Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is a private deemed university based in Manipal, Karnataka, India. It was established in 1953 with the founding of Kasturba Medical College, the country’s first self-financing medical college. In 1993, the institution was granted Deemed to be University status by the Government of India, bringing various professional institutes under a unified structure.

MAHE has expanded over the decades to include campuses in Mangaluru, Bengaluru, and Jamshedpur, as well as international campuses in Dubai and Malaysia. It also operates sister universities such as Manipal University Jaipur and Sikkim Manipal University under the Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG). The university offers more than 300 programmes in disciplines such as health sciences, engineering, management, communication, liberal arts, and social sciences.

The university’s main campus in Manipal covers approximately 600 acres and supports a student population of over 35,000 from more than 60 countries. MAHE has a faculty strength of around 3,000 and a support staff of nearly 10,000. It has established facilities for research, innovation, and skill development, including simulation labs, a business incubation centre, and collaborations with global institutions.

MAHE was declared an Institution of Eminence by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in 2020. It is accredited with an A++ grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and holds ISO certifications. It is consistently ranked among the top private universities in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and features in international rankings such as QS and Times Higher Education.

In 2022, MAHE introduced online UGC-entitled degree and diploma programmes aimed at working professionals through its Online Manipal platform.

The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), located in Karnataka, India, has its roots in the establishment of the first private medical college in India. In 1953, Dr. T. M. A. Pai founded the Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, marking the beginning of a new model in Indian higher education through public-private partnership. Five years later, in 1958, the Manipal Institute of Technology was set up to provide engineering education.

Initially, the degrees were awarded by Karnataka University, Dharwad. Subsequently, the affiliation changed to the University of Mysore and later to Mangalore University. This structure remained until 1993 when the Government of India granted Deemed University status to a group of institutions including Kasturba Medical College and Manipal College of Dental Sciences. These institutions were then brought together under the umbrella of Manipal Academy of Higher Education.

In 2000, the Manipal Institute of Technology became a constituent unit of MAHE. Over the years, the university continued to expand both in terms of disciplines and infrastructure. MAHE introduced programmes in diverse fields such as Health Sciences, Engineering, Management, Communication, Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, and more. The university also expanded geographically, with campuses in Mangaluru, Bengaluru, and Jamshedpur in India, and overseas campuses in Dubai and Malaysia.

In 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, recognised MAHE as an "Institution of Eminence" for its performance in education, research, and infrastructure. The recognition aimed at promoting high-quality teaching and international collaborations.

In recent years, MAHE has embraced digital learning. In 2022, it launched several UGC-entitled online programmes through the Online Manipal platform. These included degrees in business administration, data science, business analytics, and logistics and supply chain management, particularly aimed at working professionals.

The university has established various research centres, including the Manipal Life Science Centre and the Manipal Advanced Research Group, both involved in national and international collaborative projects. Research initiatives are funded through internal and external grants, including from bodies like the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

MAHE operates as a self-financing institution and has built a reputation for its academic, infrastructural, and research capabilities over several decades. It continues to run sister universities such as Sikkim Manipal University and Manipal University Jaipur, under the Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG).

MAHE serves over 35,000 students from more than 60 countries and employs around 3,000 faculty members across its various campuses.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and doctoral programmes across various disciplines. The institution provides academic training in health sciences, engineering, management, humanities, social sciences, communication, life sciences, law, design, and hospitality, among others. Courses are delivered through different constituent institutes located at MAHE's campuses in India and abroad.

In the field of health sciences, the university offers programmes in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and public health. Kasturba Medical College and Manipal College of Dental Sciences are among the key institutes offering MBBS, BDS, MD, MS, MDS, and other health-related degrees. The Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences offers undergraduate (BPharm), postgraduate (MPharm), and doctoral (PhD) programmes.

In engineering and technology, the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) provides undergraduate (BTech), postgraduate (MTech), and doctoral (PhD) degrees in disciplines such as computer science, mechanical, civil, electrical, electronics, and biotechnology.

The management stream is served by institutes such as T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) and School of Management, offering BBA, MBA, executive MBA, and specialised postgraduate diplomas. Areas of study include general management, finance, marketing, human resources, logistics, and operations.

The arts, humanities, and social sciences faculties offer courses in economics, political science, sociology, psychology, English, history, philosophy, and liberal arts. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences offers BA, MA, and PhD programmes in these areas.

MAHE also provides programmes in media and communication, including degrees in journalism, digital media, and strategic communication, under its Manipal Institute of Communication.

Design and architecture are taught at the Faculty of Architecture and Design, where students can pursue B.Arch, BDes, and MDes programmes in areas such as urban design and interior design.

In addition to campus-based degrees, MAHE introduced online learning programmes in 2022 through the Online Manipal platform. These include UGC-entitled online degrees such as MBA, MSc in Data Science, MSc in Business Analytics, PG Certificate in Business Analytics, and PG Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

MAHE has been ranked 4th among universities and 14th overall in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024. Its constituent institutions also feature in subject-specific rankings: Manipal College of Dental Sciences holds the 2nd position in the dental category, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences is ranked 8th in pharmacy, and Kasturba Medical College is placed 9th in the medical category.

Globally, MAHE is ranked in the 901–950 band in the QS World University Rankings 2025 and holds the 210th position in Asia in the QS Asia University Rankings 2024. It also appears in the QS Sustainability Rankings at =401 and in the QS Southern Asia Rankings at =35.

In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, MAHE is placed in the 801–1000 band worldwide. It holds a position in the 201–250 band in THE Asia Rankings 2024. Notably, MAHE improved its standing in the THE Young University Rankings 2024, moving up to the 175th position, compared to the previous year’s placement in the 251–300 band.

In subject-specific global rankings, MAHE has also achieved notable recognition. According to QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, MAHE is placed within the 201–250 band in Medicine, 151–200 in Pharmacy & Pharmacology, and is among the top 150 globally in Anatomy & Physiology. Its Dentistry programme is recognised as one of the top 100 worldwide.

During the 2023–2024 placement cycle, Manipal University recorded a 73% placement rate for the 2023 graduating batch. At MIT Manipal, the highest package offered was INR 51.03 LPA, while the average stood at INR 10.49 LPA. Leading companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, EY, SAP Labs, Boeing, and Philips were among the key recruiters. Other notable organisations included Ericsson, Flipkart, Adobe, BOSCH India, Cisco, Cipla, L&T, and the Adani Group.

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