Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

What Symbiosis International (Deemed University) is

Symbiosis International (Deemed University), established in 1971 by Prof. Dr. S.B. Mujumdar under the Symbiosis Society, is a multi-disciplinary deemed university headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra. It holds NAAC A++ accreditation and is ranked 24th among universities in the NIRF 2025 rankings (NIRF 2025). The university is also ranked in the QS World University Rankings at 641-650 globally.

The university operates through 42 constituent institutes and 13 research centres across Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nashik, Noida, and Nagpur. It enrolls 40,000+ students from 85+ countries, making it an internationally diverse university. The main campus at Lavale, Pune spans approximately 400 acres (Symbiosis Official Website).

Symbiosis’s most recognised constituent institutes include Symbiosis Law School (SLS) Pune (NIRF Law Rank 5 in 2024), Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies (SCMS), and Symbiosis Institute of Technology (SIT).

Who it’s for

Symbiosis attracts students across a wide range of disciplines, but it is particularly well-known for three areas:

1. Law: SLS Pune is among the top 5 law schools in India. Students aiming for a career in corporate law, litigation, or legal academia consider SLS alongside NLSIU Bangalore and NLU Delhi.

2. Management: SIBM Pune is a well-regarded MBA program, frequently compared to XLRI, MDI, and FMS. SCMS and other management institutes also contribute to Symbiosis’s management reputation.

3. Multi-disciplinary breadth: Students who want exposure to multiple fields (law + management, engineering + design, media + liberal arts) find value in the cross-institute ecosystem.

The common thread across all Symbiosis institutes is the SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test) — a university-level entrance exam that serves as the first screening for most programs. Program-specific tests (SLAT for law, written ability tests for management) follow SET.

Students should understand that “Symbiosis” encompasses many institutes of varying quality and reputation. SLS Pune and SIBM Pune are nationally competitive; other constituent institutes may have more modest outcomes. Evaluate each institute individually rather than treating “Symbiosis” as a monolithic brand.

Programs offered

Symbiosis offers programs through its constituent institutes. Key programs include:

Law (Symbiosis Law School, Pune):

• BA LLB (Hons.) — 5 years
• BBA LLB (Hons.) — 5 years
• LLM — 1 year

Management:

• MBA — SIBM Pune, SIBM Bengaluru, SIBM Hyderabad, SCMS (2 years)
• BBA — various Symbiosis institutes (3 years)

Engineering and Technology (Symbiosis Institute of Technology):

• B.Tech. programs in Computer Science, AI & ML, Electronics, Civil, Mechanical (4 years)

Computer Studies (SICSR):

• BCA — 3 years
• MCA, M.Sc. (Computer Science) — 2 years

Liberal Arts (Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts):

• BA Liberal Arts — 3 years

Health Sciences:

• MBBS, BPT, B.Sc. Nursing, M.Sc. programs

Media and Communication:

• BA (Mass Communication), MA (Mass Communication)

Architecture and Design:

• B.Arch., B.Des., M.Arch. programs

Research:

• Ph.D. programs across institutes
• PhD programmes across multiple disciplines

Campus and infrastructure

Symbiosis operates multiple campus clusters:

Lavale Campus (~400 acres): The main hilltop campus at Lavale, Mulshi houses several institutes including SIT, SSLA, and newer additions. This is the largest Symbiosis campus with residential facilities, sports amenities, and green spaces.

Model Colony / Viman Nagar Campuses: Several older Symbiosis institutes including SLS Pune and SCMS are located in central Pune locations, offering an urban campus experience.

Constituent Institute Campuses: Individual institutes across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nashik, Noida, and Nagpur have their own campuses.

Each constituent institute has its own hostel, library, and laboratory facilities. Central resources include:

• Symbiosis Central Library
• Sports facilities (swimming pool, gymnasium, playing fields at Lavale)
• Health centre
• International student support office
• Cultural and festival infrastructure (Symbiosis hosts large-scale cultural events)

Things to verify before applying

• SET 2026 dates: The Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) is conducted annually. Check set-test.org for registration dates and test schedule.
• Institute-specific selection: SET is only the first step. Each institute has its own selection process after SET (SLAT for law, WAT-PI for management, etc.). Verify the complete selection process for your target institute.
• Fee structure: Fees vary significantly across institutes. SLS Pune and SIBM charge premium fees. Verify fees for your specific program at the institute’s website.
• Institute reputation varies: Not all Symbiosis institutes have the same reputation. Research the specific institute you’re applying to, not just the “Symbiosis” brand.
• Campus location: Different institutes are on different campuses. SLS Pune is in central Pune; SIT is at Lavale (20+ km from city centre). Confirm which campus your program is on.
• NIRF rankings: SLS Pune is ranked 5th in Law (NIRF 2024). SIBM is ranked in management. But the overall university rank (24 in NIRF 2025) includes all 42 institutes. Evaluate individual institute rankings.

Where to go next on this site

• Symbiosis International Fee Structure
• Symbiosis International Admissions
• Symbiosis International Placements
• SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test) — the common entrance exam
• CLAT — for comparison with NLU law admission
• CAT — for comparison with IIM management admission
• Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts — SSLA profile on this site
• NLSIU Bangalore — top law school comparison
• NLU Delhi — top law school comparison
• XLRI Jamshedpur — management school comparison
• BA LLB — integrated law program
• MBA — management program
• BA Liberal Arts — liberal arts program

Sources Used

• Symbiosis International Official Website
• SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test) Portal
• Symbiosis Law School Pune
• NIRF 2025 University Rankings