cancellation of your admission or dismissal from the university.
Yes, there is an online application processing fee.
After the successful submission of the online application form, you will be able to print a system-generated Application Processing and Test Fee Voucher. Please print the fee voucher for making payments as per the mentioned deadline.
No, the online application system will automatically stop working after the deadline; therefore, we encourage you to submit your application well before the deadline in order to avoid any inconvenience.
The completion of your application comprises the following activities:
- Submission of an Online Application
- Submission of Online supporting documents
- Submission of the appropriate application processing fee and LUMS Test Registration fee (if applicable)
Admission to the programmes is competitive. It is in your best interest to apply and submit all of the required documents in a timely manner. Please make sure to review the deadline of documents submission.
Uploading copies of your transcripts with your application will help expedite the review of your application. LUMS does not require hard copies by courier or any other means.
Please visit the following link: https://international.lums.edu.pk
The admission process is a well deliberated and thorough process. Each year we receive a large number of outstanding applications. Unfortunately, not all of them qualify because of the limited number of available seats. The decision regarding admission is final.
If your application is unsuccessful, your LUMS online admission portal will be updated. Due to the volume of applications the University receive, it is not possible to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.
For MS and MPhil admissions, applicants must obtain an HEC equivalence certificate verifying 16 years of education if they hold a Bachelor’s degree of less than four years, an Associate degree, or a degree from a foreign institution. For PhD admissions, applicants with a Master’s or equivalent degree from a foreign institution, or from institutions not listed with the HEC, must provide an equivalence certificate verifying 18 years of education. For more details, visit www.hec.gov.pk.
We only accept applications submitted electronically. This allows us to process your application more quickly. It also keeps you informed of the status of your application throughout the process by checking it online.
Application for admission to the LUMS Graduate programme is an online process (there is no paper-based application to fill out or mail). After creating an account and accessing the online admission application, you may begin to complete your application. You can work on your application at any time and submit it when it is ready. Please note that we expect applicants to adhere to the deadlines stated on the LUMS website.
An Online Application Account can be created through the LUMS website i.e. https://admissions.lums.edu.pk/. To create an Online Application Account, you are required to have a valid email address. Please use your Yahoo or Gmail account to create your Online Application Account. Applicants are advised to have at least two active email addresses so that in case of any problem with their email account they can still correspond with the LUMS Office of Admissions through their second address. It is advised to create only One Account for the online application submission.
No, you can't make changes to the application once it is submitted; therefore, you are advised to fill out your application carefully.
When the application is submitted, you will also receive an email notifying you that application has been submitted. Meanwhile, you can continue to check the status of your application through your Online Application Account.
Typically, applicants receive an admission decision between June and July for the Fall intake. We strive to notify applicants as soon as possible; however, the time frame may vary by programme. Decisions administered by the LUMS Admissions Office are considered official. Admission letters are sent either through postal mail or made available online. Please note that we are unable to release admission decisions via phone.
The application processing fee is non-refundable.
For MS and MPhil admissions, applicants must obtain an HEC equivalence certificate verifying 16 years of education if they hold a Bachelor’s degree of less than four years, an Associate degree, or a degree from a foreign institution. For PhD admissions, applicants with a Master’s or equivalent degree from a foreign institution, or from institutions not listed with the HEC, must provide an equivalence certificate verifying 18 years of education. For more details, visit www.hec.gov.pk.
LUMS provides a well-maintained residential environment for students, subject to availability.
In truly exceptional circumstances; the Committee concerned may grant a deferral. All requests should be made in writing and will be reviewed on a case to case basis.
No, there is no age restriction for admission to the Graduate Programmes.
The SBASSE PhD application for foreign nationals caters to applicants currently residing outside Pakistan who hold foreign nationality.
All others, i.e., applicants having dual nationality, Pakistani nationals, and overseas Pakistanis, are required to apply through the regular admission application.
A foreign national who is not of Pakistani origin and does not have a Pakistani passport/NICOP/CNIC is eligible to apply to LUMS under its Foreign Student Programme. Applicants holding dual nationality, out of which one is Pakistani, are not eligible to apply through LUMS Foreign Student Programme.
Please refer to the Admission Criteria tab.
Kindly ensure that your online application has been fully completed and properly submitted. Additionally, please check your junk or spam mail folder.
The application cannot be submitted after the deadline.
It is highly recommended to fill out the application form carefully. No changes can be made after the submission of the online application. In case of genuine need, an applicant may send the updated information to admissions@lums.edu.pk with the specific header "Change in Application Form".
You should submit all your transcripts latest by the Online document submission deadline. Copy of your degree can be submitted later.
The recommendation letters should be from faculty members who has had a reasonable opportunity to evaluate you academically.
The final admission decision will be available on your online admission portal. Regrettably, we are unable to share any information regarding your application status via telephone or email.
No, there are no age restrictions.
The admission process is a well deliberated and thorough process. Each year we receive a large number of outstanding applications. Unfortunately, not all of them qualify because of the limited number of available seats. The decision regarding admission is final.
If your application is unsuccessful, your admission status will be updated in your online application form. Due to the volume of applications the University receive, it is not possible to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.
Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan is an independent, autonomous, and constitutionally established the primary body responsible for funding, overseeing, regulating and accrediting higher education in Pakistan.
HEC is responsible for formulating higher education policy and quality assurance to meet the international standards as well as accrediting academic degrees, developing new institutions and upgrading existing ones.
LUMS provides a well-maintained residential environment for foreign students.
Please visit the link for visa requirements: https://international.lums.edu.pk/
For any assistance, contact ayesha.ikram@lums.edu.pk
Once admission has been offered, applicants are required to apply for a visa well in advance in order to avoid any unexpected delays.
Foreign applicants are required to submit the equivalence once admitted to the Programme.
Applicants may, if they wish, report GRE scores (general or subject specific) or TOEFL/IELTS if they have taken these exams. However, it is not a requirement for the application.
LUMS provides funding to PhD students in terms of scholarship and research assistantship. The University’s policy is to admit students purely on merit, regardless of their financial status or background. The PhD Programmes at LUMS offer a full tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend to all PhD students. All LUMS students are entitled to health coverage.
PhD is a full-time programme. However, teaching assistantships and stipends to support faculty in research projects are some of the other opportunities that may be available to doctoral students for additional financial assistance, subject to faculty approval.
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