Manipal Academy of Higher Education, widely known as MAHE (and formerly Manipal University), is a pioneering Deemed to be University. Its origins are historic, starting with Dr. T.M.A. Pai establishing India's first self-financing medical college, Kasturba Medical College (KMC), in 1953. This foundation grew into a vast educational network, leading to the Ministry of Education/UGC granting Deemed to be University status in 1993.
MAHE is a multi-disciplinary, multi-campus university with its main, iconic campus in Manipal, Karnataka, and other campuses in Mangaluru (Mangalore), Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and an international campus in Dubai. Its mission is to be a globally leading institution, providing excellence in education across diverse fields—most notably Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering, and Management—while fostering research, innovation, and a strong international outlook.
Key Recognitions:
Deemed to be University status by the UGC (1993).
Recognized by the Government of India as an Institution of Eminence (IoE), a top-tier status.
Holds the highest 'A++' Grade accreditation from NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council).
Consistently ranked among India's top universities by NIRF (e.g., Ranked 4th in the University category in 2024, 14th Overall). Its constituent colleges (KMC, MCODS, MCOPS) are also top-ranked in Medical, Dental, and Pharmacy categories.
Holds all necessary approvals from professional bodies: NMC (Medical), DCI (Dental), AICTE (Engineering, Management), PCI (Pharmacy), INC (Nursing), CoA (Architecture), etc.
Permitted u/s 10(A) for 2020-21, Permitted for Renewal of 150 seats for the academic year 2022-23. Permitted (3rd renewal) and permission for 4th batch for Academic Year 2023 - 2024. Annual renewal permission granted for 150 MBBS seats for AY 2024-25.
The Manipal campus is not just a campus; it's a vibrant, bustling university town.
Location: Situated on a plateau in Manipal, Udupi District, Karnataka, overlooking the Arabian Sea on one side and the Western Ghats on the other.
Campus Size & Vibe: A massive, sprawling campus (main campus ~313 acres, with over 800 acres in total) that is exceptionally well-planned, clean, and cosmopolitan. It's known for its diverse student body (from all over India and 60+ countries), safe environment, and abundant facilities, creating a unique, self-contained student city.
Infrastructure & Facilities:
Constituent Institutes: Dedicated, modern buildings for its numerous constituent institutes (KMC for Medicine, MIT for Engineering, MCODS for Dental, WGSHA for Hotel Management, etc.).
Libraries: A vast network of libraries, including a massive, state-of-the-art Health Sciences Library (one of Asia's largest), a huge MIT Central Library, and specialized libraries in each institute, offering millions of volumes and extensive digital access.
Advanced Laboratories: A cornerstone of MAHE. Features world-class labs for all engineering branches (robotics, AI, simulation), high-fidelity medical and nursing simulation centers, advanced pre-clinical/para-clinical labs, dental labs, virology labs, and numerous high-end research centers.
Hospital Integration: Seamless integration with the Kasturba Hospital.
Technology Enabled: Fully Wi-Fi-enabled campus, smart classrooms, extensive computing facilities.
Marena Sports Complex: A massive, centrally air-conditioned indoor sports complex (one of the largest in India) with gyms, tracks, swimming pool, squash courts, badminton courts, etc., alongside extensive outdoor sports fields.
Amenities: Multiple large food courts (Food Court 1 & 2), cafes, banks, ATMs, post office, shopping centers, Museum of Anatomy & Pathology (MAP), auditoriums (like KMC Greens), transport services.
Leading tertiary care hospital attached to the institution
Healthcare is foundational to MAHE's identity and history.
Flagship Colleges & Hospital: Yes, MAHE runs the legendary Kasturba Medical College (KMC), which operates across two campuses (Manipal and Mangalore). The Manipal campus is attached to the Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, a massive teaching hospital.
Kasturba Hospital, Manipal: This is a 2000+ bed multi-super specialty tertiary care hospital. Key features include:
Scale & Services: One of the largest private teaching hospitals in India, serving a vast population. It offers comprehensive services across nearly all medical and surgical specialties and super-specialties (Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology, Nephrology, Transplants, etc.).
Advanced Care: Equipped with 24x7 Emergency & Trauma, advanced Critical Care units, state-of-the-art Operation Theatres, high-end diagnostics (advanced Radiology, NABL accredited Labs), Blood Bank, Pharmacy.
Dental Hospital: The Manipal College of Dental Sciences (MCODS), Manipal (also highly ranked), operates its own large, comprehensive dental hospital with high patient volume.
Accreditations: Kasturba Hospital holds top quality accreditations like NABH and NABL.
Educational Engine: Kasturba Hospital and MCODS Hospital are the primary clinical training grounds for MAHE's students in MBBS, MD/MS, BDS, MDS, Nursing, Pharmacy (Pharm.D), Physiotherapy, and Allied Health Sciences, offering unparalleled, high-volume clinical exposure.
State University Affordability
As an Institution of Eminence and a top-ranked Deemed University, MAHE's fees are at the premium end, varying significantly by course and ranking.
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MAHE Manipal is predominantly residential, with a vast and highly organized hostel system.
Accommodation: Numerous, separate hostel blocks (over 20) for boys and girls are available, catering to ~10,000+ students. Offers a huge range of room types (AC/Non-AC, single/double/triple sharing, apartment-style, attached/common baths).
Amenities: Hostels are generally modern, clean, and secure (biometric access, 24/7 security), providing furniture, power backup, Wi-Fi, common rooms, TV, gyms, study halls, laundry services, housekeeping, and warden supervision.
Dining: Multiple large mess halls and massive food courts cater to the diverse (national and international) student population, offering multi-cuisine, hygienic food options (pay-as-you-eat or fixed mess plans).
Cost: Hostel and mess fees are a significant additional annual expense. Costs vary extremely based on AC/Non-AC, room type (single vs. sharing), and attached/common bath. Expect annual hostel charges alone to range roughly from ₹90,000 to ₹3.0 Lakhs or more, plus mess charges (which vary based on consumption).
Getting Through the Door:
Manipal Entrance Test (MET): The university conducts its own national-level online entrance exam, MET, which is the primary gateway for admission to B.Tech and many other UG/PG programs (like B.Pharm/Pharm.D, B.Sc Nursing, BBA, BA Media Comm, Allied Health). Rank in MET determines admission and scholarship eligibility.
Medical/Dental (MBBS/BDS/MD/MS/MDS): Admission is strictly based on qualifying ranks in NEET-UG or NEET-PG/MDS. As a Deemed University, seat allotment for almost all seats (General/Management/NRI) is done through the centralized counselling conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), DGHS, Govt. of India.
MBA: Admission to institutes like TAPMI is based on scores from national tests like CAT/XAT/NMAT/GMAT, followed by GD/PI.
Other Scores: NATA (for B.Arch), UCEED (for B.Des) are required for specific programs.
Merit-Based: Some Arts/Science programs may offer direct admission based on Class 12 merit.
Career Kickstart (Placements): MAHE (Manipal) has an outstanding placement record, especially for its flagship institutes (MIT, KMC, MCODS, WGSHA, TAPMI).
Strong Industry Links: Deeply embedded connections with a vast number of top global and Indian companies. Placement cells are highly active and professional.
Recruiters: Attracts a "who's who" of corporate India and MNCs, especially in IT/Software (Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Intel, TCS, Infosys, Wipro), Core Engineering, Banking & Finance, Consulting (Deloitte, KPMG), FMCG, Healthcare (top hospital chains for health professions), Hospitality (top hotel chains for WGSHA).
Salary Potential: MAHE consistently reports excellent placement figures. Highest packages are frequently very high (often exceeding ₹50 LPA - ₹60 LPA for top tech roles). The average package for core B.Tech (CSE) and MBA graduates is very strong, typically landing in the ₹8 LPA to ₹12 LPA+ range. Clinical graduates (MBBS/BDS) follow established, high-earning career paths.
MAHE has a dedicated International Admissions team and a structured process for NRI/Foreign students.
Well-equipped Library
Experienced Faculty
Computer Lab
Sports Activities
Heritage Campus