Sir Ziauddin Ahmed did his Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction in 1895 from M.A.O. College, Aligarh, Master of Arts in Mathematics from Calcutta, and Allahabad Universities in the year 1897 and 1898 respectively. He joined Trinity College, Cambridge in 1901 for Honours degree in Mathematics, and graduated with excellence by securing first position. In 1904 Sir Ziauddin was awarded the Sir Isaac Newton Scholarship, a rare honour for a foreign graduate, and he was the first Indian to achieve this award. His thirst for knowledge took him to Gottingen University, Germany and in 1905 he completed his Ph.D. in Mathematics. In addition to this, Sir Ziauddin also visited Paris University in France, and Bologna University in Italy in the year 1905 for advanced studies in his chosen field of Mathematics.

On return from Europe, Sir Ziauddin Ahmed devoted the rest of his life to the Aligarh Muslim University. When M.A.O. College was given the status of a University in 1920, he became its first Pro Vice-Chancellor. In 1935 he was elected as the Vice-Chancellor and remained so until 1946, thus becoming the longest serving Vice-Chancellor in the history of Aligarh Muslim University to date. In 1946 he was appointed as Rector of the University and held the position until his death in 1947.

Sir Ziauddin Ahmed took keen interest in University affairs, and raised funds for the university time and again.

Sir Ziauddin Ahmed supported the Pakistan Movement and encouraged the students of Aligarh Muslim University to play an active role in this historic movement. He was also chosen by Quaid-e-Azam to be the General Secretary of the Muslim League Parliamentary Party.

Sir Ziauddin Ahmed's dream to start a medical college at Aligarh Muslim University, was not realised in his lifetime, but has come true with the establishment of the Ziauddin Medical University in Karachi, Pakistan.