Royal Holloway, University of London welcomes applications from students from Pakistan to join our growing international community.
We are a pioneering university, steeped in history and culture, yet constantly evolving and adapting to the demands of modern higher education.
Our university was founded by two social reformers who pioneered the ideal of education and knowledge for all who could benefit. Their vision lives on today. As one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities, we are home to some of the world’s foremost authorities in the sciences, arts, business, economics and law. As teachers and researchers they change lives, expand minds and help current and future leaders understand power and responsibility. We are strengthened by diversity, and welcome students and academics who travel from all over the world to study and work here, ensuring an international and multi-cultural perspective within a close-knit and historic campus.
The most popular subjects with students from Pakistan include Management, Economics, Politics and International Relations and Computer Science.
Undergraduate Entry Requirements
Pakistani Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC)
If you have completed your Pakistani Higher Secondary School Certificate in Pakistan you will need to take our one year International Foundation Year or International Year One programme, or the equivalent from another institution, before beginning undergraduate studies.
Bachelor's Degree
If you have successfully completed one year of a Bachelor's degree at an accredited university in Pakistant and you have achieved good grades, then you will be considered for direct entry to the first year of a Bachelor's degree programme.
A Levels & International Baccalaureate (IB)
If you have taken A levels or the IB, you will be considered for direct entry onto our undergraduate programmes. Specific grade requirements can be found in the course finder entry for your chosen course.
The Royal Holloway International Study Centre
The Royal Holloway International Study Centre provides an International Foundation Year and International Year One programme, which are designed for international students who do not quite meet the requirements for an undergraduate course. These programmes will help to develop your academic and English language skills in preparation for university. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at Royal Holloway, University of London.
How to apply
Undergraduate students applications are made online via UCAS. If you are applying to a University preparation course, then apply to Royal Holloway directly. There is more application information in the Studying Here section of the Royal Holloway website.
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Master’s Degree
If you have successfully completed a 4 year Bachelor's degree, or a combined Bachelor's degree and Master's degree for the duration of 4 years in an appropriate subject with good grades/GPA will be considered for entry to a Royal Holloway Master's degree programme. Exact requirements will depend upon the programme you are applying for, and the university you have studied at, but most departments will ask for a GPA of between 2.8/4.0 to 3.5/4.0, or a final grade of between 58% to 68%.
The Royal Holloway International Study Centre
The Royal Holloway International Study Centre provides Pre-Masters Programme, which are designed for international students who do not quite meet the requirements for a postgraduate course. These programmes will help to develop your academic and English language skills in preparation for university. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at Royal Holloway, University of London.
How to apply
Postgraduate students applications are made to Royal Holloway directly. There is more application information in the Studying Here section of the Royal Holloway website.
Acceptance of MOI from select Pakistan Universities
At Royal Holloway, we are able to accept a Bachelor's or Master’s degree completed at the following Pakistan Universities as proof of English competency.
MOI (Medium of Instruction) acceptance is valid for 3 years from the end of your degree. We require your final certificate and transcripts to assess MOI, or an explicit MOI declaration demonstrating that your degree was taught in English.
- University of Bahria
- National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)
- Quaid-i-Azam University
- FAST NUCES
- University of Karachi
- Institute of Business Administration Karachi
- Lahore School of Economics
- Lahore University of Management Sciences
List updated November 2026
English language requirements
To apply to any of our courses, you need to prove a minimum level of English language proficiency.
For postgraduate degrees, please refer to our MOI section to check if your university is eligible.
Students who do not quite make the English language requirements may be able to take a pre-sessional English language programme.
Transferring from University of London Teaching Centres
Students studying the BSc Business Administration awarded by the University of London with academic direction by Royal Holloway can transfer to the following campus based courses at Royal Holloway:
- BSc Business and Management (N200)
- BSc Management with international business (N2N1)
- BSc Management with Marketing (N2N5)
- BSc Management with Human Resources (N2N6)
Applications should be submitted via UCAS by 1 August each year and are subject to the following requirements:
- Year 2 entry - Conditional on achieving at least 50% overall in first year of distance learning course.
- Year 3 entry - Conditional on achieving an average of at least 50% over two years of the distance learning course.
The above criteria are also subject to satisfactory references, personal statement and final approval from the Programme Director and Head of School.
Transferring students are exempt from English Language requirements.
Students applying for a transfer may be eligible for a Royal Holloway University of London Teaching Centre Scholarship. To be considered an applicant must be a BBA students studying at one of the UoL Teaching Centres who have an average of 65% or above, applying to progress into Year 2 or 3 of a Royal Holloway Business & Management Bachelor’s degree taught on RH campus. Applications must be made through the standard Royal Holloway scholarship application process:
- Eligible students will submit a 400-word statement as part of the application
- The University will shortlist and select successful candidates based on the rating criteria
- The University then notifies both successful and unsuccessful candidates of their outcome
The deadline for applying for this scholarship is 9 April.
If you have any queries regarding the transfer process, please speak with your University of London coordinator at your current institution.
Meet Sarah - From TMUC (Islamabad) to Royal Holloway
From Islamabad to a First at Royal Holloway: Sarah’s story
Sarah began her business degree at The Millennium Universal College (TMUC) in Islamabad, a Registered Teaching Centre (RTC) for Royal Holloway. To strengthen her application while still in Pakistan, she built an in-house podcast studio, led a carbon-mitigation NGO project that raised over PKR 83,000, joined the student council and football team, hosted symposiums, and became a university spokesperson.
Her efforts paid off. She won the RTC Excellence Scholarship, one of only two awards offered each year, and transferred into the second year of the BSc (Hons) Business and Management programme.
At Royal Holloway, she graduated with First Class Honours, received the Final Year ‘Empowerment Award’ from Royal Holloway Business School, and was selected as Student Orator for her graduation ceremony. She was also one of only five students chosen for The Marketors’ Mentoring Programme. Alongside her studies, she was a student Ambassador, sat on the entrepreneurship committee, and completed an internship at a digital engineering consultancy.
Sarah is now applying for roles in marketing, consulting, and project management, and her long-term goal is to start her own business.
Fees and scholarships
Fees vary between courses each year. Specific information about fees can be found in the course finder entry for your chosen course.
You could be eligible for one of our undergraduate or postgraduate scholarships, including our dedicated scholarships for international students. One of these scholarships is our Royal Holloway Pakistan Masters Scholarship 2026, which is a tuition fee reduction of £6,000 for Masters students currently living in Pakistan.
In addition to the above, there may also be other external funding available to you if you are considering postgraduate study at Royal Holloway.
Student life
A home away from home: the Pakistan Society
Royal Holloway has an active Pakistan Society (PakSoc), run by students through our Students’ Union. Its mission is to celebrate Pakistani traditions and to give everyone, whatever their background, a place to connect and feel at home. Highlights have included a Qawwali night at the Students’ Union, where renowned Qawwal Chand Ali Khan performed, with complimentary gulab jamun and chai. In a recent year, PakSoc won Best Event at the Students’ Union Society Awards. New members can join the society’s WhatsApp group, which welcomes newcomers and answers their questions, or email pakistan@royalholloway.su.
Our Students’ Union also hosts the Desi Society, which brings together students from across the South Asian diaspora, along with sports clubs such as cricket. The cricket club trains all year, with weekly indoor nets, and its first team plays in the BUCS and LUSL leagues.
Faith on campus
Our Muslim Prayer Room in Wetton’s Annexe is decorated with calligraphy and has excellent washing facilities. There are separate prayer areas for men and women, and Friday prayers are held on campus during Terms 1 and 2, with the khutbah at 1.15pm and prayer at 1.30pm. We also have a dedicated Muslim Chaplain. The Islamic Society works to bring together Muslim and non-Muslim students, staff and the local community, and runs weekday iftars during Ramadan.
The Pakistani community in London
The UK has the largest Pakistani community in Europe, and Greater London alone is home to around 290,000 people of Pakistani heritage. Our Egham campus is close to Southall in west London, while Green Street, Tooting, Whitechapel and Walthamstow are all well known for Pakistani food, shopping and Eid celebrations. Upper Tooting Road and Tooting High Street alone have dozens of halal restaurants, butchers and sweet shops.
Meet us
Speak to our South Asia Recruitment Manager
To discuss an application to Royal Holloway, please contact out South Asia Recruitment Manager - Brendan De Souza (brendan.desouza@rhul.ac.uk)
Book a campus tour
We are delighted to be able to offer a guided campus tour to any international students interested in studying here at Royal Holloway, whether you have already applied to study with us, or are just exploring your options in Higher Education.
One of our fantastic International Recruitment team members, or one of our friendly and knowledgeable Student Ambassadors, will show you around our beautiful campus and answer any questions you might have about life at Royal Holloway.
Alumni
Our alumni from Pakistan have gone on to a wide range of successful careers as clinical psychologists, public affairs experts, startup founders, HR professionals, CEOs, export directors, marketing strategists, project managers, civil servants, diplomats, finance professionals, software engineers and many more.
Useful links
The British Council In Pakistan provides comprehensive advice on many aspects of studying in Britain
The Royal Holloway Pakistan Society
High Commission for Pakistan in London – Education Division
The British High Commission in Islamabad for advice on visas and visiting the UK
The High Commission for Pakistan in London for services for Pakistani citizens living in the UK
UKCISA promotes and protects the needs of international students in the UK
