1001-1200 in the world · QS 2027

Panjab University, Chandigarh

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ

A 550-acre Chandigarh campus designed by Pierre Jeanneret, with reserved supernumerary seats for foreign students.

Chandigarh, Chandigarh (Union Territory), India Public university (funded by the central and state governments) Founded 1882 Official website

See my chances at PU Admissions office

Photo: Sarbjit Bahga · CC BY-SA 4.0

Students: 16,880; 8,181 undergraduates
Tuition: $1,425; From · 2026-27
Founded: 1882
QS World Ranking: 1001-1200; 2027 edition

About PU

Panjab University began in Lahore in 1882, and, according to Wikipedia, was re-established in independent India on 1 October 1947 as East Punjab University. Its Chandigarh campus, with a red sandstone design by Pierre Jeanneret under the guidance of Le Corbusier, was occupied during 1958-1960. Today the university describes about 550 acres across Sectors 14 and 25, 74 teaching and research departments, and 202 affiliated and 6 constituent colleges spread over Punjab and Chandigarh.

Its faculties include Arts, Science, Languages, Law, Education, Fine Arts, Business Management and Commerce, Engineering and Technology, Medical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Dairying, Animal Husbandry and Agriculture. Landmark buildings include the Gandhi Bhawan, the Fine Arts Museum, the Library and the Student Centre. PU says it is taking part in the CMS and ALICE experiments at CERN and the neutrino programme at Fermilab.

For foreign students, PU has created 25% supernumerary seats over and above the sanctioned seats in each UG and PG course (except BDS/MDS and courses under regulators that do not allow additional seats). The entrance-test condition is waived for foreign national and NRI students, and English test scores are waived if you studied in English. The university says about 400 international students study at PU and its local affiliated colleges. It suits students who want a large, research-active Indian public university with a defined international route.

Tamasō mā jyotirgamaya

“Lead us into the light from darkness” — university motto

Why students choose PU

25% supernumerary seats for International/Foreign National students in each UG and PG course, with entrance tests waived for most courses.

Published USD fees per course, for example US$1,425 a year for B.Sc. (Hons School) and US$6,000 for B.E. courses, with lower fees for SAARC and under-developed country students.

A campus of about 550 acres with an International Hostel, and a Dean of International Students office that runs orientation and cultural programmes.

Research links include the CMS and ALICE experiments at CERN and DST-PURSE funding of Rs. 34.8 crore, according to PU's profile page.

Admissions

Session 2026-27 (latest published)

Selectivity

No acceptance rate is published. Foreign National and NRI students are admitted against supernumerary seats (25% over sanctioned seats), and the entrance test is waived for most courses.

Testing Entrance test waived for Foreign National and NRI students in UG/PG programmes (from session 2024-25), except BDS/MDS and courses under a regulatory body that does not allow exemption. Wards of NRI/FN: waived for 2026-27 except in the same excluded cases.

Typical entry requirements

Eligibility/equivalence certificate	First-time entrants must obtain an eligibility certificate from the Deputy Registrar (General), Panjab University, and submit it to the department or college
Study in India (SII) ID	Mandatory: register on the Study in India portal and generate a unique SII ID to start admission; needed for student or e-student visas
English language	Students from non-English-speaking countries need not take IELTS/TOEFL if they passed their degree or lower examination at an institution with English as the medium of instruction for the entire course; they submit a Medium of Instruction Certificate.

Deadlines

Dates are notified per course as admission notices (for example, an 'Entrance test-cum-admission notice' for 2026-27). The international guidelines say students apply within the dates notified by PU; no fixed 2027-28 dates were found on the pages fetched.

How to apply

Register on the Study in India portal to get a unique SII ID, then apply through the Panjab University website (online, offline or by email within the notified dates). Candidates provisionally selected receive provisional admission letters for the student visa; final admission needs the passport and student visa. Foreign nationals sponsored by the Government of India or under ICCR schemes apply through the ICCR website.

What admissions looks for

Meeting the eligibility rules for your chosen course, verified through the eligibility certificate.
A registered Study in India ID and a valid passport and student visa.
For courses with a regulatory body (such as BDS/MDS), any entrance test that body requires.

Tips for applying to PU

1 Register on the Study in India portal first: your SII ID is needed for the student visa and is the tracking ID for your whole stay.
2 Apply for the eligibility certificate early: the request form is on forms.puchd.ac.in.
3 If you come from an English-medium school or degree, get a Medium of Instruction Certificate instead of taking IELTS or TOEFL.
4 Check whether you qualify for the SAARC or under-developed countries fee concession before choosing a course.

Costs & financial aid

2026-27 · figures in USD

Foreign National/PIO/NRI students admitted to supernumerary seats, annual total fee in US dollars (tuition plus development fund, per annum) for 2026-27 on the PU fee structure: B.Sc. (Hons School) US$1,425 up to B.E. all courses at UIET US$6,000 (range shown covers undergraduate degrees excluding dentistry). BDS is US$12,000 in year 1 and US$8,000 in years 2-4. Postgraduate courses start at US$1,425 (most M.A. and M.Ed courses), M.Sc. is US$2,500 and MBA US$6,000; MDS is a US$100,000 lump sum. SAARC and under-developed country students pay less (for example US$800 for B.Sc. (Hons School)). Tuition $1,425 – $6,000

Financial aid

SAARC and under-developed country students pay reduced annual fees (for example US$800 for B.Sc. (Hons School) against US$1,425), and students admitted under ICCR schemes and Tibetan refugee students are treated separately for registration fees. Foreign students also pay a one-time registration fee of US$1,160 or US$770, depending on category, and a foreign students' welfare fee.

1,425 (SAARC/under-developed countries: 800)
B.Sc. (Hons School), annual fee (US$): 5,000
B.Pharm and LL.B., annual fee (US$): 6,000
B.E. at UIET, annual fee (US$)

Academics

Academic calendar: Semester system (as described in the admission instructions)

B.E. (University Institute of Engineering and Technology)

All B.E. courses cost US$6,000 a year for foreign students; UIET is under the TEQIP programme and has a Design Innovation Centre.

B.Pharm (University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

UIPS has a Networking Resource Centre and is covered by CAS and FIST research support programmes; US$5,000 a year for foreign students.

LL.B. and five-year Law courses

PU's Department of Laws counts Chief Justices of India among its alumni; US$5,000 a year for foreign students.

B.Sc. (Hons School)

The core science degree across Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Zoology and more at US$1,425 a year for foreign students.

B.A. (Hons.) in Economics

Foreign fee US$2,850 a year; economics is a department with DRS research support.

Research

PU says it participates in the CMS and ALICE experiments at CERN and in the neutrino programme at Fermilab.
It was selected under DST-PURSE and received Rs. 34.8 crore for research infrastructure.
The UGC recognises PU as a 'University with Potential for Excellence in Biomedical Sciences', with stem cell and drug development facilities.

Schools & faculties

Faculty of Arts
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Languages
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Fine Arts
Faculty of Business Management and Commerce
Faculty of Engineering and Technology
Faculty of Medical Sciences
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Faculty of Dairying, Animal Husbandry and Agriculture

PU has a Central Placement Cell; no graduate employment figures were found on the pages fetched.

Student life

PU's campus is a self-contained university town with a shopping centre, health centre, bank, post office, swimming pool, gymnasium, sports grounds, botanical gardens and an open-air theatre. The Student Centre, opened in 1975, is a hub for events and houses the university students' council. Hostels include 8 for boys, 10 for girls, a working women's hostel, an International Hostel and 2 sports hostels. The Dean of International Students organises orientation-cum-cultural programmes, English and soft-skills workshops and an annual farewell.

Student Centre (StuC), opened in 1975, with the students' council office.
Gandhi Bhawan, Fine Arts Museum and the library form the campus hub.
Orientation-cum-cultural programmes and English and soft-skills workshops for international students.
Menstrual leave for female students from the 2024-25 session, according to Wikipedia.

Housing. The campus has 8 boys' hostels, 10 girls' hostels, a Working Women Hostel, 2 sports hostels and an International Hostel, and the Dean of International Students office helps find hostel or residential accommodation.

Location

Panjab University is in Sectors 14 and 25 of Chandigarh, the newly built capital of Punjab, and the campus was designed as part of the new city. The Dean of International Students office is in Guru Teg Bahadur Bhawan, Sector 14, on the PU campus.

Nearest airport: Chandigarh International Airport (IXC)

Notable alumni

MS
Manmohan Singh

13th Prime Minister of India (former); studied Economics at Panjab University (BA 1952, MA 1954), per Wikipedia
SM
Sunil Mittal

Founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises; graduated with a BA from Panjab University in 1976, per Wikipedia
RT
Romila Thapar

Historian; graduated in English literature from Panjab University, per Wikipedia
KB
Kiran Bedi

Former Indian Police Service officer; master's degree in political science from Panjab University (1970), per Wikipedia
AK
Anupam Kher

Actor; studied Indian theatre at Panjab University (after leaving another university course), per Wikipedia
VB
Vikram Batra

Army officer and Param Vir Chakra recipient (Kargil war); enrolled in the MA English course at Panjab University in 1995, per Wikipedia

Frequently asked questions

Do foreign students need an entrance exam for Panjab University?

For most UG and PG courses no: the entrance test is waived for Foreign National and NRI students from session 2024-25, except BDS/MDS and courses run under a regulatory body that does not allow exemption.

How much are Panjab University's fees for international students?

For 2026-27 the annual total fee for foreign students ranges from US$1,425 (B.Sc. Hons School) to US$6,000 (B.E. and MBA), with BDS at US$12,000 in the first year. SAARC and under-developed country students pay less.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL for Panjab University?

Not if you passed your degree or lower examination at an institution where English was the medium of instruction for the entire course. You submit a Medium of Instruction Certificate instead.

What is the Study in India ID?

A unique ID that every foreign student must generate by registering on the Study in India portal before starting admission. It is required for student and e-student visas.

What is Panjab University's QS ranking?

In QS World University Rankings 2027 it is in the 1001-1200 band. In THE World University Rankings 2026 it is in the 601-800 band, and NIRF 2025 ranks it 35th among Indian universities. U.S. News Best Global Universities 2026-2027 has it at 713 (tied).

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.