National Sports University

Overview

National Sports University (NSU) is a groundbreaking higher education institution located in Imphal, the capital of Manipur; it aims to impart world class education to future sports coaches, trainers, and managers. Academic and research activities at the University are organized into four Schools or Departments: Sports Coaching, Sports Psychology, Physical Education, and Sports Physiology & Nutrition. It offers 6 types of courses, including BPES and MPES, BSc and MSc in Sports Coaching, MA in Sports Psychology, and MSc in Applied Sports Nutrition. Addressing these subjects at the level they are taught in major Universities worldwide is a key component of India’s plan to become a sports superpower.

The Placement Cell of NSU works with sports teams, policy organizations, and public sector companies to provide internships and full time jobs to students of all four Schools. It also provides career counseling and soft skills training from Day 1. It has achieved notable success in terms of placement rates, with more than 80% of the students in most Departments being selected for jobs or higher studies. Prominent recruiters include major police Departments (e.g. Assam State) and football clubs across India. It also benefits from the MoUs signed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs for training and exchanging best practices, including with the Universities of Canberra and Victoria.

The permanent campus of NSU is under construction in Imphal West, and is expected to feature indoor and outdoor sports complexes with smart laboratories. The existing campus is located within the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex in central Imphal, a venue that has previously hosted the National Games.

Highlights

Fees

The academic fees for students of National Sports University have multiple components e.g. tuition fees, examination charges, registration fees, and caution deposits. The undergraduate fee structure is as follows:

• Recurring fees:
  • Tuition fee: INR 5,000 per semester (both BPES and BSc take 8 semesters to complete).
  • Examination charges: INR 1,500 per semester.
  • Sports Fund charges: INR 1,200 per semester.
  • Development Fund fees: INR 1,200 per semester.
  • Medical fee: INR 500 per semester.
  • Student Welfare Fund contribution: INR 100 per semester.
  • Library fee: INR 500 per semester.
  • Cultural and Literary Fund: INR 500 per semester.
  • Medical insurance: INR 1,000 per year.
• One time fees: These are payable at the time of admission (in the first semester).
  • Uniform: INR 9,000.
  • Caution Deposit: INR 2,000. This is refundable.
  • Admission fee: INR 5,000.
  • Registration fee: INR 600.
  • Identity card fee: INR 200.

Hence, the total UG fee comes to INR 92,800 in Year 1, and INR 76,000 per year in subsequent years (including living costs).

The postgraduate fee structure has the following components:

• Most fees are similar to those for UG students; however, there are only 4 semesters rather than 8.
• The tuition fee is 37% lower: INR 3,150 per semester.
• The total fee, including living costs, for both years, is INR 1,60,400.

The two main components of the living cost are hostel fees (INR 2,000 per semester) and mess charges (INR 25,000 per semester). Students must also bear the cost of personal shopping and academic infrastructure (e.g. laptops).

Admissions

The eligibility criteria for admission to National Sports University are as follows:

• UG programs:
  • Applicants must have a pass grade at the Higher Secondary Level, issued by any Board offering 10+2 examination certificates.
  • The minimum age for application is 17 years; in exceptional cases, the Vice Chancellor may decrease this limit.
  • The qualifying examination cut-off is 45% for General and OBC category students, and 40% for SC, ST, and PwD applicants.
  • The selection decision is normally made based on the admission test with three components: written section, sports proficiency test, and physical fitness examination. From time to time, it may also be decided based only on the aggregate in the qualifying examination, subject to passing the physical fitness test.
  • BSc (Sports Coaching) candidates must have participated in sports competitions at district level or higher.
• PG programs:
  • Applicants must have a relevant undergraduate degree. For example, applicants to the Master of Physical Education and Sports (MPES) program must have a BPES or equivalent degree, or be in the final year of such a degree.
  • General and OBC applicants must have an undergraduate aggregate above 50%; this is relaxed to 45% for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.
  • Participation in sports and games is desirable but not necessary.
• Candidates can be disqualified if they have been expelled from any other Board or University, or if they have been dismissed from Government service.
• Any student who supplies false information while applying to NSU Manipur will also be removed from consideration.

Students who wish to apply to National Sports University must follow these steps:

• Creating an online applicant account on the website of NSU. Separate accounts with different contact details must be used if a candidate wishes to apply to multiple courses.
• Filling up the online application form with personal, academic, and sports achievement details.
• Paying the online application fee of INR 1,000 before uploading documents and submitting the form.
• Applicants must upload self-attested soft copies of the following documents (with the originals presented for verification during the registration process):
  • Certificate from the qualifying examination Board or University.
  • Age proof.
  • Character certificate issued by the most recent institute of study or organization.
  • Anti-ragging affidavit signed by the applicant and his/her guardians.
  • Caste certificate (if applicable).
  • Transfer and migration certificates.
  • Declaration about medical fitness attested by the student and his/her parents, with a certificate issued by a recognized medical practitioner.
• After having the documents verified and paying the first installment of the tuition fee, the admission is confirmed.

Placements

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

• The placement rates for different programs offered by NSU are relatively high:
  • BPES: 89 students successfully placed or pursuing higher studies (13+76) out of 109 in the most recent graduating batch (82%).
  • MPES: 16 placed or studying further out of 16 graduating (100%).
  • BSc (Sports Coaching): 60 out of 78 (77%).
  • MSc (Sports Coaching): 3 out of 3 (100%).
  • MA (Sports Psychology): 23 out of 28 (82%).
• The Placement Cell of NSU Manipur is a unique body as compared to other Central Universities, given its diverse range of functions:
  • Establishing strong corporate relations with potential recruiters for all programs offered by the University.
  • Conducting functional and soft training sessions to enhance the employability of UG and PG students of NSU.
  • Providing logistical support to companies for pre-placement talks, on-campus placement drives, virtual internship selection sessions, and sending offer letters to selected students.
  • Organizing career counseling sessions via experts and distinguished alumni.
  • Conducting sports training programs to ensure that students’ skills are at the cutting edge of industry expectations.
  • Conducting training sessions for students who wish to apply for higher studies, with a specific focus on interview preparation and entrance examination mock tests.
  • Providing practical training and internship allocation to UG and PG students.

Cut-Offs

The only cut-offs related to admission to UG and PG programs offered by NSU Manipur are based on the qualifying examination aggregate. Applicants to UG programs must have a minimum aggregate in the 10+2 examination of 45%. PG course aspirants need to satisfy the UG aggregate of 50%. These cut-offs are only applicable to General and OBC category applicants; SC, ST, and PwD students have a 5% relaxation. There is no cut-off based on the admission test as two out of three components are subjectively assessed. But the written test has a cut-off of 45%.

Faculty & Alumni

National Sports University is home to 19 full time Faculty members. Of these, 15 (80%) are Assistant Professors, 2 (~10%) are Associate Professors, and the remaining 2 (10%) are full Professors. Most Faculty members (13 out of 19, or 68%) hold PhD degrees, ensuring that they are able to bring a systematic and progressive lens to bear while teaching students the global best practices of coaching, exercise psychology, and sports management. Each of the four Departments of the university (Sports Coaching, Sports Psychology, Physical Education, and Sports Physiology & Nutrition) has at least three full time Faculty members.

Each of the four Departments of NSU Manipur maintains a record of alumni placements for the previous 3-5 years, with details of the current sectors and places of work, primarily in the public and coaching segments. Through this database, current students can approach the University to connect with alumni working in their target jobs for mentorship and career guidance. There is also a strong placement bond between NSU and its alumni to ensure ongoing engagement, in addition to multiple events on campus that are targeted at current students and alumni alike.

Scholarships

As in other top Universities in India, there are multiple financial aid options available to students of National Sports University. There are five main scholarship categories:

1. University Merit Scholarships: These are awarded to both UG and PG students in each stream, with the first rankers receiving financial aid after the first year with annual renewals. Toppers are only awarded this scholarship if their overall score is above 60% or 6.0 CGPA. They must have a clean disciplinary record. The amount of scholarship is INR 10,000, and it is awarded annually for 10 months, with a new set of awardees every year based on the aggregate academic results of the previous two semesters.

2. National Sports University Merit-cum-Means (MCM) Scholarships: There are four eligibility criteria for selection (both UG and PG students may apply): the total family income must be below INR 6 LPA, the student’s academic aggregate should exceed 60%, the applicant must have no backlogs during his/her time at NSU, and there must be no active disciplinary action issues imposed by the University. The MCM Scholarships are renewed every year, and the scholarship amount is the same as the Merit Scholarship (INR 10,000). Only 6 students (in total, across UG and PG) are awarded MCM scholarships every year; if there are more applicants, the top 6 by aggregate percentage are chosen.

3. University Sports Merit Scholarship (USMS): This is intended to help exceptional sportspeople transition into a coaching or management career. Up to 5% of the sanctioned strength of each program can be awarded the USMS, and medal winners at National Level sports competitions and all-India Inter-University sports meets are eligible for consideration (mere participation is not sufficient). The eligibility of sports competitions is as per the list maintained by the National Sports Federations. Like the other scholarships, the USMS is awarded for a year at a time, and the amount varies according to the medal tier: INR 10,000 for gold, INR 7,000 for silver, and INR 5,000 for bronze medal winners. International sports medal winners are given free education for the entire year after their achievement (100% fee waiver). Like most other financial aid schemes, USMS awardees may not receive funding from other sources, and their conduct must be excellent.

4. University Scholarship Committee (USC) awards: The USC may choose to award scholarships to specific students based on financial need; this is partly funded by the Students’ Welfare Fund payments made by all students each semester. The amount is variable, and depends both on the level of need and the amount of funding available.

5. Other Scholarships: Students of NSU Manipur are also allowed to apply to external organizations for funding, both public sector and private trusts. Students in the Merit-cum-Means category can avail of at most one more scholarship, if selected. Both individuals and companies may approach the University to set up scholarships to improve the standing of sports science in India. 

Preparation & FAQs

The Admission Test to National Sports University (NSUEE 2025) has multiple components, and candidates must prepare both for the aptitude portion and sports-specific section of the test. The aptitude test has sections on general knowledge and sports IQ; students must go through previous years’ test papers and read news sources (e.g. Competition Success Review) to perform well in the test. The sports section requires candidates to display their skills at one or more sports (for coaching course applicants), and they must therefore understand the selection criteria by reaching out to the University office and clarifying the scoring parameters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which is the top University in India?

National Sports University is one of the best Universities in India. It is ranked #43 among the best Central Universities in India, according to the IIRF 2023 ranking list.

Q. What are the application fees to National Sports University?

The application fees to National Sports University vary according to the level of the program to which the student is applying (undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD). The cost of the application form is INR 300. In addition, the online payment gateway registration fee is INR 1,000.

Q. What are the expected dates of National Sports University recruitment 2025?

The expected dates, mode of application, and submission deadlines for all part time and full time roles offered by National Sports University in 2025 can be found on its website.

Q. How can foreign candidates apply to join National Sports University, Manipur?

Foreign candidates and NRI/PIO applicants must apply to NSU Manipur via their embassies or the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). In addition, they must appear for the entrance test and pass the cut-off, while submitting medical certificates proving their physical and mental fitness.

Q. Is there reservation for women candidates at NSU Manipur?

Up to 30% of the seats in all courses offered by NSU Manipur are reserved for women; however, if enough female candidates do not apply, these seats can be filled by men. Both unmarried and married women are allowed to apply, with up to a year’s relaxation allowed for childbirth.

Q. What is the pattern of the NSUEE written test for admission to National Sports University Manipur (Sports Coaching)?

The NSUEE written test has 4 components: General Awareness (10%), General Aptitude (10%), Sports Science (40%), and Specialized Sport (40%). All questions are multiple choice, and the total duration is 2 hours. Candidates require 45% marks in total to progress to the next phase.

Q. What is the pattern of the physical fitness test for admission to National Sports University Manipur (Sports Coaching)?

The NSU physical fitness test has four components: 50 meter sprint, standing broad jump, overhead back throw, and 1000 meter run or walk. This is evaluated out of 20 marks.

Q. What is the pattern of the game proficiency test for admission to National Sports University Manipur (Sports Coaching)?

The NSU game proficiency test has two components: skill test and playing ability, based on a sport chosen by the student. This is evaluated out of 50 marks.

Q. What is the expected date of NSUEE 2025?

NSUEE 2025 is expected to be held in the second week of July 2025, for admission to the UG and PG programs offered by National Sports University Manipur.