Central University of Gujarat

Overview

The Central University of Gujarat (CUG) is an institution of higher education and research with two campuses in Gandhinagar. It primarily offers postgraduate programs, with a few UG and Integrated courses. Academic activities at CU Gujarat are organized into 11 Schools (which have Departments within them) and one Independent Research Center.

The Placement Cell of CU Gujarat maintains detailed online databases of registered students and potential recruiters, for both internships and full time jobs. It works throughout the year to train students in functional and soft skills, while interfacing with companies to provide full support during the GD and PI phases. It also supports students in decision making through career counseling sessions and alumni seminars.

As a relatively small University (<1,000 students as of 2024) with an urban campus, the two Gandhinagar locations of CU Gujarat provide all the basic amenities to their students. For example, the University has an MoU with Apollo Hospitals International to provide emergency treatment to students, and reimburses all medical bills through its collaboration with the United India Insurance Company. The students and staff of the University publish a monthly newspaper called CUG Samvad; this contains news, event announcements, opinion pieces, and recognition of students’ achievements. CUG also has world class academic facilities, with well equipped laboratories, modern classrooms, and an extensive library.

Central University of Gujarat Highlights

Central University of Gujarat Fees

The academic fees for students of the Central University of Gujarat have multiple components e.g. tuition fees, examination charges, registration fees, and caution deposits. There are 16 components, some of which differ for students of different categories of courses:

• Semester Fees:
  • Registration Charges: INR 200 per semester (same for all programs).
  • Tuition Fee: There are three tiers:
    • INR 500 per semester (e.g. BA, MA, MSc).
    • INR 1,000 per semester (e.g. MPhil, PG Diploma).
    • INR 2,000 per semester (e.g.  MSW, MEd).
  • Examination Fee: INR 250 per semester for most courses; MPhil and PhD programs have INR 3,000 and INR 5,000 per semester respectively.
  • Cyber Library Fee: INR 200 per semester (same for all programs).
• Annual Fees (same for most programs):
  • Sports Fee: INR 200 PA.
  • Literary and Cultural Fee: INR 200 PA.
  • Library Fee: INR 100 PA.
  • Medical Fee: INR 100 PA.
  • Student Aid Fund: INR 100 PA.
  • Breakage Charges for Science Students: INR 500 PA.
• One Time Fees (same f0r all programs):
  • Admission Fee: INR 500.
  • Enrolment Fee: INR 200.
  • General Caution Deposit: INR 500. This is refundable at the time of graduation subject to good conduct.

The main component of living costs are the hostel fees. The rent is INR 4,000 per semester for General, OBC, and EWS students; no fee is charged from SC and ST students. The refundable Security Deposit of INR 1,500 and the one time registration fees (INR 100) are compulsory for all students. In addition, students living on campus must budget for mess fees, and students who choose to live off campus must pay daily transportation costs to the CUG locations.

Central University of Gujarat Admissions

The eligibility criteria for admission to the Central University of Gujarat, are as follows:

• PG programs:
  • Applicants must have completed (or be in the final year of) a Bachelor’s degree (recognized by AICTE or AIU) in a field of study related to that of the Master’s degree in which they are interested (for most programs).
  • Some programs (e.g. MEd, MSc Nanoscience) require an aggregate of 50% or higher across all semesters of undergraduate study. This is relaxed by 5% for reserved category applicants. However, most programs have no minimum cut-off.
  • Applicants to PG courses must have a valid CUET PG score.
  • Most programs allow students to apply with a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. However, some programs have very specific requirements (e.g. MA in Chinese requires a Bachelor’s degree in the Chinese language).
• UG programs:
  • Applicants must have a 10+2 pass certificate issued by any Board of Higher Secondary education recognized in India or abroad.
  • General category applicants to most UG courses must have an aggregate percentage of 50% or higher. This is relaxed to 45% for reserved category applicants.
  • Applicants must submit a valid CUET (UG) score.

Students who wish to apply to the Central University of Gujarat for must follow these steps:

• Visiting the CU Gujarat Samarth website and checking the eligibility criteria for the program in which the student is interested. Students in the final year of their UG or 10+2 studies may also apply.
• Submitting an online application to CUG; uploading soft copies of mark sheets and identity documents.
• Appearing for the entrance test (either CUET UG or PG) after downloading the hall ticket soft copy.
• After the entrance test is completed and the CUET scores are submitted to the University, CUG releases a provisional shortlist of candidates who satisfy all the criteria; if there are more applicants than seats for a particular program, the best performers in the entrance test are given a preference.
• The shortlist acts as a provisional admission offer; the final admission is confirmed only after all documents are submitted for verification, the first semester’s fees are paid, and the academic registration process is completed.

Central University of Gujarat Placements

As one of the top Universities in India, the placement highlights of the Central University of Gujarat are as follows: 

• All students in the pre-final year of their UG or PG degree at CUG are allowed to register on the online portal of the Placement Cell.
• The portal also allows recruiters to register and submit the Job Description and details of their logistics requirements during the test, Group Discussion, and Personal Interview phase.
• The other functions of the CUG Placement Cell include:
  • Sharing the databases of registered students with companies and vice versa.
  • Organizing training sessions for PG and UG students throughout the year.
  • Inviting alumni in various recruiting companies to give pre-placement talks and webinars to provide students with all the information needed to make an informed decision.
  • Providing functional training to students in coordination with Faculty members.
  • Working with academic Departments to increase the practical component in the course curriculum.
• The average placement salaries over the past three years offered to students of different program types are:
  • UG 3 year programs: INR 4.83 LPA (up by more than 60% as compared to the average CTC two years before).
  • PG 2 year programs: INR 5.56 LPA (up 33% from INR 4.2 LPA).
  • Integrated UG+PG programs: No data yet (first batch yet to graduate).

Central University of Gujarat Cut-Offs

The only cut-offs related to admission to the PG and UG programs offered by the Central University of Gujarat are based on the qualifying examination aggregate. For example, certain PG courses (e.g. MEd, MA in German Studies, and MSc in Nanoscience) require the applicant to have a UG aggregate of at least 50% (this is relaxed to 45% for reserved category candidates). However, all other PG courses have no specified minimum percentage, provided that the applicant has a valid pass certificate. Finally, there are no specified CUET UG or PG cut-offs for applicants to register for admission to CUG; however, in competitive courses, the final cut-off is published after all seats are allotted.

Central University of Gujarat Faculty & Alumni

The Central University of Gujarat is home to 111 full time Faculty members. Of these, 72 (65%) are Assistant Professors, 12 (11%) are Associate Professors, and the remaining 27 (24%) are full Professors. Most Faculty members (104 out of 111, or 94%) hold PhD degrees. All Faculty members are Regular employees of the University, there are no Contract employees. Finally, all Professors of CUG have extensive experience in Industry and Academia, with the most senior Faculty member having more than 29 years of experience.

All the alumni activities of CUG were initially organized under the umbrella of the Central University of Gujarat Alumni Association (CUGAA). In July 2020, the Association was renamed to the CUG Alumni Cell. The main function of the Cell is to foster deep connections between alumni and the University through activities and events. It also recognizes alumni who have achieved great things in innovation, both in the corporate world and academia. The benefit is always two ways: the Alumni Cell uses the network of its ex-students to provide social, professional, and educational opportunities for the current students of CUG.  All graduates of the University can pay the alumni registration fees of INR 200 and life membership fees of INR 2,000 to join the Cell.

Central University of Gujarat Scholarships

As in other top Universities in India, there are multiple financial aid options available to students of the Central University of Gujarat. As of 2024, 21 out of 997 students (2%) receive full tuition fee waivers from the Central and State Governments, and no students receive full scholarships via University funds or private bodies and Trusts. However, they may receive partial scholarships via these sources. There are two main categories of scholarships:

1. Post Matric Scholarships: These are offered by the Central Government to various socially disadvantaged groups of students, and the applications must be submitted via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). For example, there are separate Post Matric Scholarships for SC and ST students whose family income is below the annually specified threshold. They cover all education costs, and provide an additional stipend for living costs. Applicants must submit verified caste and household income certificates after they receive an admission offer from the Central University of Gujarat.

2. UGC non-NET Scholarships and Fellowships: These are intended to help PG research Fellows and MPhil/PhD candidates who do not receive funding via the University Grants Commission. The level of financial aid is a step below UGC scholarships, with a funding amount of INR 5,000 per month. There is also a contingency payment of INR 10,000 per year for Science Research students and INR 8,000 annually for Humanities and Social Science students. The CUG Scholarship Cell goes through annual progress reports to determine whether the funding should be continued during successive years.

In addition to various Central and State Government Scholarship schemes, students of CU Gujarat are free to apply to private organizations and charitable trusts for merit-based scholarships (for both academic and sports achievements).

Central University of Gujarat Preparation & FAQs

Candidates who wish to apply to CU Gujarat for PG programs must familiarize themselves with the CUET PG Test pattern, and UG applicants must go through the CUET UG entrance test pattern in detail. After this, they should work out at least 10 mock tests and sample papers in their papers of interest, and make sure that the score is well above the indicative cut-offs released informally for previous years. Attending online classes to improve exam-taking skills in weak areas is also recommended.

Central University of Gujarat Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which is the top University in India?

The Central University of Gujarat is one of the best Universities in India. It is ranked #22 among the best Central Universities in India, according to the IIRF 2024 ranking list.

Q. What are the application fees to the Central University of Gujarat?

The application fees to the Central University of Gujarat vary according to the level of the program to which the student is applying (undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD). CUET scores are compulsory for all UG and PG programs; the application fees are INR 1,200 for general category CUET PG applicants, and INR 1,000 for CUET UG aspirants.

Q. Can international students join the Central University of Gujarat?

All programs offered by CU Gujarat have up to 3 seats reserved for international students. The admission process is similar to that for domestic applicants; however, candidates must have a valid passport and a certificate of equivalence for their 10+2 or UG scores. The tuition fees are significantly higher (30 to 50 times) as compared to the academic charges for domestic students.

Q. What are the expected dates of CUET 2025?

CUET UG 2025 is expected to be held over the third and fourth weeks of May 2025. CUET PG 2025 is expected to be held over the second, third and fourth weeks of March 2025.

Q. What is the exam pattern of CUET UG 2025?

CUET UG 2025 will be held in the hybrid mode: both pen/paper and Computer Based. There is a general test with 60 questions, of which 50 must be attempted. There are also various subject papers (60 in total) with 50 multiple choice questions each, out of which 40 must be attempted. The test is offered in 13 languages.

Q. Which are the unique courses offered by CU Gujarat?

The Central University of Gujarat offers multiple unique PG programs through the School of National Security Studies (SNSS) and the School of Environment and Sustainable Development. Via SNSS, students can work towards degrees in Maritime Security, Strategic Technologies, and Security Studies.

Q. What are the cut-offs for admission to the PhD programs offered by the Central University of Gujarat?

The online application portal for admission to the Doctoral programs offered by CU Gujarat is open throughout the year. Students who have an aggregate of 55% or higher during their PG studies in a discipline related to their desired PhD topic may submit their applications online.