Manipal Academy of Higher Education
A private university town in coastal Karnataka that grew from Kasturba Medical College, a self-financing medical college founded in 1953.
- Students
- 35,000
- International
- 12%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 8.6:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- ₹177.6K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1953
About MAHE
Manipal Academy of Higher Education began in 1953, when T. M. A. Pai founded Kasturba Medical College, which MAHE describes as the first self-financing medical college; Manipal Institute of Technology followed, and in 1993 the group of institutions was declared a deemed-to-be university. In October 2020 the Ministry of Education named it an Institution of Eminence. The main campus is a university town on a plateau in Karnataka's Udupi district, with further campuses in Mangaluru, Bengaluru and Jamshedpur and an offshore campus in Dubai.
MAHE says over 35,000 students from more than 60 countries study there, taught by more than 3,000 faculty, across about 300 programmes in health sciences, engineering, management, communication, humanities, liberal arts, law and design. Its constituent institutions include Kasturba Medical College in Manipal and Mangaluru, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal College of Dental Sciences and Manipal College of Health Professions. Facilities include a simulation lab with computer-driven manikins, a health sciences library the university calls one of Asia's largest, and the MARENA indoor sports complex.
Admission is merit-based and run centrally: MBBS and BDS go through the national NEET exam, B.Tech and many health programmes through the Manipal Entrance Test, and international and NRI applicants (15% of seats) are admitted on school results without an entrance exam, except for NEET-based and architecture programmes. MAHE suits students who want a large, residential, English-medium campus with strong medicine and engineering and can meet private-university fees.
Inspired by Life
University motto
Why students choose MAHE
Kasturba Medical College, founded in 1953 and described by MAHE as the first self-financing medical college, and Manipal Institute of Technology, alma mater of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
International students applying in the Foreign/NRI category are admitted on school results with no entrance exam for most undergraduate programmes.
B.Tech dual-degree routes with the Australian National University, Monash University and Macquarie University (2+2 years).
A self-contained university town with hostels for most programmes and the MARENA sports complex with badminton, squash, tennis and basketball courts.
Admissions
2027 entry (the latest published dates and fees are for 2026 admissions)
Selectivity
MAHE does not publish an acceptance rate. All admissions are merit-based. Indian (general category) applicants to B.Tech, B.Pharm, nursing, allied health and several other programmes take the Manipal Entrance Test (MET); MBBS, BDS and medical PG admission is by NEET rank and national/state counselling. Foreign/NRI category seats (15% of the total) are filled first-come-first-served on merit, based on 10+2 or equivalent results.
Typical entry requirements
| Indian 10+2 (CBSE, ISC or state boards) | Programme-specific eligibility set by the regulatory bodies, plus MET, NEET or NATA as applicable |
|---|---|
| GCE A-levels | At least five IGCSE/GCSE/O-level passes including English, and two or three A-level subjects (depending on the programme) averaging at least a D grade |
| IB Diploma | 3 HL and 3 SL subjects, a minimum of 3 points in each subject and at least 24 points overall (12 in HL and 12 in SL), plus programme-specific subject requirements |
| Other foreign qualifications | 12-year high school diploma from an accredited US school, Gulf secondary certificates and others recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), with an AIU equivalence certificate |
Deadlines
- B.Tech (MIT Manipal and Bengaluru) Non-binding Passed30 April (2026 admissions)
MET-based. Classes began around 20 July 2026 at MIT Manipal.
- B.Sc Nursing Non-binding Passed30 April (2026 admissions)
- B.Pharm / PharmD Non-binding Passed20 June (2026 admissions)
- Allied health bachelor's programmes (MCHP) Non-binding Passed15 July (2026 admissions)
- MBBS and BDS Non-bindingPer NEET guidelines and MCC counselling
Admission by NEET rank for all categories, including Foreign/NRI.
MAHE publishes a 'Dates to Remember' table each year; the dates above are from the 2026 admission cycle. Dates for 2027 entry have not yet been published.
How to apply
Apply online at apply.manipal.edu (a three-step registration with email, mobile number and password). Indian applicants then sit the MET or apply through NEET or NATA as required and attend online counselling. Foreign/NRI applicants are admitted on 10+2 results and confirm their seat by paying the full first-year fee, after which MAHE issues a Confirmed Admission letter for the student visa.
What admissions looks for
- Merit in the qualifying examination: 10+2 or equivalent results for Foreign/NRI applicants.
- Entrance test performance for Indian applicants: MET rank for most programmes, NEET rank for MBBS and BDS.
- Subject-wise eligibility laid down by the relevant statutory body for each programme.
- A qualification from a recognised board, with AIU equivalence for foreign qualifications.
Tips for applying to MAHE
- 1 International and NRI seats are allocated first-come-first-served on merit, so apply early rather than waiting for the deadline.
- 2 Get your AIU equivalence certificate sorted if you studied outside India: it is required for admission.
- 3 If you want MBBS or BDS, NEET is compulsory even for Foreign/NRI applicants.
- 4 Confirming a Foreign/NRI seat by paying the first-year fee means you cannot later switch to a general-category seat, so decide your category carefully.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in INR
MAHE offers a long list of merit scholarships, including Kalam-Pai freeship and scholar awards for MBBS and BDS, freeship, scholar and achiever scholarships for B.Tech and B.Pharm, a scholarship for meritorious girls joining MIT Manipal, and merit scholarships for international students. Indian students can also use government portals (NSP, Karnataka SSP) and education loans through the Vidya Lakshmi portal and partner banks.
- 15%
- Foreign/NRI share of seats
- Rs 10,000 (Indian) or US$200 (Foreign/NRI)
- Refundable caution deposit
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters; fees are paid in yearly instalments
MBBS (Kasturba Medical College)
Taught at Kasturba Medical College, founded in 1953 and described by MAHE as the first self-financing medical college; admission by NEET rank.
B.Tech Computer Science and Engineering (MIT Manipal)
MAHE's flagship engineering degree, with 2+2 dual-degree options with the Australian National University and Monash University.
B.Pharm / PharmD (MCOPS)
From the Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, which the university reports in the QS subject rankings.
B.Tech Aeronautical Engineering
Offered at MIT Manipal with a dual-degree route with the Australian National University.
Allied health sciences (MCHP)
A wide range of bachelor's programmes from physiotherapy and optometry to cardiovascular technology and nuclear medicine technology.
Media and communication (MIC)
The Manipal Institute of Communication trained film director Nag Ashwin, who took his mass communication degree at MAHE.
Research
- Designated an Institution of Eminence by India's Ministry of Education in October 2020.
- Facilities include a simulation lab with computer-driven manikins, an Innovation Centre and a business incubation centre.
- The university says it has one of Asia's largest health sciences libraries and one of the world's best anatomy museums.
Schools & faculties
- Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
- Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru
- Manipal Institute of Technology
- Manipal College of Dental Sciences
- Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Manipal College of Health Professions
- Manipal College of Nursing
- Manipal Institute of Communication
- Manipal School of Architecture and Planning
- Manipal School of Life Sciences
- Manipal Law School, Bengaluru
- Manipal Tata Medical College, Jamshedpur
Student life
Manipal is a university town: most students live in hostels allotted through an online portal, with separate boys' and girls' hostels ranging from triple non-AC rooms to single AC rooms with attached baths, and meals in the mess are compulsory for first-year undergraduates in hostels. The MARENA indoor sports complex has five badminton courts, four squash courts, three tennis courts, a basketball court, a gym and a walking track. MAHE also runs events such as the Manipal Marathon, the Utsav festival and the Manipal Entrepreneurship Summit, and students come from more than 60 countries.
- MARENA indoor sports complex with badminton, squash, tennis and basketball courts and a gym.
- Campus events including the Manipal Marathon, Utsav and the Manipal Entrepreneurship Summit.
- Students from more than 60 countries on the main campus.
- Hostel rooms chosen online through the Hostel Management System, with a compulsory mess for first-year undergraduates.
Housing. Hostels are booked online after admission and paid yearly; first-year UG rates at the Manipal health sciences campus start at Rs 53,000 (nursing triple rooms; Rs 79,000 for a non-AC double) plus a Rs 62,000 mess advance.
Location
Manipal is a small university town on a plateau in Udupi district, coastal Karnataka, close to the Arabian Sea coast. Life revolves around the campus, with hostels, food courts and sports facilities on site. MAHE also has campuses in Mangaluru, Bengaluru and Jamshedpur and an offshore campus in Dubai. International students must register on the e-FRRO portal within 14 days of arriving in India.
Nearest airport: Mangaluru International Airport (IXE)
Notable alumni
- SN Satya NadellaCEO of Microsoft; bachelor's in electrical engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology (1988)
- RC Rajeev ChandrasekharEntrepreneur and former Union Minister of State; studied electrical engineering at Manipal Institute of Technology
- VK Vikas KhannaMichelin-starred chef; studied hotel management, graduating in 1991
- SM Sheikh Muszaphar ShukorOrthopaedic surgeon and first Malaysian astronaut; MBBS from Kasturba Medical College
- NA Nag AshwinTelugu film director and screenwriter; bachelor's in mass communication
- AS Arun ShenoyGrammy-nominated musician and producer; engineering degree from Manipal Institute of Technology (1999)
Frequently asked questions
Do international students need an entrance exam for Manipal?
Not for most undergraduate programmes: Foreign/NRI applicants are admitted on 10+2 or equivalent results. MBBS and BDS require NEET, and B.Arch requires NATA.
How much does B.Tech at Manipal cost?
For 2026-27 entrants, first-year B.Tech Computer Science and Engineering costs Rs 6,08,000 (tuition plus other fees) for Indian students and US$15,150 for Foreign/NRI students, plus a refundable deposit.
How do I get into MBBS at Manipal?
All MBBS admissions, including Foreign/NRI seats, are based on NEET rank and national counselling. First-year fees at KMC Manipal are Rs 17,73,000 (general) or US$49,250 (Foreign/NRI) for 2026-27 entrants.
What IB score do I need for Manipal?
At least 24 points overall (12 in HL and 12 in SL), with 3 HL and 3 SL subjects and at least 3 points in each, plus any subject requirements for your programme.
Does Manipal have hostels?
Yes. Hostels are booked online after admission; for first-year undergraduates at the health sciences campus, annual rates start at Rs 53,000 (nursing triple rooms; Rs 79,000 for a non-AC double) plus a compulsory Rs 62,000 mess advance.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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