Visva Bharati University

Overview

Visva Bharati University (VBU) is a unique Central University in India, one that had its roots in Rabindranath Tagore’s establishment of a school in Shantiniketan in West Bengal in 1901. Since then, it has grown to become a mini-city dedicated to education, with 296 courses, 56 Departments, 2 Schools, more than 11,000 students, and a unique blend of creative endeavors, knowledge transfer, and inclusive social development. Even today, there are many ancient best practices followed in the academic curriculum, including the ashram mode of education in harmony with nature. From the development of scientific methods of agriculture to the first Indian Center for Tagore Studies, the University has always been at the forefront of research in India.

As one of the top Universities in West Bengal with a rich history, Visva Bharati University's campus has several world class facilities, including 14 hostels (including living quarters for female and tribal students), 15 Heritage Buildings (which have been submitted for consideration as UNESCO World Heritage Sites), Self Help Groups in the neighboring villages to promote socially responsible activities, a multi-sport gymnasium, a yoga and meditation center, six Sport Nodal Complexes, and an International Standard Filmography Studio. The goal of rural reconstruction stated by Rabindranath Tagore is in line with the sustainable development goals of India and the United Nations, and Visva Bharati University stands at the junction of these aims. Finally, both campus locations are a perfect synthesis of the ancient and the modern, with large green locations combined with high-tech facilities like 100% wifi coverage and 5 well-equipped auditoriums.

Visva Bharati University Highlights

Visva Bharati University Fees

The tuition and academic fee to study in VBU varies according to the program, year, and student category. Some indicative values are given below:

• UG Humanities students: INR 6,030 (year 1), INR 2,080 per year (after year 1), for General and OBC Category candidates. SC, ST, and PwD students pay INR 5,190 and INR 1,240 respectively.
  • The tuition fee is INR 840 per year.
  • In the first year, the additional cost is mostly due to the admission fee (INR 2,000) and the registration fee (INR 1,000).
  • Most other payments are less than INR 300 per year, including the Sports Fee (INR 120), Medical Fee (INR 240), and Cultural Fee (INR 200).
  • The one time refundable caution deposit and library security deposit are INR 500 and INR 300 respectively.
• UG Science students: INR 6,730 (year 1), INR 2,580 (years 2-4).
• UG Social Science students: INR 8,530 (year 1), INR 2,580 (years 2-4).
• UG Teacher Education (BEd) students: INR 9,610 (year 1), INR 2,460 (year 2).
• Foreign students from SAARC countries pay twice the fees listed above for the corresponding courses. Foreign students not from SAARC countries pay 5 times the domestic student fees.
• PG program fees are, on average, 10-20% higher than UG fees in the same Department. For example:
  • Humanities: INR 7,560 (year 1), INR 2,560 per year (subsequently).
  • Science: INR 8,510 (year 1), INR 3,310 per year (subsequently).
  • Social Science: INR 11,060 (year 1), INR 3,060 per year (subsequently).
  • Teacher Education: INR 13,390 (year 1), INR 6,190 per year (subsequently).
• PhD fees are higher in the first year than either UG or PG program fees (for example, they exceed INR 15,000 in the first year, primarily because the admission fee is INR 8,000), but are lower than INR 2,000 annually in all subsequent years.

Living in the hostel is not compulsory; however, for those students who choose to live on campus, the living costs are primarily composed of the hostel and mess fees. Students who live off campus must budget for the daily cost of travel to Shantiniketan or Sriniketan.

Visva Bharati University Admissions

The eligibility criteria for admission to Visva Bharati University, a contender for best University in India, are as follows:

• UG students:
  • All programs require applicants to have a Standard XII Board Examination pass certificate.
  • Different programs mandate different cut-off percentages. This is 60% for most programs (BSc, BA, etc.), but is 45% for some programs (e.g. BPA), and some programs (e.g. BSc Honors in Physics) may require minimum percentages in certain subjects (for the example above, 65% aggregate in Physics and Mathematics at +2 level).
  • The cut-offs are 10% lower for OBC applicants, and SC/ST candidates require a pass grade in the Board Examination.
• PG students:
  • All applicants must hold UG degrees in relevant disciplines from a recognized University in India or abroad, similar to the best Universities in West Bengal.
  • The cut-off aggregate UG percentage varies; it is 55% for most MSc and MA programs. Individual cut-offs should be checked on the VBU website.

The steps in the application and admission process are broadly similar for UG and PG course aspirants. In the past, the entrance examination caused the main difference (CUET UG v/s CUET PG). However, as of 2024-25, the University no longer uses the CUET score for admission. The steps in application to PG programs are:

• Visiting the Visva Bharati University admissions page on the Samarth website, which also hosts the CUET PG examination server.
• Registering on the website with email ID and mobile number, and validating contact details through OTPs.
• Filling up personal and academic details in the application profile after logging in.
• Selecting the program.
• Uploading soft copies of all required documents, including ID proofs, academic mark sheets, and income certificates (if required for a scholarship application).
• Paying the application fee (INR 1,000 for general category applicants).
• Awaiting the announcement of the Department-wise admission notices on the Visva Bharati application website.
• Completing the academic registration formalities and payment of the first semester’s fees to confirm the acceptance of the admission offer.

Visva Bharati University Placements

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

• The percentage of students receiving job offers in different program types during the most recent placement seasons for which data is available are:
  • 2 year PG programs: 814 out of 1869 (44%).
  • Integrated 5 year UG + PG programs: 3 out of 15 (20%).
  • 3 year UG programs: 135 out of 1079 (13%).
  • 4 year UG programs: 233 out of 259 (90%).
• The median salaries offered to graduating students in the programs listed above were:
  • 2 year PG programs: INR 6 LPA (up from INR 4.2 LPA two years earlier).
  • Integrated 5 year UG + PG programs: INR 5 LPA.
  • 3 year UG programs: INR 4 LPA.
  • 4 year UG programs: INR 5 LPA.
• The main function of the Placement Cell during the semester is to organize and conduct job fairs. For example, the Mega Campus Job Fair and the Jalsa Recruitment Drive enable UG and PG students of different Institutes, Centers, and Schools to connect directly with recruiters and understand details of the job roles before committing to the final interview preparation.

Visva Bharati University Cut-Offs

Prior to the 2024-25 academic year, cut-offs were released at the end of the admission process to all PG courses offered by Visva Bharati University, based on the CUET percentile. However, this is no longer the case in the latest academic year due to the direct admission procedure. In the future, the cut-off is expected to be an internal decision based on the quality of the overall application, and will hence not be announced publicly. However, a better performance in the qualifying school or UG examination will increase the chances of successful admission.

Visva Bharati University Faculty & Alumni

Visva Bharati University has a sanctioned Faculty strength of 828 members. However, as of the 2024-25 academic year, only 466 of these positions are filled. Out of these, 264 (57%) are Assistant Professors, 82 (17%) are Associate Professors, and the remaining are full Professors. A majority of the Faculty members (356 out of 466, or 76%) hold PhD degrees; of the remaining, 11 hold MPhil degrees, with the others having various postgraduate degrees. Therefore, the Professors are highly qualified in their own fields, and work to create and implement Visva Bharati University’s unique curriculum.

Graduates of the University do not automatically join the community of alumni. Instead, they must apply to join the Visva Bharati Alumni Association (VBAA) by filling an offline or online form. Different departments have their own chapters and alumni websites; for example, Neev is the Alumni Association for Anthropology students. These bodies primarily maintain strong online ties between alumni and current students, but are also tasked with organizing annual events, fundraising drives, and awards ceremonies for distinguished alumni.

Visva Bharati University Scholarships

As in other top Universities in India, there are multiple financial aid options available to students of Visva Bharati University. The total number of students receiving scholarships from various sources are as follows:

• State and Central Government financial aid: 767 (40% UG, 60% PG).
• Institution Fund Scholarships: 416.
• Private Body Scholarships: 5.

There are three main categories of Visva Bharati University scholarships:

1. Merit Scholarships: This is based on academic merit in the qualifying examination. Postgraduate awardees are given a stipend of INR 300 per month, and UG students are given INR 250 per month.

2. Merit-cum-Means Scholarships: The academic merit criteria are slightly relaxed as compared to Merit Scholarships, and there is an additional family income ceiling. The corresponding amounts awarded to UG and PG students are INR 50 per month less than for merit scholarship winners.

3. Research Scholarships and Fellowships: There are 9 such Fellowships for PG and PhD candidates - for example, the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for SC and ST candidates awards INR 28,000 per month, HRA, and a contingency amount of INR 20,000 per year to Senior Research Fellows.

Visva Bharati University Preparation & FAQs

In earlier academic years, and potentially in future, candidates focused their preparation time on the CUET UG or PG examination. However, in the latest academic year, the quality of the application has become more important, and students who wish to join PG programs at Visva Bharati University have therefore shifted their focus to the final and pre-final years of their UG degree, in a bid to enhance their chances of successful admission to their chosen course at one of the best Universities in West Bengal.

Visva Bharati University Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which is the top University in India?

Visva Bharati University is one of the best Universities in India. It is ranked ranked #14 among the best Central Universities in India, according to the IIRF 2024 ranking list.

Q. What are the application fees to Visva Bharati University?

The application fees to Visva Bharati University vary according to the level of the program to which the student is applying (undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD). For example, PG aspirants must pay application fees of INR 1,000 at the time of submitting the CUET PG registration requirements.

Q. Can final year UG students of Visva Bharati University get direct admission to PG courses of their choice?

There is no direct admission to PG courses for existing students of Visva Bharati University. However, there is a simplified internal application process. They must apply via the Samarth portal, and all the applications are processed as per the rules mentioned in the annual PG course prospectus.

Q. Can Doctoral students avail of research Fellowships at Visva Bharati University?

As one of the top Universities in West Bengal, PhD students of Visva Bharati University can apply for 9 different Fellowship schemes according to eligibility. These are usually awarded by Government departments like CSIR, UGC NET, and DST.