In 2004, he moved to academia, and became the vice-chancellor of Beaconhouse National University; he also taught at economics at the university.[11] Aziz authored Between Dreams and Realities, which was published in 2009.[12] He remained with the university until 2013, when he joined the Nawaz Sharif's third administration as an advisor in-charge of country's foreign policy; he also served as the National Security Advisor between 2013 and 2015.[13][14]