About FCCU
FCCU was founded in 1864 with a vision to impart quality education to the people of this region and to contribute to their academic, economic and social development. From the premises of a small college, FCCU has grown into an academically robust university that offers a wide range of opportunities to its students to grow and reach their full potential. FCCU welcomes students from all backgrounds and all regions of Pakistan and abroad to a University where they live, grow and learn, meet some of the greatest thinkers in their chosen disciplines and make lifelong friendships- a place they can truly call home.
Rector's Message
Welcome to Forman Christian College (A Chartered University)!
Welcome to Forman Christian College (A Chartered University)! We appreciate your interest in learning more about our historic yet dynamic institution, whether you are a parent, alumni or prospective student; currently enrolled students as well as members of our faculty and staff may have reason to refer to this website for additional information as well.
We are proud of the extraordinary community that has developed in the 160 years since Forman was founded in 1864, a community characterized by a commitment to learning, diversity and excellence.
Nearly 9,000 students are currently enrolled at Forman, including in both the College (Intermediate) and University (including in 23 Bachelor programs, 21 MPhil/MS programs and 5 PhD programs).
Our students come from a wide variety of geographic regions, socio-economic backgrounds, ethnic experiences and faith traditions, held together by mutual respect as reflected in our core values as well as our enduring motto: “By Love Serve One Another”.
Our highly qualified faculty and staff with advanced degrees from 21 countries also share in this commitment.
Our alumni list numbers more than 50,000 and includes former presidents, prime ministers, governors, diplomats, academics, cultural figures, entrepreneurs and leaders in Pakistan’s emerging IT sector.
A member of the Global Liberal Arts Alliance, Forman’s international partnerships, industry linkages and research opportunities further strengthen the university experience while also opening doors, transforming lives and helping to prepare students for a lifetime commitment to continued learning.
Community life is enriched immeasurably by our “garden campus”, encompassing more than 100 acres, includes sports fields, a new state-of-the-art Campus Center and numerous other academic and hostel buildings. Significant scholarship funding is also provided each year, based on both merit and financial need.
Again, we appreciate your interest in Forman while also welcoming you to consider becoming part of a community that is globally connected while also reflecting Pakistan at its best.
History and Heritage
Forman Christian College was founded in 1864 by Dr Charles W Forman, a Presbyterian missionary from the USA. The college was initially known as the Lahore Mission College, but in 1894 the name was officially changed to Forman Christian College in honor of the founder. In the early years, degrees were awarded through the Calcutta University. College level instruction was interrupted in 1869 due to the illness of key faculty members. College classes resumed in 1886, with degrees being awarded through the University of the Punjab. In 2004, FCCU became a chartered University and from 2009 onwards has awarded its own degrees.
The early years of the college were marked by rapid growth in enrollment, and a constant struggle to find enough space to house the growing college. Enrollment grew from 18 students in 1886 to 130 in 1890, 311 in 1900, 426 in 1910 and 600 in 1915. Enrollment had reached 1,500 students by the time the college was nationalized in 1972. The campus was located in the Anarkali (Nila Gumbad) area of Lahore for many years. Four major buildings were constructed by the college on that campus by 1916, and Ewing Hall, built in 1916, is still used as a hostel by the college. In 1940 the college moved to its present spacious campus of over 100 acres on the scenic banks of Lahore Canal.
In 1972 the college was nationalized by the government. It was returned to the present owners of the college on 19 March 2003. In March 2004, the government granted University status to FCCU. The University embarked upon an exciting new stage in its history in September 2005 when it began a four-year Baccalaureate (Honors) program designed in accordance with world-class standards for accreditation.
FCCU has been served by many distinguished educational leaders and teachers throughout its history who have impacted the lives of students and shaped the future of the college through the years. Under their leadership, the college became widely regarded as one of the very best in the entire subcontinent.
For many decades, FCCU has been widely recognized for its meritorious work of nurturing and consolidating the social and intellectual capital of Pakistan. The FCCU motto, “By love serve one another,” has been a guiding principle for Formanites throughout the history of the college. Among the graduates of the college are two Presidents of Pakistan, a Prime Minister of India, the first Chief Justice of Pakistan, a number of Governors and Chief Ministers of the Punjab and other provinces, an Attorney General of Pakistan, two Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, a President of the Security Council of the United Nations, numerous Ambassadors to other nations, a Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, a Chairman of the Senate, several Speakers of the National Assembly, numerous Generals and Admirals and an equally impressive list of leaders in the fields of education, law, medicine, arts and entertainment.
FCCU has been a leader for the development of curriculum among the universities of Pakistan. Through the years the college introduced into the curriculum such subjects as the Sciences, Economics, Psychology, Geography, Technical Chemistry and Sociology. FCCU is the first college in the subcontinent in whose laboratories research work of Nobel Prize caliber was conducted and Dr Arthur Compton received the Nobel Prize in 1932 for research conducted, in large part, at FCCU. In 1902, the college was the first college in the Punjab to admit women.
FCCU has been a pioneer in many fields. We were the first college in the region to form a Graduates’ Association (1896), open a Biology department (1898), adopt Co-education (1902), open a Technical Chemistry department (1919), and start Geography classes (1924).
Our innovative ideas are applicable to this day.
Academic excellence and the preparation of leaders who understand the value of service have been the hallmarks of education at the institution since its inception. One of the premier colleges of the subcontinent, FCCU has distinguished itself through its remarkable graduates and the achievements of its faculty. It has built a reputation for providing outstanding education with innovation and pioneering work in its curriculum, admission policies, a range of extracurricular activities, and the rigor of its academic programs.
FCCU is an HEC-recognized, W-category University. It is a private, not–for–profit educational institution. It currently has over 7,000 students, over 250 full-time faculty members with over 100 PhDs, and over 22,000 registered alumni. The University offers Baccalaureate and Postgraduate programs. The 4-year Baccalaureate Honors program, started in 2005, offers an American style, world-class liberal arts education. New postgraduate programs started with the MBA in 2007 and now include PhDs, MPhils, Masters and Executive education programs in specific disciplines. FCCU’s generous financial aid program and scholarships for deserving students make high-quality education accessible to students from various socioeconomic backgrounds.
Accreditation
| Programs | Accreditation Bodies |
| Bachelor of Studies in Business and Masters in Business Administration | National Business Education Accreditation Council (NBEAC) |
| Bachelor of Studies in Computer Science | National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC) |
| Bachelor of Studies in Education | National Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (NACTE) |
| Pharm-D | Pharmacy Council of Pakistan (PCP) |
International Linkages
Outcomes
A genuinely liberal arts, American-style education introduced in our Baccalaureate (Hons) program in 2004 gives undergraduates both depth and breadth of knowledge. It prepares them well for the next step in their lives, whether in jobs or further studies.
Students currently have a choice of 22 majors at the Baccalaureate (BA/BS Hons) level. Four of these are professional degrees: Business, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics and Computing.
Moreover, with the options of taking a major and a minor or a double major in the BA/BS (Hons) programs, the range of subject combinations is vast. FCCU also offers 14 Postgraduate programs in various disciplines. These postgraduate programs combine theoretical rigor with real-world experience, whether through internships, collaborative research, academia-industry partnerships, guest speakers, entrepreneurship opportunities or industry visits.
FCCU’s highly competent faculty– half of whom have postgraduate degrees from foreign universities – have access to a continuous program of capacity building.
Our seven on-campus and one off-campus hostels allow over 700 male and female students from remote parts of the country to attend the University. The result is a very diverse student body. In 2014, we inaugurated a new 384-bed hostel for females funded by USAID which will help us to fulfill our goal of increasing the ratio of female students to 50% of the total student body.
Our merit scholarships and need-based financial assistance program provides assistance to over 1,200 students and are also the means of ensuring that students from a wide range of backgrounds have the opportunity for an FCCU education. Teaching assistantships at the Postgraduate level allow more students to benefit from our generous financial assistance program.
Location
FCCU has an impressive and well-maintained campus with all the facilities needed to create an environment that is truly academic and conducive to purposeful learning. Centrally located in a beautiful residential area of Lahore, the campus sprawls over 108 acres along the left bank of the canal. There are two new purpose-built buildings for University students. Inaugurated in 2007, the Business and Social Sciences Building houses the Social Science disciplines including the Departments of Business Management and Economics. The Armacost Science Building is a modern state-of-the-art science building for the Departments of Chemistry, Physics, Computer Studies/Information Technology and School of Life Sciences. It was inaugurated in February 2010.
The Ewing Memorial Library has been functioning since 1943 and now contains over 100,000 volumes. It has an automated Library Management System and state-of-the-art online and electronic reference services. Students can use the web-based Information Portal to search the library catalog and log in to their accounts to view their activity information. The Information Commons in the Armacost Science Building has computer and multimedia workstations, printers, study booths, an information literacy classroom and a research help desk.
The Ahmad Saeed Administration Building (former N Block) houses administrative offices. The Cafeteria, located near the back of campus, offers a setting for students to relax between classes. Basketball courts, a gymnasium, badminton and table tennis facilities are also located in Lucas Center as are the offices of the Health and Physical Education Department.
Sinclair Hall houses the largest auditorium – seating 740 people – of the University. This is where major events including the annual play and Christmas pageant, etc. are held. FCCU has a large sports ground in the center of campus that includes facilities for cricket, football and hockey, plus a 400-meter oval shaped running track. A modern 25-meter swimming pool and six tennis courts are also located on campus. Three hostels for University students are located on campus. Shirazi Hall and West Hall for men and Hope Tower for women. Shirazi and West Halls provide rooms for approximately 140 men each. Hope Tower provides accommodation for approximately 385 women. All include common rooms and mess halls as well as ample outdoor recreational space.
Mailing Address:
Forman Christian College
Ferozepur Road
Lahore 54600
Pakistan
Our Commitments
Commitment to Excellence
Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) operates all of its programs in accordance with the highest standards of excellence in education. The educational programs are designed and implemented in accordance with world-class standards of accreditation.
Commitment to Individual Development
FCCU is concerned with the development of the whole person, and therefore encourages the intellectual, spiritual, cultural, social, emotional and physical growth of each student. We seek to prepare students for the basic responsibilities of life, and especially for competent and humane leadership and service. The FCCU experience is designed to help students go beyond the limitations caused by ignorance, narrowness, conformity, self-centeredness and irresponsibility. Our goal is to help individuals achieve excellence in thought and conduct.
Commitment to Core Values
The faculty and staff of FCCU seek to live by, and to teach students, its core values. In a variety of different settings, students are asked to learn and live by the following values beginning with signing a ‘Shared Commitment’ document that highlights the practice of the following core values on a regular basis.
- Integrity: I will speak the truth and keep my commitments. I will take my responsibilities seriously and fulfill them to the best of my ability
- Excellence: I will be steadfast in my pursuit of excellence. I will set high standards in my intellectual life, personal behavior and interpersonal relationships. I will honor the traditions of the University and preserve the beauty of the campus
- Respect for the Dignity of Each Human Being: I will treat others with respect, kindness, generosity of heart and compassion. I will accept and tolerate differences. I will handle disagreements with candor and civility
- Discipline and Accountability for My Actions: I will uphold the policies of the University and follow the rules and regulations. I understand that behavior has consequences. This understanding is an essential component in the development of my self-discipline
- Fairness and Justice: I will be fair in all of my decisions and work towards justice for others
- Service: I will live by the motto “By love serve one another”, knowing that serving others is a way of life that will enrich the community and the nation in which I live
- Community: I will take the concerns of others in the University community to heart. Because we are bound together by common purpose, objectives and values, the welfare of all will be my concern.
Commitment of Faculty to Students
The faculty of FCCU is committed to student learning and to helping students succeed in their studies and be well prepared for a meaningful and productive life after University. Students will form a close personal relationship with one or more members of the faculty, and this close student-faculty contact has been one of the strengths of FCCU throughout its history. Faculty members provide assistance to students, as needed, outside of the classroom, and they do not charge tuition for this help. Indeed, their contract with the University prohibits faculty members from charging tuition for extra assistance.
Commitment to General Education
While FCCU is committed to helping students develop competence in a specific field, it is equally committed to general education. The general education program is designed to provide a foundation for lifelong learning by helping students to develop a love of learning. It prepares students for responsible citizenship by teaching them the lessons of history, by creating awareness of their cultural heritage, by helping them understand the causes of social and political unrest, and the conditions for stable governance and sustainable economic development. Through studies in the humanities, the general education program seeks to help students explore various perspectives on the central concerns of human existence. The general education program is designed to help students assume increased responsibility for their own growth, to master the skills that are necessary to understand and deal with a rapidly changing and increasingly complex world. The program requires students to take courses in each of the following areas of human knowledge: Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Sciences.
Commitment to Career Preparation
Enriched with the enduring qualities of a liberal arts education, FCCU seeks to graduate students who are well-prepared for success in their careers. Through the major field of study selected by the student, he or she will receive a basic knowledge of a particular field in enough depth to be successful in entry level positions in a career and to advance successfully to increased levels of responsibility on the job.
However, it is impossible to predict what a person will need to know for success on the job twenty years from now, but we do know that in most jobs new knowledge will have to be mastered that does not even exist today. Therefore, it is more important to learn how to learn, how to think, how to solve problems, and how to communicate effectively rather than just to focus narrowly on the content of an academic discipline. The educational program is designed to help students develop these skills.
Commitment to Coeducation
The Baccalaureate (Hons) Degree Program of FCCU is co-educational. FCCU first admitted women in 1902, and it seeks to provide a learning environment in which both men and women can learn effectively and develop the character traits and personality that will enable them to succeed in later life. The core value of respect for the dignity of each human being is also an important consideration for creating a wholesome and positive atmosphere for learning for both men and women.
Commitment to Lifelong Learning
FCCU seeks to prepare students for a lifetime of self-directed learning. This will be essential for success in a rapidly changing and increasingly complex world. The faculty models this commitment by constantly learning about new knowledge in their academic discipline, and by participation in a variety of professional development programs presented to them by the University management to help them learn new approaches to teaching and learning.
Commitment to Providing an American-style Education
The proceeding commitments reflect the commitment to provide an American-style education. The American system of higher education is widely recognized as the very best in the world and we seek no less than the best for Pakistan. This commitment is an approach to education rather than
a statement about the specific content of the curriculum. At FCCU, the role of the faculty and the students, the balance between the breadth and the depth of learning (General Education and a major field of study) and the structure of the program reflect best practices in American higher education.
Commitment to Equality of Opportunity
At FCCU, students, faculty and staff are free within the University from all forms of discrimination based upon gender, race, age, ethnicity, nationality, religion or physical disability. Decisions regarding employment and admission to the University are based upon merit. Grades in courses and graduation from the University are based upon the performance of the student in meeting course and graduation requirements.
Core Values
Integrity
I will speak the truth and keep my commitments. I will take my responsibilities seriously and fulfill them to the best of my ability.
Excellence
I will be steadfast in my pursuit of excellence. I will set high standards in my intellectual life, personal behavior and interpersonal relationships. I will honor the traditions of the University and preserve the beauty of the campus.
Respect for the Dignity of Each Human Being
I will treat others with respect, kindness, generosity of heart and compassion. I will accept and tolerate differences. I will handle disagreements with candor and civility.
Discipline and Accountability for My Actions
I will uphold the policies of the University and follow the rules and regulations. I understand that behavior has consequences. This understanding is an essential component in the development of my self-discipline.
Fairness and Justice
I will be fair in all of my decisions and work towards justice for others.
Service
I will live by the motto “By love serve one another”, knowing that serving others is a way of life that will enrich the community and the nation in which I live.
Community
I will take the concerns of others in the University community to heart. Because we are bound together by common purpose, objectives and values, the welfare of all will be my concern.
Goals
Our institutional goals are to create:
Empowered learners with strong written, oral and quantitative skills that they can use to evaluate a constant flood of information. The idea is to create in them the ability to think independently and critically, solve problems and continue a lifetime of self-directed learning.
Informed learners who understand global and cross-cultural relationships, value the philosophy and history underlying the nation of Pakistan, and are fluent in both their native language and English.
Responsible learners who understand the ethical consequences of actions and are well-groomed to be active citizens who accept their public duty and participate in the decision-making process of democracy.
Mission
The mission of Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) is to impart, create and disseminate knowledge and to develop informed, ethical and responsible citizens who are prepared and committed to learn, lead and serve; persons who exemplify the FCCU motto, “By love serve one another”.
Vision
Forman’s vision is to be recognized as one of the best liberal arts institutions of higher learning in Pakistan and across South Asia.