The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU), formerly Baroda College, is a premier public State University located in Vadodara, Gujarat. Its origins trace back to 1881 with the founding of Baroda College by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. On April 30, 1949, it was formally established as a university, becoming the only university in Gujarat with a residential, unitary character and English as the sole medium of instruction across all its faculties.
Its mission, inspired by its visionary founders, is to be a leading institution for education and research. It operates as a major teaching university, with its academic life centered around its numerous on-campus faculties and departments, rather than a vast network of affiliated colleges (though it does have a few constituent colleges).
Key Recognitions:
Established by the Government of Baroda (now a State University).
Recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Holds the high 'A+' Grade accreditation from NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council).
Consistently ranked by NIRF, particularly for its Faculty of Pharmacy (Ranked 44th in 2024), and in the 101-150 band for the University category.
Holds necessary approvals from professional bodies like AICTE (Engineering, Management, Pharmacy), NCTE (Education), BCI (Law), and CoA (Architecture).
Recognized for 180 seats, when degree granted on or after 2016-2017. renewal of permission for increase of seats from 180 to 250 u/s 10(A) granted for 2020-21, Recognized for 180 seats, when degree granted on or after 2016-2017. renewal of permission for increase of seats from 180 to 250 u/s 10(A) granted for 2020-21. Permitted for Renewal of 180-250 seats for the academic year 2022-23. COR granted for one(01) year for 2022-23 only. Permitted for admission for 2023-24. Annual renewal permission granted for 250 MBBS seats for AY 2024-25.
MSU's campus is a defining feature of Vadodara, known for its iconic architecture.
Location: Situated in the heart of Vadodara (Baroda), Gujarat, with its main campus in Pratapgunj. It has 6 satellite campuses spread across 275 acres.
Vibe: The campus is an urban oasis, famous for its majestic Indo-Saracenic architecture, most notably the main Arts Faculty building (Baroda College) with its grand dome. It's a bustling, cosmopolitan environment with over 35,000 students, offering a rich academic and cultural life.
Infrastructure & Facilities:
Constituent Faculties: Features 13 faculties (e.g., Arts, Science, Commerce, Technology & Engineering, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Law, Management) and several institutes (like the Oriental Institute) and constituent colleges (like Baroda Sanskrit Mahavidhyalaya).
Dhanvantri Library: The university's large central library, with a 4-story building, holds a massive collection of nearly 5 lakh books and provides extensive digital access.
Laboratories: Well-equipped labs for all science and technology departments, including specialized facilities at the Faculty of Technology & Engineering (Kala Bhavan) and a "Super Computer Facility."
Museums & Arts: Home to the renowned Faculty of Fine Arts and the Faculty of Performing Arts, which are hubs for creative expression. The Oriental Institute holds over 10,000 ancient manuscripts, including a famous critical edition of the Ramayana.
Residential Life: Extensive residential facilities with 17 hostels (12 for boys, 4 for women) accommodating a large student population.
Amenities: Health Centre, large university auditorium, computer center, Bank (J&K Bank), post office, canteens, and a magnificent Union Pavilion ground with comprehensive sports facilities (cricket, hockey, football, tennis, basketball, swimming pool).
Leading tertiary care hospital attached to the institution
It's important to clarify MSU's role in medical education.
No Constituent MBBS College: MSU Baroda does not have its own constituent Medical College offering the MBBS degree. The "Faculty of Medicine" listed in its structure is an affiliating faculty.
Affiliation Role: The university acts as the affiliating university for the Government Medical College, Baroda (Baroda Medical College), which is attached to the large Sir Sayajirao General (SSG) Hospital. Admissions to this college are not handled by MSU but by the state's centralized medical admission committee (ACPUGMEC) based on NEET scores.
Health-Related Programs (On Campus): The university's own campus offers strong programs in Pharmaceutical Sciences (B.Pharm/M.Pharm) at its Faculty of Pharmacy, as well as M.Sc. programs in Life Sciences (Biochemistry, Microbiology, Zoology, Botany) and various paramedical/health science diplomas, but not clinical medicine (MBBS).
State University Affordability
Being a public state university, MSU Baroda's fees for its regular, government-aided programs are extremely affordable. Self-financed courses (like BBA, BCA, or specific seats in MBA) have higher fees but are still very competitive.
MSU is a unitary residential university, with a strong tradition of hostel life.
Availability: Yes, the university has a large hostel system with 17 hostels (12 for boys, 4 for women) accommodating over 4,500 students on its main campus.
Facilities: Hostels offer basic furnished accommodation (single, double, triple sharing), common rooms, dining halls (messes), 24/7 security, warden supervision, and access to campus sports and health facilities.
Mess System: Each hostel block has an attached mess, often run on a cooperative or contract basis, providing regular meals.
Cost: As a state university, the hostel and mess fees are extremely economical. Expect annual hostel fees (rent, electricity, etc.) to be very low. Mess charges are separate and paid monthly based on actuals (likely ~₹3,000 - ₹4,000 per month).
Getting Admitted:
B.Tech / B.Arch / B.Pharm: Admission is based on GUJCET (Gujarat CET) or JEE (Main) (for B.Tech) / NATA (for B.Arch). Counselling is managed by the ACPC (Admission Committee for Professional Courses), Gujarat.
MBA (FMS): Admission is based on CMAT scores, followed by centralized counselling (ACPC) or university-level selection.
BA/B.Sc/B.Com (Hons) & most UG/PG (On-Campus): Admission to most general and professional on-campus courses (like BBA, BCA, BA LLB, MA, M.Sc, M.Com) is managed through the university's own online admission portal (msubaroda.ac.in), often based on merit in the qualifying exam (Class 12/Graduation) or a university-conducted entrance test.
Affiliated Colleges (General UG): Admissions to general UG courses in affiliated colleges are managed through the Gujarat Common Admission Services (GCAS) portal.
MBBS / BDS (Affiliated): Admission is strictly based on rank in NEET-UG. Seat allotment is handled by the Admission Committee for Professional Undergraduate Medical Educational Courses (ACPUGMEC), Gujarat.
Ph.D.: Admission involves a University Entrance Test (PET) followed by interviews. NET/JRF/GATE qualified candidates are usually exempted.
Career Support (Placements):
Focus: MSU has a central Career and Counselling Cell, and faculties (like FMS and Technology) have very strong, active placement cells.
Strengths: Placements are particularly strong for the Faculty of Technology & Engineering (FTE/Kala Bhavan), Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), and Faculty of Pharmacy.
Recruiters: Attracts a wide range of top-tier companies, including IT/Software (Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Accenture, Cognizant), Core Engineering (L&T, Bosch, Siemens), Pharma (Sun Pharma, Zydus, Cipla), Banking & Finance (ICICI, HDFC, Axis), and Consulting firms (Deloitte, KPMG).
Salary Potential: Varies greatly. MBA (FMS) reports high placements with an average package around ₹7.3 LPA and the highest reaching ₹16 LPA. B.Tech (FTE) also has a strong record, with average packages for CSE/ECE often in the ₹6 LPA - ₹8 LPA range. Graduates from Arts, Science, and Commerce often pursue government jobs, further studies, or careers in academia.
MSU has a dedicated International Students' Centre (ICCR) and provisions for foreign/NRI students.
Well-equipped Library
Experienced Faculty
Computer Lab
Sports Activities
Heritage Campus