What Are The Different Types Of Universities In India?

As the education sector evolves by the year, changes are introduced to the age-old education system as well. Students completing 10+2 and keen to apply to a university for an undergraduate degree are eager to learn more about the different types of universities in India to better understand the options available before them. This is important to aspiring students as it helps them better plan their choices before applying to any single university blindly. And, with multiple choices available, students too feel empowered to make the right decision for a rewarding career path ahead.

This blog therefore aims at delving deeper into the different types of universities in India so that if you too are a university applicant, you’re better informed and can make a suitable decision for your future. 

Education System In India - An Overview

The higher education system in India comprises both government (or public) and private universities. While public universities are administered by the central and state governments of India, private universities are governed by various authorized educational societies and bodies.

Types Of Universities In India

Let us now briefly understand the different types of universities that exist in India:

1. Central University: Also known as the Union University, it has been set up by an Act of Parliament and falls under the purview of the Department of Higher Education or DHE, a part of the Ministry of Education. There are 54 central universities in India, as recorded by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Some of the most popular ones include Rajiv Gandhi University, Indira Gandhi, National Open University (IGNOU), and the University of Delhi, among others.

2. State University: State universities work under the directives of a specific state government. They are established by the Act of a local legislative assembly. The UGC records nearly 441 state universities in India. These include the oldest such as the University of Mumbai, the University of Madras, and the University of Calcutta which were established in 1857. 

3. Private University: As the name suggests, a private university is authorized by the UGC and allowed to grant degrees to students but not to have off-campus affiliated academies. The UGC has recorded about 397 private universities in India such as the Assam Don Bosco University, Maharishi Markandeshwar University in Haryana, Ahmedabad University, and the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India in Jharkhand. 

4. Deemed University: A deemed university receives an autonomous status from the DHE with the consent of the UGC under Section 3 of the UGC Act. The UGC records at least 126 Deemed universities in India. The first university on this list was the Indian Institute of Science which was awarded the “deemed” status in 1958.

5. Autonomous Colleges: These are academic bodies with no affiliated institutions and are not officially titled ‘universities’ but are permitted to grant degrees to students. They are called autonomous colleges under the DHE. A few examples include the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT), the IIT, and the National Institutes of Technology (NIT). Apart from these, various units of the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and the IIMs are also autonomous academies.

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Key Differences Between Private, Deemed, and Autonomous Institutes In India

To avoid any further confusion in the students’ minds, let us further understand how a private university is different from a deemed or autonomous institution. The table below enumerates some of the key distinguishing factors between the three:

Final Word

We tried to explain the different types of universities that operate in India to help you get a better understanding of the various institutions before you take the first step in your higher education journey. 

The type of university you choose can depend on a variety of factors - its reputation, credibility, alumni testimony, fee structure, etc. 

With changing times and revolutions in the education sector, several universities are now going to the online mode to offer the maximum convenience to students. They can now choose to learn from home and enjoy the full benefits of classroom learning and formal degree perusal right from their couch! Amity University Online is one such online learning platform of the popular Amity University, one of the best private universities in India. Amity Online strives to help students avail themselves of all the benefits of formal learning from the comfort of their homes. We offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in varied domains and disciplines. 

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