Symbiosis Institute (SIU)
About Symbiosis Institute (SIU)
Quick answer: Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune — commonly called SIU — is a NAAC A++ accredited, UGC Category-I deemed university founded in 1971, best known for its flagship B-school, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM Pune), and for admitting students through its own entrance tests (SET, SNAP, SLAT) rather than a single common exam.
SIU was established by Prof. Dr. S.B. Mujumdar on the guiding principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world as one family), and it has built its identity around a large international student community from day one. It received “Deemed to be University” status from the Ministry of Human Resource Development in 2002, and today operates from the 300-acre Symbiosis Knowledge Village campus in Lavale on the outskirts of Pune, alongside multiple other Pune campuses.
SIU isn’t one college — it’s an umbrella of more than 40 constituent institutes spanning management (SIBM, SCMHRD, SIIB), law (Symbiosis Law School), engineering (Symbiosis Institute of Technology), computer studies (SICSR, SCIT), media (SIMC), design, and health sciences, including the Symbiosis Medical College for Women, India’s first residential medical college exclusively for women. This breadth is exactly why “average package” or “annual fee” numbers you’ll see quoted for SIU vary so widely — they depend heavily on which constituent institute and programme you’re looking at.
Courses & Fees
| Course | Specialization | Duration | Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBA (Honours) | Digital Media & Marketing / FinTech / Logistics & Supply Chain / Retail & E-Commerce | 3 years | ₹3.70 Lakh |
| M.A. | Humanities Specializations | 2 years | ₹3.53 Lakh |
| M.Sc | Various Science Specializations | 2 years | ₹2.75 Lakh |
| M.Phil / Ph.D | Arts / Education | Variable | ₹1.15 Lakh |
| MBA | SIBM / SCMHRD / SIIB (Flagship B-Schools) | 2 years | Confirm current-year fee with the institute |
| B.Tech | Symbiosis Institute of Technology (SIT), Lavale | 4 years | Confirm current-year fee with the institute |
Placements
Top recruiters
Facilities
- • 300-acre Symbiosis Knowledge Village campus in Lavale, Pune, plus multiple additional campuses across the city for individual institutes
- • Symbiosis University Hospital & Research Centre, attached to the Symbiosis Medical College for Women, providing free treatment to neighbouring villages
- • Seven hostel blocks at SIT Pune alone (three for women, four for men), plus additional dedicated hostels for other institutes (Daffodil, Daisy, Orchid, Kopou, and Tulip hostels across various Pune campuses)
- • Wi-Fi connectivity, laundry services, and round-the-clock power and water supply in all hostels
- • 24/7 security personnel, wardens, CCTV surveillance, and access control across residential campuses
- • Research labs and dedicated computing infrastructure at institutes like SICSR and SCIT
- • Sports and cultural infrastructure supporting SIU's large international student community
Rankings & Awards
- • 300-acre Symbiosis Knowledge Village campus in Lavale, Pune, plus multiple additional campuses across the city for individual institutes
- • Symbiosis University Hospital & Research Centre, attached to the Symbiosis Medical College for Women, providing free treatment to neighbouring villages
- • Seven hostel blocks at SIT Pune alone (three for women, four for men), plus additional dedicated hostels for other institutes (Daffodil, Daisy, Orchid, Kopou, and Tulip hostels across various Pune campuses)
- • Wi-Fi connectivity, laundry services, and round-the-clock power and water supply in all hostels
- • 24/7 security personnel, wardens, CCTV surveillance, and access control across residential campuses
- • Research labs and dedicated computing infrastructure at institutes like SICSR and SCIT
- • Sports and cultural infrastructure supporting SIU's large international student community
Hostel & Campus
Double, triple, and four-sharing rooms available.
Approx. ₹3,00,000 – ₹3,55,000 / year (including mess, varies by institute and hostel)
Refundable security deposit: ₹20,000
Includes attached bathrooms, Wi-Fi, laundry, 24x7 security, and resident wardens.
Admission
SET itself is a 60-question objective test covering General English, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, and Analytical & Logical Reasoning, with no negative marking, and you can attempt it across two available dates, with your higher score counted.
Why Choose Symbiosis International University
SIU's pitch is breadth and brand: more than 40 specialised institutes under one NAAC A++, UGC Category-I deemed university, so a prospective student can move from a BBA to an MBA to (in some cases) a law or design programme without leaving the same academic ecosystem.
Its strongest calling card is SIBM Pune, its flagship B-school, where the 2026 MBA batch recorded a highest package of ₹74.84 LPA and an average package of ₹28.53 LPA in the prior cohort — figures that hold up against most of India's top private B-schools. Its 50+ year legacy (founded 1971) and deliberate focus on international students, backed by a dedicated medical college for women and its own hospital serving surrounding villages, also set it apart from purely commercial private universities.
The honest trade-off: SIU is significantly more expensive than a government college like Hindu College or Fergusson (₹3.5+ Lakh a year for BBA alone, versus roughly ₹30,000 at a DU constituent college), and admission requires clearing SIU's own specific entrance test for each stream rather than one common exam — so it suits a student who has already decided on a specific program and institute rather than someone comparing broadly across universities.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
SIU's scholarships run through the Symbiosis Society Foundation, which funds merit-based and need-based awards for deserving students university-wide. Two specific programmes stand out: a scholarship track for financially disadvantaged female students from villages surrounding the Lavale campus, awarded on a mix of academic merit and economic background; and the Golden Jubilee Scholarships for Foreign National students, created to mark SIU's 50th anniversary, which include full academic scholarships with need-based reduced hostel fees for students from developing African and Asian countries, plus free-ships for students from conflict-affected regions.
Applications are invited for the upcoming session. Scholarships are available for meritorious students.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NIRF ranking of Symbiosis International University?
SIU is ranked #24 in India under the NIRF 2025 Universities category and #40 Overall. Its flagship institutes, such as SIBM Pune, are also ranked separately in the Management category.
Is Symbiosis International University NAAC accredited?
Yes, SIU holds a NAAC A++ accreditation with a CGPA of 3.6 and has UGC Category-I status as a deemed university.
What entrance exam do I need for SIU?
Admission depends on the programme: SET for BBA, SNAP for MBA, SLAT for Law, and SITEEE for Engineering, followed by a Personal Interaction round for most courses.
What is the fee for a BBA or MBA at SIU?
BBA (Honours) programmes start at approximately ₹3.70 Lakh for the first year. MBA fees vary by institute and should be confirmed with the respective institute.
Are SIU's placements good?
Yes, placements vary by institute. SIBM Pune recorded a highest package of ₹74.84 LPA and an average package of ₹28.53 LPA, while the university-wide average ranges from ₹4.60–₹12.68 LPA across UG and PG programmes.
Is hostel facility available at SIU?
Yes, separate hostels are available across SIU campuses with double, triple, and four-sharing rooms. Hostel and mess charges range from approximately ₹3–₹3.55 Lakh per year, plus a refundable ₹20,000 security deposit.
Does SIU offer scholarships?
Yes, SIU offers scholarships through the Symbiosis Society Foundation, including merit-based, need-based, and scholarships for eligible international and local students.
