University of Mumbai
मुंबई विद्यापीठ
One of India's first three universities (1857), now a system of more than 885 affiliated colleges across Mumbai and the Konkan coast.
- Founded
- 1857
- QS World Ranking
- 901-950
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
About Mumbai University
The University of Mumbai was established in 1857 following Wood's Education Dispatch and was one of the first three universities in India. It was called the University of Bombay until 1996. Its historic Fort campus in south Mumbai, with the Rajabai Clock Tower and Convocation Hall, sits in the heart of the old city, while many departments are on the Kalina campus.
It is above all an affiliating university: the university says it has over 885 affiliated colleges and more than 800,000 students enrolled each year, with 183 undergraduate, 143 postgraduate and 79 doctoral programmes across arts, science, commerce, engineering, law and management. Most undergraduates study at an affiliated college in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri or Sindhudurg and receive a University of Mumbai degree, while the university's own departments focus on postgraduate teaching and research.
The university holds a NAAC A++ grade and runs centres with national science agencies, including the UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences with the Department of Atomic Energy. It suits students who want to study in India's financial and film capital and are comfortable with a large, decentralised system where the college you join shapes much of your day-to-day experience. International numbers are small but growing: 258 international students from 61 countries enrolled in 2025-26.
Śīlavṛttaphalā Vidyā
“The fruit of learning is character and righteous conduct” — university motto
Why students choose Mumbai University
A University of Mumbai degree through well-known affiliated colleges, with a choice of 183 undergraduate programmes.
Alumni include B. R. Ambedkar, nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar and Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani.
A dedicated International Admission Desk handles eligibility, college allocation and visa letters for foreign nationals, NRIs, PIOs and OCIs.
Studying in Mumbai puts you close to India's biggest concentration of finance, media and film employers.
Admissions
Academic year 2026-27 (latest published cycle); 2027-28 schedule not yet published
Selectivity
No university-wide acceptance rate is published. Undergraduate places are allocated college by college through merit lists based on Class 12 (HSC or equivalent) results; popular colleges and programmes such as BMS and BBA are competitive and some require an entrance test.
Typical entry requirements
| Maharashtra HSC (Class 12) or equivalent | Merit-based allocation by college; cut-offs vary by college and programme |
|---|---|
| Foreign qualifications | Require a University of Mumbai eligibility (equivalence) certificate, applied for through the International Admission Desk |
Deadlines
- International admission, previous cycle (AY 2025-26) Non-binding Passed31 August 2025
Last date shown by the International Admission Desk (mu.admissiondesk.org) for the 2025-26 cycle, 'subject to further notification'. That page still carries 2019 banners and has not been updated for 2026-27, so treat this date as historical and confirm with the desk.
- UG admission portal registration, AY 2026-27 Non-binding Passed30 September 2026
Registration deadline shown on the Samarth UG admission portal for the 2026-27 cycle.
The 2027-28 schedule has not been published. The 30 September 2026 registration deadline is from the 2026-27 Samarth UG portal (accessed 2026-09-30, the last day, and revised circulars have been issued several times). The International Admission Desk site (mu.admissiondesk.org) still shows the 2025-26 last date (31 August 2025) alongside legacy 2019 notices, so its dates and course counts look out of date; the official site mu.ac.in was unreachable on 2026-09-30 and university facts come from archive.org copies (Nov 2025 - Jan 2026). Expect registration to open around the Class 12 results in May-June.
How to apply
Indian applicants register on the university's Samarth UG admission portal (muugadmission.samarth.edu.in), then follow college merit lists. Foreign nationals, NRIs, PIOs and OCIs apply through the International Admission Desk (mu.admissiondesk.org): register, choose 5-10 preferred colleges, pay the eligibility fee (USD 50), download a provisional eligibility letter for the student visa, pay the application and processing fee (USD 1,000), verify documents in person at Churchgate, and pay the allocated college's first-year fee.
What admissions looks for
- Class 12 (HSC or equivalent) marks, which drive college merit lists.
- For foreign qualifications, a University of Mumbai eligibility certificate confirming equivalence.
- Entrance test results for BBA/BMS and for colleges that run their own entrance exams.
- Complete, verified original documents at the in-person verification stage.
Tips for applying to Mumbai University
- 1 Your college matters more than the university label: research affiliated colleges' cut-offs and facilities before ranking your 5-10 choices.
- 2 International applicants should apply for the eligibility certificate early, because the provisional eligibility letter is what you use for the student visa.
- 3 Budget for the USD 50 eligibility fee and USD 1,000 processing fee on top of the college's own tuition.
- 4 Watch the Samarth portal's public notices for revised merit-list and admission schedules, which change several times in a cycle.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in INR
Tuition is set by each affiliated college and programme, so there is no single university fee. International applicants pay an eligibility fee of USD 50 and an application and processing fee of USD 1,000 to the International Admission Desk, then the allocated college's first-year tuition. Government scholarship schemes apply to eligible Indian students. (International Admission Desk payments FAQ lists exactly three payments: USD 50 eligibility, USD 1,000 application and processing, then the college's first-year fee; it does not state an academic year.)
- USD 50
- International eligibility fee
- USD 1,000
- International application and processing fee
Academics
Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) and BBA
Among the most sought-after undergraduate programmes; international applicants must take the Common Entrance Test first.
Chemical engineering heritage (UDCT, now ICT)
The university's former Department of Chemical Technology trained Raghunath Mashelkar and Mukesh Ambani; it is now the separate Institute of Chemical Technology.
Law
The university's Department of Law runs LL.M. admissions, and law is taught at affiliated colleges; B. R. Ambedkar was an alumnus.
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS)
The university's management school, listed with its own fee structure alongside the Alkesh Dinesh Mody Institute.
UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences
A science centre run with India's Department of Atomic Energy.
Research
- UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, set up with the Department of Atomic Energy.
- National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, one of the collaborative centres of excellence the university highlights.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Science and Technology
- Faculty of Commerce and Management
- Faculty of Inter-Disciplinary Studies
Student life
Student life at the University of Mumbai happens mostly in its colleges, from historic institutions in south Mumbai to newer colleges in Thane and along the Konkan coast. The university's own campuses at Fort and Kalina host postgraduate departments, libraries and hostels, including an International Hostel and several girls' hostels. College festivals, sports and cultural councils are a big part of the experience. International students are a small community, 258 in 2025-26, from 61 countries.
- Historic Fort campus with the Rajabai Clock Tower and Convocation Hall.
- Hostels include an International Hostel, Jugonnath Sunkersett Hall and several girls' hostels.
- Student groups include a robotics club and a BAJA SAE automotive team.
- International students came from 61 countries in 2025-26, up from 29 five years earlier.
Housing. The university runs hostels on its campuses, including an International Hostel; most college students live at home or in private accommodation.
Location
Mumbai is India's financial capital and home of the Hindi film industry. The university's Fort campus faces the Oval Maidan in the historic Victorian and Art Deco district, while many university departments are on the Kalina campus. The university's jurisdiction covers seven districts from Mumbai to the Konkan coast. Expect a humid monsoon climate from June to September.
Nearest airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM)
Notable alumni
- BR B. R. AmbedkarPrincipal architect of India's Constitution; BA and MA, graduated from Elphinstone College, University of Bombay
- AK Anil KakodkarNuclear scientist and former chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission; mechanical engineering degree from VJTI, University of Mumbai (1963)
- RM Raghunath MashelkarChemical engineer and former Director-General of CSIR; B.Chem.Engg (1966) and PhD (1969) at the university's UDCT
- MA Mukesh AmbaniChairman of Reliance Industries; B.E. from the Institute of Chemical Technology (then the university's UDCT)
- SG Sunil GavaskarFormer India cricket captain; alumnus of St. Xavier's College, Bombay
- SP Smita PatilNational Film Award-winning actress; studied literature at the University of Mumbai
Frequently asked questions
How do international students apply to the University of Mumbai?
Through the International Admission Desk (mu.admissiondesk.org): register, choose 5-10 colleges, pay the USD 50 eligibility fee, get a provisional eligibility letter for your visa, pay the USD 1,000 processing fee and verify documents in Mumbai.
Is the University of Mumbai ranked?
It is in the 901-950 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 54th in India's NIRF 2025 University ranking.
Do I study at the university or at a college?
Most undergraduates study at one of the university's affiliated colleges and receive a University of Mumbai degree; the university's own departments focus on postgraduate study.
How much are University of Mumbai fees?
Tuition depends on the college and programme. International applicants also pay a USD 50 eligibility fee and a USD 1,000 application and processing fee.
When do admissions open?
Undergraduate admissions run through the Samarth portal around Class 12 results; the 2026-27 portal listed a registration deadline of 30 September 2026. The 2027-28 schedule is not yet published.
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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