Graduate Education

For over a decade, the Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE) at LUMS has been imparting top-quality education with an aim to produce future leaders that can make innovative and impactful contributions to Science & Technology – a key to the success of any Nation.       

SBASSE offers graduate and doctoral degrees in a wide range of disciplines. During the course of study, student learning takes place through lectures, tutorials, laboratories, problem-solving exercises, research projects and frequent interaction with the experienced and world-class faculty members.

More information can be found in the following links:

• MS Programme
• PhD Programme

Message from the Dean

Welcome to the Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering at LUMS! I and my fellow faculty and staff are here to support you in your graduate studies. Studying for a MS or a PhD degree is a big commitment, but we believe there are few if any places better than SBASSE for postgraduate study. The research carried out here, of which many of you will be part, is at the international cutting-edge, and our courses will not only strengthen your understanding of fundamentals but also introduce you to the state-of-the-art in whichever field you have chosen.

The MS degree comes in two ‘flavours’: MS-by-Thesis and MS-by-Coursework, and usually requires two years to complete. Students opting for the MS-by-Thesis take 24 credit hours of coursework and complete 6 credit hours of thesis research under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Students taking the MS-by-Coursework option complete 30 credit hours of coursework. You will find more details on the following pages.

The distinctive feature of the PhD degree is its focus on original research leading to international publication and a substantial thesis, but it also incorporates a valuable taught component. PhD students at LUMS can take advantage of the many resources in their own and other departments, the Central Lab and the LUMS research centres. PhD students are encouraged where possible to travel internationally, can write grants and have the chance to compete for the Syed Babar Ali Research Awards, which provide extra support for research.

Students take a postgraduate degree for many different reasons. Some of you already have professional experience in a particular field and want to learn new skills. Some of you aim to gain a qualification that is recognized and respected worldwide. Some of you are engaging in further study for love of your subject. Many of you are pursuing graduate study for a combination of reasons. No matter what your motivation, the faculty and staff of SBASSE are here to help you.

This leads me to the most important single piece of advice I can give you: Ask for help when needed! The change from undergraduate to graduate, and from MS to PhD study is a significant one. Many of you will also be moving to LUMS from another university. Taken together, these changes can be very challenging, but we only offer places at SBASSE to those we believe have what it takes to succeed. Don’t forget that you are not alone. Each MS student has a faculty Advisor or a departmental Graduate Programme Coordinator to reach out to, and each PhD student has a Supervisor and PhD Committee – make use of them. When taking coursework, reach out to your instructors. When carrying out research, talk to those working in similar areas. Talk to your fellow students. If you face any problems, you are welcome to approach your Department Chair or any of the staff and faculty coordinators listed in the ‘Useful Contacts’ section of the handbook. 

Please also feel free to contact me: walther@lums.edu.pk

Another important piece of advice is to use the opportunity of studying at LUMS to broaden your knowledge and experience by attending seminars and (where permitted) taking electives outside your home department. For example, this year we are introducing a course on ‘Technology Entrepreneurship: Lab to Market’ as an elective for MS and PhD students, delivered by the LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship. This should be of broad interest to all graduate students, not only those considering a start-up. We also have an elective ‘STEM Teaching in the AI Era’ that is highly recommended to those keen to polish their communication skills. 

Enjoy your graduate studies!

Walther Schwarzacher
Professor of Physics, 
Ahmed Dawood Chair and Dean, 
Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering