Question 1

Is Symbiosis International a public or a private university?

Accepted Answer

It is a private university. Symbiosis International (Deemed University) is a deemed-to-be university established under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, sponsored by the Symbiosis Society. It holds Category-I status from the UGC and is accredited by NAAC at Grade A++ with a CGPA of 3.56 in Cycle 3, declared in December 2022.

Question 2

How do international students apply, and is it different from the Indian route?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is a separate channel. Admissions for Foreign Nationals, NRI, OCI and PIO applicants are centralised for every constituent institute through the Symbiosis Centre for International Education (SCIE) at scie.ac.in, not through the institute directly. Application, document upload, payment and admission-status tracking are all handled online, and the applicant travels to India only after accepting an offer.

Question 3

Do I have to sit SET, SITEEE or SNAP?

Accepted Answer

Foreign National, OCI and PIO candidates are exempted from SIU's entrance tests and instead take an English proficiency test. For NRI candidates applying under the international category, the entrance exam is not mandatory. Selection is made on academic transcripts weighted at 90 per cent, the statement of purpose at 5 per cent and two letters of recommendation at 5 per cent.

Question 4

What English test does Symbiosis accept?

Accepted Answer

An English proficiency test is compulsory for Foreign National, OCI and PIO applicants. Either IELTS Academic with a minimum overall score of 6.0, or Symbiosis's own International English Language Assessment (IELA), conducted online by the English Language Teaching Institute of Symbiosis, with a minimum band 4 out of 6. IELA is registered through the SCIE application form and costs USD 50. NRI applicants are not asked for an English test.

Question 5

How many seats are open to international applicants?

Accepted Answer

SCIE earmarks 20 per cent of the total intake of each programme for the international categories, which cover Foreign Nationals, PIO card holders, OCI card holders and Non-Resident Indians. Seats are therefore capped per programme rather than open-ended, and admission is on a merit list.

Question 6

Why are the fees so different for Foreign Nationals and for NRI or OCI applicants?

Accepted Answer

SIU publishes two separate fee tables for each programme. For the 2026-27 SIBM Pune MBA the Foreign National academic fee is USD 2,600 a year against USD 23,200 for NRI and OCI candidates. Undergraduate law at SLS Pune is USD 1,300 a year for Foreign Nationals and USD 8,900 for NRI and OCI. SIU's Golden Jubilee Scholarship covers academic fees for Foreign Nationals only, at USD 1,300 a year for undergraduate programmes, USD 2,600 for MBA programmes and USD 1,950 for other postgraduate programmes; it excludes Indian, NRI, OCI and PIO students, short-term programmes, doctoral programmes and part-time programmes.

Question 7

What does the full first-year cost look like beyond tuition?

Accepted Answer

Foreign Nationals pay a one-time application fee of USD 65, a one-time administrative fee of USD 275, a refundable institute deposit of USD 275 and, where applicable, USD 50 for the IELA test. campus logistics accommodation is published at USD 650 per year plus a USD 250 deposit, and the annual meal plan at USD 560. campus logistics, meal arrangements and uniform charges sit outside the annual academic fee and are settled at the institute on joining. NRI, OCI and PIO applicants pay USD 120 as the application fee and USD 550 as the administrative fee.

Question 8

Is accommodation guaranteed?

Accepted Answer

No. Students admitted to a residential programme must live in the campus campus logistics, and most institutes also offer campus logistics places to students on non-residential programmes, but SCIE states plainly that campus logistics accommodation is not guaranteed and is allocated against vacancies at the discretion of the institute Director or Principal. Undergraduate campus logistics operate at Viman Nagar, Vishwabhavan, Lavale Hill Base, Lavale Hill Top, Model Colony, Noida, Hyderabad and Nagpur.

Question 9

When are the 2026 intakes and reporting dates?

Accepted Answer

They vary by institute. SIBM Pune reports 29 May to 3 June 2026 with the MBA commencing 3 June. Symbiosis Law School Pune reports 24 to 27 June and 29 to 30 June, commencing in the first week of July. Symbiosis Institute of Design reports 29 and 30 June, commencing 1 July. Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communication reports 13 to 15 July, commencing 16 July. Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts reports 17 and 18 July, commencing 20 July 2026.

Question 10

Can I apply before my Class 12 results are out?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for undergraduate programmes. An applicant may submit a predicted score or pre-board marks endorsed by the school principal on school letterhead, together with the Class 12 hall ticket. The final board result must be uploaded as soon as it is declared, otherwise the application is not considered for the merit list. Nepali nationals submit the Class 11 final marksheet and pre-board marksheet instead.

Question 11

What happens after I arrive in Pune?

Accepted Answer

Reporting formalities include a medical examination at the Symbiosis Centre for Health Care on campus, confirmation of fee details with the accounts department and payment of any balance, and eligibility clearance. Anti-ragging and indemnification undertakings are signed by both student and parent, and the SIU eligibility form is executed on 500-rupee stamp paper. Any documents not produced at reporting must reach SCIE by 31 August, or the student is not permitted to sit the Semester I examination and may forfeit the academic fee.

Question 12

What are the visa and registration rules?

Accepted Answer

SCIE issues a Provisional Admission Letter for the visa application once the administrative fee and part payment of the annual academic fee are received. The visa must be a student visa naming Symbiosis International University; any other visa type is invalid for final admission. Foreign nationals on a visa longer than 180 days must register with the FRRO or FRO within 14 days of arrival, with shorter deadlines for Pakistani, Afghan and Bangladeshi nationals. Nepali and Bhutanese nationals are not asked for a visa or residential permit.

Question 13

Can I work part-time in India while studying?

Accepted Answer

No. The Bureau of Immigration states that students on an Indian student visa must not undertake employment or business activity in India, and must open a Non-Resident Ordinary bank account and give the details to the FRRO. Any funding plan therefore has to cover tuition and living costs without local earnings.

Symbiosis International (Deemed University): Programs & Courses

Programs at this university