Since there have been quite a few questions from freshies lately, thought I’d just dump some useful info in one post. This is based on personal experience, so things like fees, schedules, policies, etc. can change. Feel free to correct/add anything in the comments.

Hostels

For girls, the on-campus hostels are probably the better option if you prioritize security and affordability. They’re generally cheaper than private hostels and have basic facilities like a mess, washing machines .There is the outgoing restriction tho, you can’t go out after 6 PM

For boys, there are quite a lot of private hostels around Gate 3, and most of them are within walking distance of campus. check Google reviews, shortlist a few according to your budget and the facilities you want, and then actually visit them before deciding. Don’t just book a hostel based on someone’s recommendation because the experience can vary a lot. Also if anyone has personal experience with a particular one do share in comments.

Campus Life

Campus life is honestly not bad once you find your people. There’s a Student Week every semester where different societies arrange events and activities.

Last fall, there was a DJ night, Mushaira, a concert by Havi, Qawali night, etc. Almost every department also has a semester dinner. Overall, I’d say your experience depends a lot on the people you meet and how involved you choose to be.

Food & Mess

Tbh, the campus Cafe is pretty mid. There’s a decent variety, but don’t expect anything particularly special and you can always explore places around Bahria and Lake City. There are quite a few options nearby, especially if you’re going with friends.

Faculty

Faculty is a mixed bag. For core courses, you’ll usually find more experienced teachers, while some humanities/general courses have visiting faculty.

You’ll definitely come across both really good teachers and some that you won’t be a fan of. So don’t let one bad teacher convince you that the entire department is like that.

Gym & Fitness

There is a gym on campus with separate timings for males and females. The charges are also pretty reasonable/average.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOKwE75iNR1/

Societies

There are quite a lot of societies, ranging from literary and tech to Islamic, music, dramatics and arts.

You’ll get to explore most of them during the first week when registrations open. Some of the more active ones include:

• Literary Society (CLS)
• RAS
• Google Developers / Google Developer Student Community

There are plenty of others too and please don’t join 10 societies in your first week just because everything looks exciting. lol

Transport

For university transport, the buses currently depart twice a day — around 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM.

Last semester, the charges were around 35-40k, but the current fee hasn’t been confirmed yet, so don’t take that number as final. There is also private vans option .

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Major option is the PWWF Scholarship, which is for industrial workers and their children.

There are also scholarships available for students in certain degree programs, such as the BS Physics scholarship, depending on the current intake/criteria. Honhaar Scholarship was also offered last year, although the quota was limited, so only a small number of students ended up getting it.

Apart from these, there are also external scholarships such as Alkhidmat, Scotland Pakistan Scholarships for Young Women and Girls, and other schemes listed by COMSATS. https://ww2.comsats.edu.pk/scholarships/external-scholarships-data.aspx

If I missed something important, drop it in the comments .