Overview
2002
Established
300 acres
Campus
121+
Programmes
June/July
Intakes
$900–$9,350
Tuition per year
Pune (PNQ), 30 km from Lavale; 5 km from Viman Nagar
Nearest airport
In Pune the main teaching sites are the 300-acre hilltop campus at Lavale, the Viman Nagar campus near the airport and the Senapati Bapat Road campus in the city centre. Symbiosis Law School Pune (NIRF 2025 law rank 7) and SIBM Pune (management rank 11) are the flagship institutes, and the university as a whole is NAAC A++ and QS-ranked 696 in the world for 2026.
All international applications run through the Symbiosis Centre for International Education (SCIE), which reserves a fifth of every programme's seats for foreign nationals, OCI/PIO holders and NRIs. Foreign nationals and OCI/PIO applicants skip the SET/SNAP entrance tests, and foreign nationals admitted in 2026 and 2027 receive the Golden Jubilee Scholarship, which cuts the payable academic fee to a flat USD 1,300 per year for undergraduate programmes, USD 1,950 for most postgraduate programmes and USD 2,600 for the MBA.
- NAAC A++ (CGPA 3.56) and QS World University Rankings 2026 rank 696
- NIRF 2025: 7th in law (SLS Pune), 11th in management (SIBM Pune), 24th among universities
- Founded in 1971 to support foreign students in Pune; today draws students from 85+ countries
- 20% of seats in every programme reserved for the international category through SCIE
- Golden Jubilee Scholarship: foreign nationals pay a flat USD 1,300 per year academic fee on UG programmes
- Foreign nationals and OCI/PIO applicants are exempt from SET, SITEEE and SNAP entrance tests
- In-house IELA English test (band 4) accepted in place of IELTS 6.0
- Three Pune campuses: Lavale hilltop (300 acres), Viman Nagar near the airport, and Senapati Bapat Road in the city
Popular courses and fees for international students
Annual tuition in INR with an indicative USD conversion at ₹85 = $1. Figures are the published foreign-national fee. Confirm the current fee sheet before paying.
| Programme | Level | Duration | Tuition / year | Eligibility | Intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBA (Hons) - Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies | UG | 3-4 years | ₹7.0 lakh≈ $8,200 | 12th in any stream with 50% (45% for some programmes); IELTS 6.0 or IELA band 4 | June/July |
| B.Tech Computer Science & Engineering / AI & ML - Symbiosis Institute of Technology | UG | 4 years | ₹6.6 lakh≈ $7,800 | 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, 50% aggregate | June/July |
| B.Tech Mechanical / Civil / Robotics & Automation | UG | 4 years | ₹5.6 lakh≈ $6,550 | 12th with PCM, 50% aggregate | June/July |
| BA (Liberal Arts) Honours with Research - Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts | UG | 4 years | ₹8.0 lakh≈ $9,350 | 12th in any stream; statement of purpose and two recommendation letters | June/July |
| BA LLB / BBA LLB (Hons) - Symbiosis Law School Pune | UG | 5 years | On request | 12th in any stream with 45%; SLAT exempt for foreign nationals and OCI/PIO | June/July |
| BCA - Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research | UG | 3 years | On request | 12th with Mathematics or Computer Science, 50% aggregate | June/July |
| B.Sc Nursing - Symbiosis College of Nursing | UG | 4 years | On request | 12th with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English, 45%; minimum age 17 | July/August |
| MBA - Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune | PG | 2 years | On request | Bachelor's degree with 50%; SNAP exempt for foreign nationals; GMAT/work experience considered | June |
| M.Tech (Engineering Design and other specialisations) - SIT Pune | PG | 2 years | ₹76,000≈ $900 | B.E./B.Tech in a relevant discipline with 50% | June/July |
| B.Des / M.Des - Symbiosis Institute of Design | UG/PG | 4 years / 2 years | On request | 12th in any stream with 45%; portfolio review for foreign nationals | June/July |
Need the complete list of 121+ programmes with seat counts? .
Admission process for international students
- 1
Apply online through SCIE
Submit the UG or PG international application on scie.ac.in with your academic record, statement of purpose and two recommendation letters (predicted grades are accepted if endorsed by your principal).
- 2
Pay the application fee
USD 65 for foreign nationals or USD 120 for NRI/OCI/PIO applicants, plus USD 50 if you opt for the online IELA English test; payments are made in US dollars.
- 3
Meet the English requirement
Foreign nationals and OCI/PIO holders must show IELTS Academic 6.0 or sit the Symbiosis IELA test (band 4); entrance tests such as SET and SNAP are waived.
- 4
Receive an offer and pay the first installment
SCIE's admission committee issues an offer, waitlist or regret; accepting the offer requires the USD 550 administrative fee (halved for foreign nationals), the first academic-fee installment and the USD 275 institute deposit.
- 5
Obtain your student visa
Foreign nationals receive a Provisional Admission Letter for the visa; the visa must name Symbiosis International University as the institution.
- 6
Report to SCIE in Pune
Complete the medical check at the Symbiosis Centre for Health Care, settle hostel and mess fees, collect your joining letter and hand it to your institute's International Students Coordinator; register with FRRO within 14 days.
Eligibility & English requirement
- Completed 12 years of schooling: IB Diploma, GCE/IGCSE A-levels, WASSCE, HSC, Tawjihi, Nepali +2 and other national 12-year certificates are accepted; students with 'compartment' or failed subjects in final results are not eligible
- Programme minimums range from 45% (law, design) to 50% (BBA, B.Tech, BCA); engineering needs Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
- English proficiency is compulsory for foreign nationals and OCI/PIO applicants: IELTS Academic 6.0 or the Symbiosis IELA online test at band 4 or above
- Selection weighs the 10+2 transcript at 90%, statement of purpose 5% and recommendation letters 5%
- NRI status for UG requires that either the 10th or 12th exam was taken outside India; foreign nationals, OCI and PIO holders need a valid passport (and OCI card where applicable)
Important dates
- Applications open: around November/December on scie.ac.in for the following academic year
- Offer letters issued on a rolling basis from March; first installment due at acceptance
- Reporting to SCIE: June/July as per the published Reporting and Commencement Dates
- Pending documents must reach SCIE by 31 August, or the student may be barred from Semester I exams
- Third fee installment due 25 November of the admission year
Scholarships for international students
| Scholarship | Benefit | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Symbiosis Golden Jubilee Scholarship | Covers academic fees above a flat payable amount: foreign nationals pay USD 1,300 per year on UG programmes (except MBBS), USD 2,600 on MBA and USD 1,950 on other PG programmes, plus a 50% cut in the administrative fee and concessional hostel (USD 650) and mess (USD 560) rates | Foreign-passport holders admitted to full-time programmes in 2026/2027; not for Indian, NRI, OCI or PIO students, short-term, part-time or doctoral programmes |
| Symbiosis International Scholarship (Symbiosis Society Foundation) | Fee support for meritorious students administered through SCIE | Deserving foreign students from African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries |
| Merit scholarship for NRI, OCI and PIO students | Partial academic-fee concession listed under SCIE's scholarship policy | NRI/OCI/PIO applicants with strong 12th-grade or degree results; details confirmed by SCIE at offer stage |
| Study in India (SII) | Government of India partial tuition waivers | Foreign nationals applying via the SII portal to Symbiosis programmes listed there |
| ICCR scholarships | Full tuition, hostel and living allowance from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations | Nomination by the Indian mission in your country; Symbiosis is a host institution for ICCR scholars |
Placements
₹7.8 lakh
Median package
No PSW visa
India has no post-study work visa; graduates need a sponsored Employment Visa
Top recruiters: JP Morgan, Amazon, Deloitte, Infosys, Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank.
NIRF 2023-24 median salaries: INR 7.79 lakh for 4-year UG, INR 7.7 lakh for 5-year law, INR 12.68 lakh for 2-year PG (MBA); SIT Pune engineering reported a median of INR 9.5 lakh with 95.75% placed.
Campus, hostel and cost of living
Hostel (on campus)
- Twin-sharing (Viman Nagar), international rate: ₹2.2 lakh / year (≈ $2,550)
- Three-sharing (Viman Nagar), international rate: ₹1.8 lakh / year (≈ $2,100)
- Twin or three-sharing, foreign-national concessional rate (Golden Jubilee): ₹62,000 / year (≈ $750)
- Compulsory mess plan of USD 1,400 per year at the standard international rate, or USD 560 for foreign nationals on the Golden Jubilee concession; vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus.
- Rates are the 2026-27 Viman Nagar campus tariff (NRI/OCI/PIO twin-sharing USD 2,240-2,500; three-sharing USD 1,870-2,300; single rooms up to USD 4,000). A refundable USD 250 hostel deposit applies. Lavale hilltop campus hostels (SIT, SIBM, SLS) are priced on a separate schedule; hostel fees may rise up to 15% a year.
Monthly living cost in Pune (estimate)
- Food outside mess $70-120
- Transport $20-45 (shuttles between campuses; autos and cabs in Pune)
- Mobile and data $5-10
- Toiletries, laundry and books $25-45
- Leisure, cafes and weekend trips $60-130
- Total with hostel: $300–500 / month
Indian student visa for Symbiosis (SIU) admits
Foreign nationals need a Student (S) Visa from the Indian mission in their country. It is issued for the duration of the course on the university's bona fide admission letter, fee receipt and proof of funds, and holders must register with the FRRO within 14 days of arrival. Krosz prepares the visa file for every student it places, at no extra cost.
Largest international cohorts at Symbiosis (SIU): Nigeria, Nepal, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to sit SET, SLAT or SNAP as a foreign applicant?
No. Foreign nationals and OCI/PIO holders are exempt from all Symbiosis entrance tests and apply through SCIE on their academic record, statement of purpose and references. NRIs applying under the international category are also exempt.
What will a foreign national actually pay per year?
Thanks to the Golden Jubilee Scholarship, foreign-passport holders admitted in 2026 or 2027 pay a flat USD 1,300 academic fee per year on undergraduate programmes (USD 2,600 for MBA, USD 1,950 for other PG), plus a USD 275 refundable deposit, a USD 275 administrative fee, concessional hostel of USD 650 and mess of USD 560. NRI, OCI and PIO students pay the full published rate, for example USD 7,340 for BBA or USD 7,000 for B.Tech CSE.
Is an English test compulsory?
Yes for foreign nationals and OCI/PIO applicants: IELTS Academic 6.0 or Symbiosis's own online IELA test at band 4 (USD 50). TOEFL and PTE are not listed as alternatives.
Which campus will I study on?
It depends on the institute. SIT, SIBM Pune and Symbiosis Law School Pune are on the 300-acre Lavale hilltop campus about 30 km from the airport; SCMS, SSLA, SICSR and several media and design institutes are at Viman Nagar near the airport; the university headquarters and SCIE are on Senapati Bapat Road in central Pune.
When do classes start and when must documents be in?
Reporting runs in June/July under SCIE's published commencement dates. Any pending documents must reach SCIE by 31 August, otherwise you may not be allowed to sit first-semester exams.
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Sources: official university website and international prospectus, NIRF, NAAC, UGC, MEA student visa guidelines, ICCR. Last verified 2026-10. Fees are indicative and may change; Krosz is an independent admissions and visa service and is not affiliated with Symbiosis International (Deemed University).