Savitribai Phule Pune University
सावित्रीबाई फुले पुणे विद्यापीठ
Pune's 1949 state university, centred on a former Governor's House, with entrance-exam admission to its departments.
- Students
- 7,766
- 1,804 undergraduates
- International
- 1%
- of students
- Founded
- 1949
- QS World Ranking
- 791-800
- 2027 edition
About SPPU
Savitribai Phule Pune University was established on 10 February 1949 under the Poona University Act as the University of Poona, later the University of Pune. It was renamed in 2014 after the 19th-century social reformer Savitribai Phule. Its campus of about 411 acres at Ganeshkhind in north-western Pune is centred on the Main Building, originally the Governor's House used as a seasonal retreat by the Governor of Bombay.
SPPU is both a teaching and an affiliating university. On its own campus it has 46 academic departments offering mostly postgraduate programmes, from atmospheric science, physics and virology to economics, foreign languages, law and performing arts, plus a growing set of undergraduate and integrated degrees such as B.Sc. (Blended), B.Tech and data science programmes. Across Pune and nearby districts, 612 affiliated colleges and 307 recognised research institutes teach for SPPU degrees.
In its NIRF 2026 data the university reported about 1,800 undergraduates, 4,980 postgraduates and 990 PhD scholars in its own departments. It suits students who want to study in Pune, one of India's major education cities, at a large public university where admission to departments depends on a common online entrance examination.
Yaḥ kriyāvān saḥ paṇḍitaḥ
“Where actions prove knowledge” — university motto
Why students choose SPPU
A 411-acre campus in Pune built around the historic Main Building, the former Governor's House.
46 campus departments covering sciences, technology, humanities, languages, law, management and performing arts.
Transparent entrance-based admission: department seats are filled on merit in the Online Entrance Examination.
Distinguished alumni including a Prime Minister of India, a President of India and a Prime Minister of Yemen.
Admissions
2027-28 academic year (details shown are from the 2026-27 cycle)
Selectivity
SPPU does not publish an acceptance rate. Seats in university departments are filled strictly on merit in the Online Entrance Examination (OEE), following Maharashtra reservation norms; 30% of undergraduate seats are reserved for women.
Typical entry requirements
| PG programmes (M.A., M.Sc., M.Com., M.Tech, LL.M.) | A relevant bachelor's degree meeting the department's eligibility (for example, B.Sc. with specified subjects for M.Sc. programmes), plus merit in the OEE |
|---|---|
| UG and integrated programmes | Higher secondary (Class XII) with the required subjects, plus merit in the OEE |
| International students | Apply through SPPU's International Centre (UG/PG admission, PhD admission and ICCR scholars) |
Deadlines
- OEE online application, 2026-27 (reference) Non-binding Passed13 April to 15 May 2026
Previous cycle; later extended to 25 May 2026.
- Online Entrance Examination 2026 (reference) Non-binding Passed1 to 13 June 2026 (tentative)
Previous cycle; centre-based online exam, later rescheduled.
These are 2026-27 cycle dates from SPPU's OEE notification. The 2027-28 notification had not been published on the pages checked; applications usually open in April.
How to apply
Apply online through SPPU's Campus Common Entrance Platform (CCEP), paying a processing fee of Rs 800 (Rs 600 for reserved categories) for each programme, and take the Online Entrance Examination at a test centre. Merit lists are published by department; admitted students then submit documents and pay fees. International students apply through the International Centre.
What admissions looks for
- A high score in the Online Entrance Examination, which alone decides merit for department seats.
- Strong subject knowledge: 80 of the 100 marks test the programme's subject.
- Eligibility in the qualifying degree or Class XII subjects listed for each programme.
Tips for applying to SPPU
- 1 Practise for negative marking: each wrong answer costs a quarter of the question's marks.
- 2 Ties are broken on the subject section (Section B), so focus preparation there.
- 3 Pay a separate processing fee and fill a separate application for every programme you want.
- 4 Hostel places are not guaranteed with admission, so apply for accommodation early.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in INR
Students can apply for Government of India and Maharashtra government scholarships and fellowships, and SPPU runs its own schemes such as Earn and Learn, under its own procedures; the university notes that admission does not guarantee hostel or financial support. In 2024-25, about 1,950 of the roughly 6,780 UG and PG students in university departments received full tuition reimbursement from government (NIRF 2026 data). International students can come through ICCR scholarships, and the International Centre runs the Anuj Bidve Memorial Scholarship.
- Rs 800 (Rs 600 for reserved categories)
- OEE processing fee per programme (2026-27)
- About 1,950 of 6,780
- UG and PG students in university departments receiving full tuition reimbursement from government (NIRF 2026 data, 2024-25)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
M.Sc. Virology (ICMR-National Institute of Virology)
A programme run with India's National Institute of Virology in Pune, with its own reservation rules.
M.Sc. Atmospheric Science
From the Department of Atmospheric and Space Sciences.
B.Sc. (Blended) and data science degrees
Newer undergraduate options in the university departments, admitted through the OEE.
Foreign language M.A. programmes (French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Russian)
Offered by the Department of Foreign Languages.
Integrated M.A. in Dance, Music and Theatre
Five-year programmes at the Centre for Performing Arts.
Research
- About 307 recognised research institutes are linked to the university.
- SPPU received about Rs 31.5 crore for 163 sponsored research projects in 2024-25, according to its NIRF 2026 data.
- It reported 986 full-time PhD scholars and 108 PhDs awarded in 2024-25.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Science and Technology
- Faculty of Commerce and Management
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies
NIRF 2026 data: of 1,686 students graduating from 2-year PG programmes in 2024-25, 707 were placed (median salary Rs 3.5 lakh) and 104 went on to higher studies.
Student life
The Ganeshkhind campus is large, green and historic, with the stone Main Building, once the Governor's House, at its centre. Most students on campus are postgraduates and researchers, and the International Centre supports a sizeable community from abroad with cultural and food festivals, English proficiency support and hostel admission. Pune itself, known as the Oxford of the East for its many colleges, adds a lot, and campus life spills into the wider city.
- The Main Building, formerly the Governor's House, at the heart of campus.
- International Centre events such as the International Cultural Festival and International Food Festival.
- Performing arts programmes in dance, music and theatre at the Centre for Performing Arts.
- An International Youth Festival organised through the International Centre.
Housing. Hostels are available but admission to a programme does not guarantee a hostel place; international students apply for hostel admission through the International Centre.
Location
Pune, in Maharashtra, is one of India's largest IT hubs and an automobile and manufacturing centre, and is often called the Oxford of the East for its educational institutions. The campus is at Ganeshkhind in the city's north-west, near Aundh, and many of the university's 612 affiliated colleges are spread across the city and nearby districts.
Nearest airport: Pune International Airport (PNQ)
Notable alumni
- VP Vishwanath Pratap Singh7th Prime Minister of India; BSc in physics from Fergusson College, University of Pune
- PP Pratibha Patil12th President of India; master's degree from Moolji Jaitha College, Jalgaon, then under Poona University
- KB Khaled BahahPrime Minister of Yemen (2014-2016); BCom and MCom (1992) from Pune University
- PB Padmanabhan BalaramChemist and former director of the Indian Institute of Science; BSc in chemistry from Fergusson College
- KM Kantilal MardiaStatistician and Guy Medal winner; MSc in pure mathematics, University of Poona (1961)
- MG Madhav GadgilEcologist; biology graduate of Fergusson College, University of Pune (1963)
Frequently asked questions
How do I get admission to Savitribai Phule Pune University departments?
Apply online on the Campus Common Entrance Platform and take the Online Entrance Examination (OEE); seats are filled strictly on OEE merit. For 2026-27, applications ran from 13 April to 15 May 2026, extended to 25 May.
What is the SPPU entrance exam pattern?
The OEE carries 100 marks: 20 for general aptitude, logic and comprehension and 80 for subject questions, with negative marking of a quarter mark for wrong answers.
Is SPPU a good university?
It is in the 791-800 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027, 801-1000 in THE 2026, and 56th among Indian universities in NIRF 2025.
Can international students study at SPPU?
Yes. International students apply through the university's International Centre, which handles UG/PG and PhD admissions, ICCR scholars and hostel admission.
How big is the SPPU campus?
About 411 acres at Ganeshkhind in north-western Pune, with 46 academic departments.
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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