UPES
A Dehradun private university built around energy, engineering, law and business, with a dedicated international admission route.
- Students
- 19,100
- Tuition
- $1,855
- From · Archived Sept 2024 table (year not stated on the page, presumably 2024-25); no newer table published
- Founded
- 2003
- QS World Ranking
- 901-950
- 2027 edition
About UPES
UPES was established in 2003 through the UPES Act passed by the Uttarakhand State Legislature, is recognised by the University Grants Commission, and describes itself (About Us page) as Asia's first energy and core-sector university. It began with a focus on petroleum and energy (the name originally stood for University of Petroleum and Energy Studies) and has since added law, design, business, computer science, health sciences and liberal studies.
Teaching is organised into seven schools: Advanced Engineering, Computer Science, Design, Law, Business, Health Sciences and Technology, and Liberal Studies and Humanities. The university says it has more than 19,100 students, over 1,500 faculty and staff and more than 40,000 alumni. Its two campuses, Bidholi and Kandoli, sit in the hills near Dehradun.
In national rankings, NIRF 2025 puts UPES 45th among universities, with 18th place in Law, 36th in Management and 43rd in Engineering. Internationally, QS 2027 places it in the 901-950 band and THE 2026 in the 501-600 band. International applicants apply through a separate International/NRI route and pay fees in US dollars.
UPES suits students who want an industry-linked professional degree in India and are comfortable with a structured, semester-based curriculum on a hill campus rather than in a big city.
Why students choose UPES
A dedicated International/NRI admission route, with a USD 50 application fee and an offer or visa letter issued once documents are approved.
NIRF 2025 ranks UPES 18th in Law and 43rd in Engineering, and its School of Business is an AACSB member.
Petroleum and energy roots: B.Tech Applied Petroleum Engineering is a founding specialism, and the School of Advanced Engineering also offers aerospace, chemical, civil and other B.Tech streams.
Merit-based scholarships for international students, from 15% to 30% of full fees for undergraduates depending on Class 12 marks.
Admissions
2027 entry (Session 2026 admissions are closed; 2027 dates not yet published)
Selectivity
UPES does not publish an acceptance rate. Indian applicants are selected through UPES's own entrance tests (for example UPESEAT for B.Tech, ULSAT for LL.B., UPESMET-UG for BBA), JEE Main, CUET or CLAT scores, or Class 12 board merit. International applicants apply through a separate International/NRI route and are assessed on their qualifying-exam results.
Typical entry requirements
| Higher secondary / A Levels / Class 12 (international undergraduates) | Certificate with the minimum marks prescribed for the programme and the required subjects |
|---|---|
| Indian B.Tech route (for comparison) | 50% in Class X and XII with 50% in PCM, via JEE Main (50 percentile), UPESEAT or board merit (60%) |
| Postgraduate (international) | Undergraduate degree, with equivalence from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) where requested |
| English language | TOEFL or IELTS (or equivalent) is not mandatory but strongly advised. Students from non-English-speaking countries must satisfy UPES of their English proficiency and may be asked to sign an undertaking to take English training on arrival. |
Deadlines
- Non-exam pathway: last date to submit scores (previous cycle, Session 2026) Non-binding Passed31 May 2026
Shown on the UPES important-dates page for the Integrated BBA-MBA non-exam pathway; admissions for Session 2026 are marked closed.
UPES had not published Session 2027 admission dates on 30 September 2026; its important-dates page shows Session 2026 admissions as closed. The date above is from the previous cycle. Check the international admissions page or email the international office for current intake dates.
How to apply
Apply online through the UPES application portal and choose the International / NRI tab. Pay the USD 50 non-refundable application fee by card through the payment gateway, or by bank transfer using details from the international admissions office. UPES then checks your documents and issues an offer of admission letter, which also serves as a visa letter. You then apply for an Indian student visa at the Indian embassy or consulate in your country.
What admissions looks for
- Meeting the minimum marks in the qualifying exam (higher secondary, A Levels or Class 12) for the chosen programme, with the required subjects.
- For postgraduate study, an undergraduate degree recognised as equivalent in India, with AIU equivalence certification where asked.
- Adequate English proficiency; TOEFL or IELTS is advised but not mandatory.
- A valid passport for the whole period of study.
Tips for applying to UPES
- 1 Apply through the International / NRI tab of the application form, not the domestic route, unless you hold an Indian passport and completed school in India (in which case you apply as domestic).
- 2 If you are a national of a SAARC country (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan or Sri Lanka), you apply through the international pathway but pay fees in line with domestic students.
- 3 Send your transcripts to the international office for the scholarship assessment; undergraduate awards run from 15% to 30% of full fees by Class 12 marks.
- 4 Start the Indian student visa process as soon as you have the offer letter: the university tells students to obtain a student visa valid for the whole programme before travelling.
- 5 Request airport pickup at least two weeks before arrival and bring the original offer letter, certificates and 15 passport-size photographs.
Costs & financial aid
Archived Sept 2024 table (year not stated on the page, presumably 2024-25); no newer table published · figures in USD
International undergraduates can receive a fee concession of 15% to 30% of full fees depending on Class 12 marks (75% to 85% earns 15%; 95.01% and above earns 30%), and international MBA applicants with at least 75% in their degree can receive 15%. Send transcripts to the international office for assessment. Indian applicants have entry-level scholarships tied to board marks, JEE, CUET or CLAT scores. Nationals of SAARC countries pay fees in line with domestic students.
- 30% of full fees
- International UG scholarship (Class 12 marks above 95%)
- 15% of full fees
- International MBA scholarship (75% or more in graduation)
- USD 50, non-refundable
- Application fee (international)
- Rs 5,16,600 (two semesters of Rs 2,58,300, tuition plus academic service fee, before other fees)
- Domestic B.Tech CSE first-year fee, 2026-27 (INR, applies to SAARC nationals)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fees are set semester by semester)
B.Tech Applied Petroleum Engineering
The energy specialism UPES was founded on; the programme is listed among its National Board of Accreditation accredited B.Tech courses.
B.Tech Computer Science and Engineering
Offered with streams including Mathematics and Computing, Computer Science and Economics, and CSE Immersive Technologies.
BA LL.B. and BBA LL.B. (Hons.), 5 years
The School of Law is ranked 18th in India by NIRF 2025, and all law programmes are recognised by the Bar Council of India.
MBA programmes
The School of Business is an AACSB member; MBA streams include Aviation Management, Oil and Gas Management, and Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
B.Des.
UPES says (About Us page) it established the first School of Design in Uttarakhand.
B.Pharm.
Offered in the School of Health Sciences and Technology, founded in 2019, alongside nutrition, microbiology and biotechnology streams.
Research
- UPES reports a 374% increase in publications since 2018, with nearly 52% involving international collaboration.
- Research partners named by the university include CERN in Switzerland and KEK in Japan.
- The Runway Incubator is described as home to 250+ start-up ideas, and a dedicated IPR cell supports patents and technology transfer.
Schools & faculties
- School of Advanced Engineering
- School of Computer Science
- School of Design
- School of Law
- School of Business
- School of Health Sciences and Technology
- School of Liberal Studies and Humanities
UPES states on its About Us page that it has had 100% placements over the last five years and that it received 5 stars for employability in QS Stars. These are the university's own claims; detailed placement figures were not readable on the pages checked.
Student life
UPES has two campuses, Bidholi and Kandoli, in the hills near Dehradun. The university describes them as safe, green and student-friendly, and its international admissions page gives an Air Quality Index below 50. Campus life includes events such as Freshers and the Dholida garba night, and the university runs a life-skills module called School for Life for every student. International arrivals can request airport pickup and are advised to bring warm clothing, since winters run about 5 to 25 degrees Celsius.
- Two campuses, Bidholi and Kandoli, in the hills near Dehradun.
- School for Life, UPES's life-skills module for every student.
- Runway Incubator for student start-ups.
- Alumni chapters in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and the Gulf, where 100+ alumni met in Abu Dhabi.
Housing. Hostel facility is listed among the fee components; ask the international office for room types and prices.
Location
Dehradun is the capital of Uttarakhand, in the foothills of the Himalayas, and is known as an education hub with many schools. UPES says the city sits about 2,200 feet above sea level; summers reach 30 to 45 degrees Celsius and winters run 5 to 25 degrees. The campus is about a 155 mile drive from Delhi, and the university advises booking a flight to Delhi and connecting to Dehradun airport.
Nearest airport: Dehradun Airport (DED)
Notable alumni
- SS Shreya SinghB.Tech alumna; Lead Business Development at SLB (Schlumberger), as listed by UPES
- AJ Ankit JainBA LL.B. alumnus; Partner Designate at Luthra and Luthra Law Offices, as listed by UPES
- KP Kuldeep PrasharB.Tech alumnus; founder of PensionBox, as listed by UPES
- BV Bhupendra VermaBA LL.B. alumnus; Partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, as listed by UPES
- MV Mudit VermaB.Tech alumnus; co-founder of Raymach Technologies, as listed by UPES
- AD Ankit DubeyM.Des. alumnus; Product Design Lead at Flipkart and Cleartrip, as listed by UPES
Frequently asked questions
How do international students apply to UPES?
Apply online, choose the International / NRI tab, and pay the USD 50 non-refundable application fee by card or bank transfer. UPES issues an offer or visa letter once your documents are approved.
How much are UPES fees for international students?
The latest foreign-national fee table found (an archived September 2024 capture, year not stated on the page, in US dollars) ran from $1,855 a year for B.Sc. Physics to $7,324 for B.Des. Global Pathway, plus a one-time $1,000 first-year fee. The 2026-27 table had not been posted on 30 September 2026.
How is UPES ranked in India?
NIRF 2025 ranks UPES 45th in the University category, 18th in Law, 36th in Management and 43rd in Engineering.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL for UPES?
Not mandatory, but strongly advised. Students from non-English-speaking countries must satisfy UPES of their English ability and may be asked to take English training on arrival.
Do SAARC students pay the same fees as Indian students?
UPES states that students from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and non-resident Indians of those countries, pay fees in line with domestic students while applying through the international pathway.
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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