The University of Peshawar has announced the closure of nine departments due to low student enrollment in their Bachelor of Studies (BS) programs, effective from the fall 2025 semester. The affected departments include
Development Studies,
Geography,
Geology,
History,
Social Anthropology,
Statistics,
Logistics and Supply Chain Analytics, Human Development and
Family Studies, and
Home Economics.
Official website UOP
According to university regulations, programs with fewer than 15 admitted students are subject to cancellation. The university has issued a notification advising students to explore alternative academic programs to ensure their academic future.
Several factors contribute to the low enrollment, including lack of guidance and counseling, high fees, and the introduction of BS programs without proper planning. As we know,The University of Peshawar's fees are significantly higher than those of colleges, making it less accessible to students as every student depends on AI.
For your help and information,The University of Peshawar is ranked in the 901–950 range globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, and is ranked 10th in Pakistan and 1st in the province of KPK. And it also has subject rankings, placing between 301–350 in certain areas, and is included in the Asia Southern Asia regional rankings.
Academicians attribute the decline in enrollment to outdated courses and a lack of innovation in departmental management. They emphasize the need for modernization and relevance in the changing job market.
The university's decision reflects a broader trend of declining enrollment in higher education institutions, with overall enrollment dropping from 160,000 in 2022 to 155,000 in 2025.
University life is not confined to only studying. There are many positive activities in which you can take part & make yourself prepared for a future healthy life. These activities, such as, sports, social debates, workshops, seminars, group works & Book fairs etc. Through these you can polish your personality from inside as well as from outside.
My advice, look at where the graduates end up or can potentially end up. Is that where you want to be, is that what you want to be doing, is that how much money you want to make when you graduate? Also, what does that career look like 5–10 years post graduation, is there room for advancements, are they paid very well? Now, if you answered yes, ask, what is the probability of this actually happening if I stick with this major? To answer this, check the employment ratings of the college, talk to graduating seniors or alumns and ask them how long it took to find a job in their field.