The University of Karachi was established in June 1951 under the Karachi University Act in a few dilapidated buildings in a congested area of Karachi. Later, an area of 1200 acres was acquired to set up a permanent Campus. After the completion of the first phase of construction, the University was shifted at the present place in 1960. Today the University is recognized as a premier centre of learning and research in the Subcontinent and in the Third World. A number of scientists and scholars affiliated with the University are working in important positions both within and outside Pakistan and have won recognition and acclaim. One of the institutes of the University has got the distinction of being made the Centre of the Third World Academy of Sciences. Students from several foreign countries are also pursuing for the Masters and Doctorate degrees. Because of high academic and research standards of the University a large number of students from Karachi and other parts of the country apply for admission here. Keeping in view a very high number of applicants, the University has started evening classes in several departments at BS and Masters levels and a Directorate of Evening Programme was established to control and run Evening Program. The schedule of Admissions under this programme will be announced separately through the national newspapers in the month of December for BS programme and in the month of May for Masters programme.

At present teaching in the University campus is conducted under six faculties: Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Business Administration and Commerce, Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Pharmacy. There are 52 departments and 17 research institutes/centres, which are imparting education to more than 20,000 students including students from foreign countries. The faculty comprises 600 highly qualified and experienced teachers; many of them have obtained higher degrees from abroad and enjoy a high repute internationally. The non-teaching staff comprises more then 1700 people to help with administrative and other matters.

The University of Karachi is also an affiliating and examining body and at present 145 colleges and institutions are affiliated to the University. The courses of studies for these institutions are approved by the University and examinations are also conducted under its auspices. The University conducts examinations of about 150,000 students studying in these colleges/institutes, prepare their results and award degrees.

Students Affairs

To look after students affairs, in general, and to supervise their extra curricular activities, an office of Advisor Students’ Affairs is situated at the first floor of the Administration block. Teachers and the staff are available for the guidance to students.

In order to help passing out students in securing jobs and solve their practical problems, an office of Students Guidance, Counseling and Placement Bureau is functioning at the first floor of a building facing Masjid-e-Ibrahim. The Bureau also conducts preparatory classes, every year, for those who wish to appear in the CSS examinations or to develop proficiency in the English language.

Discipline Committee

There is a discipline committee to maintain law and order situation and to ensure a proper academic environment. The Committee takes notice of the cases of infringement of law and order, and undesirable activities at the campus, and takes disciplinary action against the offenders. The Vice-Chancellor is Chairman of this Committee while the Advisor Students' Affairs is its member secretary. The Committee meets several times a year to review the prevailing law and order situation and other related matters and take appropriate decisions.

Facilities for the Students

Fee Concession and Scholarship: In spite of financial constraints, the University offers a number of scholarships and fee concession to deserving students. The deserving students can be granted fee concessions on the basis of their academic performance in the first semester. Award of scholarship on the basis of merit-cum-need is decided by the competent authority of the University.

In order to facilitate the meritorious and needy students by providing financial support for their studies leading to BS and M.Sc. at the University of Karachi, “Students Financial Aid Office” (SFAO) has recently been established at room no. 2, Ground Floor, Administration Block. A limited number of various scholarships and fellowships, sponsored by different national and international agencies, are regularly announced from this office which is displayed on the notice boards of the respective departments. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply so that their need can be determine in order to provide financial support.

Libraries: Each department and institute at the campus has its own seminar library that contains book related to the subject taught in the department. The main library “Dr. Mahmood Hussain Library” is situated near the administration block that provides facility to consult thousands of books, journals and M.Phil./Ph.D. theses to students of various departments of the University. LEJ Digital Library is also available at the campus that can be used by all the students to access a large number of books or journals on-line.

Transport: It is not possible to provide transport facility to 20,000 students of the University who come to the Campus from various parts of the city. However, the University provides a limited transport facility to its students. Schedule of point buses that provide pick and drop facility to the students at highly subsidized fare is announced by the transport office in the beginning of each semester.

Co-Curricular activities: The University organizes different programs to promote participation of its students in co-curricular activities. The schedule is announced by the office of the Students’ Advisor office. Sports facilities like grounds for Hockey, Cricket and Football, courts for Squash, Badminton, Tennis and Basket ball are also available at the campus.

Language Certificate & Diploma Courses: Bearing in mind the importance of foreign languages in term of educational, cultural and professional development, students of Karachi University are encouraged to learn other languages in addition to the languages they already know. The Faculty of Arts offers Diploma courses in Arabic, Sindhi, Urdu, Italian and Persian, and certificate courses in Arabic, Bengali, Hindi, Persian, Sindhi, Spanish, Turkish and Urdu. Only those students can take admission in a diploma course who hold a certificate in that language. First and Second Year students are not eligible to take admission in these programs. However, Japanese, Italian and French can be taken as minor subjects by BS First Year students.