
University of Petroleum and Energy Studies

Dr. Ram K. Sharma (Vice Chancellor)
Summary
The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, was established in 2003 through the UPES Act of the State Legislature of Uttarakhand. It is a private, non-profit institution founded by the Hydrocarbons Education & Research Society (HERS), comprising professionals from the oil and gas industry, including former government officials and specialists from various national and international organisations.
Initially, UPES focused on offering specialised courses in the energy sector, making it Asia’s first university dedicated to energy and core sectors. The university commenced operations with a 25-acre campus in Pondha Valley, Dehradun, and a northern centre in New Delhi. Over time, UPES expanded its academic offerings and infrastructure. In 2005, the university underwent a rebranding to reflect the expansion of courses in the Engineering, Infrastructure, and Technology (EIT) sector.
The College of Legal Studies was established in 2007, focusing on energy specialisation within legal studies. In 2010, UPES formed its first academic collaboration with IBM, marking the beginning of several industry partnerships. The university continued to diversify its programs, establishing the School of Design in 2013, the School of Health Sciences & Technology in 2019, the School of Modern Media in 2020, and the School of Liberal Studies in 2022.
UPES is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956, and has received accreditation with an 'A' grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Additionally, UPES is recognised as a Scientific and Research Organisation by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Today, UPES offers over 100 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across various disciplines, including engineering, business, law, design, computer science, health sciences, and liberal studies. The university has two campuses in Dehradun: Energy Acres in Bidholi and Knowledge Acres in Kandoli.
History
The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) was established in 2003 through the UPES Act, 2003, enacted by the State Legislature of Uttarakhand. It is a private, non-profit institution managed by the Hydrocarbons Education & Research Society (HERS), a body comprising professionals from the oil and gas industry, including former government officials and specialists from various national and international organisations.
Initially, UPES focused on offering specialised courses in the energy sector, making it Asia’s first university dedicated to energy and core sectors. The university commenced operations with a 25-acre campus in Pondha Valley, Dehradun, and a northern centre in New Delhi.
Over the years, UPES has expanded its academic offerings and infrastructure. In 2005, the university underwent a rebranding to reflect the expansion of courses in the Engineering, Infrastructure, and Technology (EIT) sectors. The College of Legal Studies was established in 2007, focusing on energy specialisation within legal studies. In 2010, UPES formed its first academic collaboration with IBM, marking the beginning of several industry partnerships. The university continued to diversify its programs, establishing the School of Design in 2013, the School of Health Sciences & Technology in 2019, the School of Modern Media in 2020, and the School of Liberal Studies in 2022.
UPES is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956, and is a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). The university has received accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with an 'A' grade and has been recognised for its academic and infrastructural excellence.
Today, UPES offers over 100 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across various disciplines, including engineering, business, law, design, computer science, health sciences, and liberal studies. The university has two campuses in Dehradun: Energy Acres in Bidholi and Knowledge Acres in Kandoli.
Courses
The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun, offers a diverse array of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes across various disciplines, aiming to provide industry-aligned education and foster professional competence.
Undergraduate Programmes
UPES offers Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degrees in disciplines such as Applied Petroleum Engineering, Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics and Computer, Fire and Safety, Mechanical, Mechatronics, and VLSI Design and Technology. The university also provides Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) and Bachelor of Computer Science and Engineering (B.Tech CSE) programmes, with specialisations in Mathematics and Computing. In the field of business, UPES offers Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com), and integrated programmes like BBA-MBA and B.Com-MBA. The law school provides integrated law degrees such as BA LL.B. and BBA LL.B., along with a 3-year LL.B. programme. For design enthusiasts, UPES offers Bachelor of Design (B.Des) programmes in areas like Product Design, Communication Design, and Interaction Design. The School of Health Sciences and Technology offers undergraduate degrees in Pharmacy (B.Pharm), Clinical Research, and Health Sciences. Additionally, the university provides Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) programmes in disciplines like English, Political Science, and History.
Postgraduate Programmes
At the postgraduate level, UPES offers Master of Technology (M.Tech) degrees in specialisations such as Applied Petroleum Engineering, VLSI Design, and Structural Engineering. The university provides Master of Computer Applications (MCA) and M.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering programmes. In the business domain, UPES offers Master of Business Administration (MBA) programmes with specialisations in Energy Management, International Business, and Logistics. The design school offers Master of Design (M.Des) programmes with specialisations in Product Design, Communication Design, and Interaction Design. For legal studies, the university provides Master of Laws (LL.M) programmes. The School of Health Sciences and Technology offers Master of Science (M.Sc) degrees in Clinical Research, Medical Laboratory Technology, and other health-related fields. The liberal studies and media school offers Master of Arts (MA) programmes in disciplines such as Journalism and Mass Communication (Digital) and Digital and Mass Media (Broadcasting).
Doctoral Programmes
UPES offers Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programmes across various disciplines, including Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Design, Law, Health Sciences, and Liberal Studies. These programmes are designed to provide students with a strong foundation in their chosen fields, preparing them for successful careers in academia, research, and industry.
Global MBA rankings
The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun, has garnered significant recognition in global and national rankings. In the QS World University Rankings 2025, UPES is ranked in the 801-850 band globally, placing it among the top 2% of universities worldwide, and holds the distinction of being the No. 1 private university in academic reputation in India. In the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025, UPES has achieved an impressive 148?? rank, climbing 70 positions and becoming the second most improved university in Asia. Additionally, it ranks 21?? in Southern Asia and 12?? in India. The university also ranks 239 globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 for Engineering and Technology, marking a remarkable leap of 250 positions, and makes a strong debut at 312 globally in Social Sciences and Management.
In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, UPES ranks in the 501-600 band globally, positioning itself among the top 10 universities in India at 7?? place. Furthermore, it has earned rankings in the THE World University Rankings by Subject 2025, with placements in the 401-500 band for Business and Economics, 301-400 band for Computer Science, and 401-500 for Engineering. UPES has also made a significant improvement in the THE Asia University Rankings 2025, ranking among the Top 10 institutions in India and the Top 200 in Asia, with a jump of nearly 100 positions.
UPES is also featured in the THE Young University Rankings 2024 in the 201-250 band. In the Shanghai Ranking 2024, the university stands among the top 150 universities globally in Telecommunication Engineering and Transportation Science & Engineering. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 places UPES 46?? among universities in India and ranks it 28?? in Law, 41?? in Management, and 42nd in Engineering. The university also ranks 4?? in India and 3?? in the North Zone among private universities in the BW Legal Rankings 2024.
In terms of accreditation, UPES holds an ‘A’ grade with a CGPA of 3.02 from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) for the period 2021-2026. Additionally, several programs across the UPES School of Advanced Engineering and the UPES School of Business are accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA). UPES is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956, and is also a member of several prestigious organisations, further underscoring its commitment to academic excellence and its growing reputation in various fields.
Job integration rate
UPES Dehradun has achieved a placement rate of approximately 91% for the Class of 2024, with over 1,950 students placed across various programmes. The highest salary package offered was INR 50.09 LPA, while the average package stood at INR 7.02 LPA. Notably, the top 10% of students secured an average package of INR 16.51 LPA. The university's strong industry connections and comprehensive training programmes have contributed to these outcomes.
General information
- UPES: Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation | UPES
- UPES Dehradun: Courses, Fees, Admission 2025 | Shiksha
- University of Petroleum and Energy Studies | ISTI Portal
- University of Petroleum and Energy Studies | LinkedIn
- UPES: Fees, Admission 2025, Courses, Cutoff, Ranking | Collegedunia
- University of Petroleum & Energy Studies (UPES) Rankings | U.S. News & World Report
- University of Petroleum and Energy Studies | Master Portal
- UPES : Rankings, Fees & Courses Details | Top Universities
- UPES | World University Rankings | THE
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Dr. Ram K. Sharma (Vice Chancellor)