COMSATS Entry Test 2025-2026 (NAT/GAT)

If COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) is on your horizon for 2025-2026 – no matter if it’s BS, MS/MPhil, or PhD, the NTS entry test (NAT/GAT) marks the very beginning. What’s ahead is a no-fuss, easy-to-follow guide for parents: checked, balanced, and practical that spells out clearly what to pack, where to click and when to show up without drowning you in noise.

For clarity on wording: the official title is COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), even if most know it as ‘COMSATS.’ We’ve kept to the official title here with details checked against CUI and NTS sources.

COMSATS: Which Test Marks the Beginning of Your COMSATS Story?

Wondering which test fits your program at COMSATS? Here’s the full picture.

• Undergraduate (BS): COMSATS accepts NTS–NAT (valid 1 year). COMSATS also arranges NAT exams on its campuses.
• MS/MPhil: NTS–GAT (General) (valid for two years).
• PhD: NTS–GAT (Subject) (paper-based; 100 MCQs; 120 minutes). 

Where to apply for the tests: NTS Online Registration Portal.

Important Dates and Admission Timeline (2025–2026)

Admissions don’t run on guesswork; they’re about timing. The following dates frame the structure of COMSATS admissions for 2025–2026:

Test / Cycle	Details	Where to Check
COMSATS Admission Test Days (Fall 2025)	CUI posts campus-wise test days (Islamabad, Lahore, Wah, Sahiwal, Attock, Vehari, Abbottabad) on its Key Dates page. Use this page each cycle to confirm when NAT/GAT sessions are scheduled for COMSATS applicants.	CUI Admission System
NAT Schedule 2025	NTS releases monthly NAT test dates (NAT-I to NAT-XIII) with deadlines, roll-slip issuance, and result announcements—used for both Spring and Fall admissions. Expect the 2026 schedule to be posted in the same way.	NTS
GAT (General/Subject) Schedules	NTS posts official GAT timelines (General & Subject) with current cycles and deadlines.	NTS

Tip for applicants: align NTS timelines with CUI’s Key Dates for your chosen campus and semester. COMSATS releases its own campus admission calendars each session.

Tracing Eligibility (Undergraduate and Graduate)

Every academic level comes with its own bar. Knowing the eligibility rules early saves you from surprises later.

• Undergraduate (BS): To know the eligibility, visit the CUI’s Undergraduate Eligibility page to pick your program and campus to check subject requirements and minimum marks. A 50% threshold in HSSC/A-Levels equivalence clears eligibility for many non-engineering BS programs. Engineering, however, raises the stakes and demands higher marks paired with set subject requirements. Exact criteria appear on your program’s page.
• Graduate (MS/MPhil): Entry begins with a complete 16 years of prior study and the GAT (General). Each program may demand specific CGPA/marks – depending on the program (see MS Admission Criteria).
• PhD: A qualifying MS/MPhil alongside the GAT (Subject) or an equivalent test recognized by CUI (see PhD Admission Criteria).

Think of eligibility as your boarding pass – without it, the seat is never yours.

NAT for COMSATS (Undergraduate)

NAT may seem like just another acronym in the admission world, but for many COMSATS students, NAT is your first checkpoint. Yet it remains one of the most asked-about parts of COMSATS admissions, so let’s open with the simplest question: What is NAT?

NAT is an aptitude test that links students to NTS-associated universities, COMSATS included, with results remaining valid for one year.

Paper pattern, time & categories

• Time: 120 minutes (paper-based).
• Structure: English, Analytical, Quantitative, and Subject-area portions; category depends on your pre-university stream (e.g., NAT-IE for Engineering, NAT-ICS for CS/SE, NAT-IA for Arts, etc.).
• Official pattern & categories: See NTS “Paper Pattern” for NAT.

Test cities, registration & fee

• Registration: NTS online portal; roll number slip is issued by NTS.
• Fee (2025): Rs. 1,510 (regular) / Rs. 2,010 (late), payable via 1Link banks/ATMs, mobile banking, EasyPaisa, JazzCash, TCS counters (see deposit slip for service charges).
• Result: Posted on NTS website per schedule (see NAT schedule table). 

Think of NAT as the first full cycle of the admission process – registration, fees, roll slips, and results. It becomes the first tangible proof that you’re prepared to begin the climb toward your degree.

GAT (General) for MS/MPhil at COMSATS

For students reaching past the undergraduate stage, the first mark of seriousness is the GAT (General). COMSATS treats it as the standard thread tying all graduate admissions together.

• Purpose: Required for many MS/MPhil programs at CUI (confirm department criteria). Validity: 2 years.
• Curriculum/weighting: Three sections – Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical – with category-wise weights (GAT-A/B/C, etc.). See GAT General Curriculum for official distributions.
• Registration & fee (2025): Apply via NTS portal; fee Rs. 1,810 (regular) / Rs. 2,510 (late)

Once you’ve faced its verbal, quantitative, and analytical demands, they lead to the same point: clear the GAT (General), and you hold a two-year pass into COMSATS graduate programs.

GAT (Subject) for PhD at COMSATS

For anyone seeking a PhD at COMSATS, the GAT (Subject) is the defining test. The GAT (Subject) weaves analytical skill with deep subject knowledge together into a single exam so it stands as a symbol of true measure of readiness for research.

• Format: 100 MCQs, 120 minutes, paper-based; General Section 30% (English/Analytical), Subject 70%
  
• Registration & fee (2025): Check GAT Subject page; fees and dates announced per cycle.

Conquer the test, and you hold more than a score – it means standing ready for the depth and discipline of PhD study.

How COMSATS Calculates Merit (Example & Tools)

Behind every admission list is a formula. COMSATS assigns weight to every score, from SSC to NTS, the deciding factor for entry.

• Program pages provide merit weightages. As one official example, BS Electrical Engineering (Attock campus) lists NTS 50% + HSSC 40% + SSC 10% in its admission criteria; other programs may use similar or adjusted splits—always verify your program page. 
• Merit Calculator: COMSATS provides an online Merit/Result tool; it also clarifies how result-awaiting candidates’ marks are treated (e.g., using First-Year for HSSC, O-Level equivalents for A-Level pending).

The formula closes the debate: weights are given, formulas shared, tools provided. Know the formula, and the admission picture becomes clear.

Step-by-Step: Registering & Sitting the Test

Imagine registration as the prologue to your test. Find where you fit, secure your seat, line up your dates, and ready your hand – only then does the next chapter begin.

Step	Action	Details	Source
1. Decide your program & campus (CUI)	Confirm eligibility and test requirements.	Open Undergraduate/Graduate program pages to check prerequisites and requirements for your chosen campus.	[CUI Admission System]
2. Book your test (NTS)	Register online and pay the fee.	Apply via NTS Online Registration Portal for NAT (BS) or GAT (MS/MPhil/PhD). Download bank deposit slip, pay the fee, and track your roll number slip.	[NTS]
3. Match dates	Sync NTS test date with COMSATS schedule.	Align your chosen NTS test date with CUI’s Key Dates for your target campus and semester.	[CUI Admission System]
4. Test-day essentials	Bring required documents & items.	Bring: Original Roll No. Slip, Original CNIC/Passport, or for under-18: B-Form + SSC certificate with photo; pencils, pen, eraser, clipboard. Do not bring: Mobiles, calculators, or electronic gadgets. Follow reporting time on roll slip.	[NTS]

Do the groundwork well, and test day won’t catch you off guard – a script you’ve rehearsed, unfolding once more on stage.

The Calm-Maker’s Checklist That Keeps Panic at Bay

Sometimes what feels like background information saves the most trouble – validity windows, category choices, and campus notes – that keep you aligned on your way to COMSATS.

• NAT validity is one year; GAT validity is two years—plan attempts accordingly.
  
• Open-merit admissions (no age limit; no self-finance at CUI Lahore)—check your campus FAQs for similar notes.
  
• Test prep strategy: Pick the correct NAT category for your target degree (e.g., NAT-ICS for CS/SE, NAT-IE for Engineering), then focus on the official sections shown in the paper pattern.
  

They may read like footnotes, but they are the threads that hold the admission fabric together.

Closing Reflection

Admission at COMSATS is like a recipe with just two ingredients: CUI adds your eligibility and program, NTS sprinkles in your score, and that pairing is what stirs the recipe of admission. Get the trio right – your NAT/GAT, your booking, your documents and the rest takes care of itself. For an extra edge, let foriEDU step in with personalized support from figuring out your NAT category to sketching a schedule that fits your pace. 

FAQs 

1) Is the COMSATS entry test NAT or USAT?

For undergraduates, entry at COMSATS hinges on NTS–NAT; while graduates and PhD candidates require GAT according to departmental criteria. Campus test sessions are announced on COMSATS’ Key Dates page in alignment with NTS while USAT is not listed as a standard requirement.

2) What is the NAT syllabus/paper pattern for COMSATS undergrad?

Per NTS, NAT includes English, Analytical, Quantitative and a subject-area block tied to your category (e.g., NAT-IE, NAT-ICS, NAT-IA). Total time: 120 minutes.

3) How much is the NAT and GAT fee (2025)?

NAT: Rs. 1,510 (regular) / Rs. 2,010 (late).

GAT (General): Rs. 1,810 (regular) / Rs. 2,510 (late).

(Fees are paid through NTS’s listed channels; always check the active cycle.) 

4) What’s the validity of NAT and GAT?

NAT = 1 year; GAT = 2 years.

5) What documents do I bring on test day?

Original Roll No. Slip + Original CNIC/Passport (under 18: B-Form + SSC certificate with photo), plus pencils/pen/eraser/clipboard. No mobiles/calculators allowed. Arrive by the report time on your slip.