- A deemed-to-be-university is declared by the Central Government under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, on the advice of the University Grants Commission
- As of 2026 the UGC lists 157 deemed-to-be universities in India, with Tamil Nadu holding the most at 28
- Since 2022 the National Medical Commission caps fees on 50 percent of MBBS seats at deemed universities at par with state government medical colleges.
What Is a Deemed University in India?
A deemed university, formally a deemed-to-be-university, is a high-performing higher education institution granted university status under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. It enjoys the academic status and privileges of a university, including autonomy over its courses, syllabus, admissions and fees, without being a full university created by a separate statute.
The tag recognises institutions that do work of a very high standard in a specific area of study, such as medicine, engineering, law or Sanskrit. Unlike an affiliating university, a deemed university runs its own admissions and degree programmes but cannot open off-campus centres without government approval.
- Deemed status is granted by the Central Government, not by any state legislature.
- The status is recommended by the University Grants Commission (UGC) after an expert review.
- Deemed universities can frame their own courses, syllabi and examination systems.
- They award their own degrees, which are recognised on par with those of other universities.
- They are governed by the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2022.
How Does an Institution Get Deemed University Status?
Under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, the Central Government, acting through the Ministry of Education and on the advice of the UGC, declares an eligible institution to be a deemed-to-be-university by notification in the Official Gazette. The process follows the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2022, which set the quality benchmarks.
The ministry was called the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) until it was renamed the Ministry of Education in 2020, so older articles that mention MHRD are referring to the same body. Before the status is notified, an institution must clear UGC expert-committee inspections covering faculty, research output, infrastructure and governance.
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As of 2026, the University Grants Commission lists 157 institutions as deemed-to-be universities across India. Tamil Nadu has the highest number, with 28 deemed universities, reflecting its large base of private engineering and medical institutions. The national count has grown steadily from around 125 in the mid-2010s as more institutions qualified for the status.
Deemed universities are spread across most states, but they cluster in southern and western India. Because they enjoy fee and admission autonomy, they are especially common among private engineering, medical and research institutions that want to design their own programmes rather than affiliate to a state university.
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Tamil Nadu has 28 deemed-to-be universities, the most of any Indian state. They include well-known names such as VIT (Vellore Institute of Technology), SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Saveetha, Sathyabama and SASTRA. Many are ranked highly for engineering, medicine and research in national frameworks such as the NIRF.
Which universities in Tamil Nadu hold deemed status?
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
- Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT)
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology
- Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences
- Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology
- Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA)
- Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research
- Chettinad Academy of Research and Education
- Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS)
- Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Higher Education
- Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences
- Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research
- Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation
- Academy of Maritime Education and Training
- Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women
- B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology
What Are the MBBS Fees at Deemed Universities?
MBBS fees at deemed universities are set by each institution and are among the highest in India, historically ranging from about 18 to 25 lakh rupees per year. Since 2022, the National Medical Commission requires that fees for 50 percent of MBBS seats at deemed and private colleges match the state government medical college fee.
The MBBS course runs for four and a half years of study followed by a one-year rotating internship, so the full programme takes about five and a half years. Fees vary widely by institution and quota, so students should always check the current fee notification on the university's own website and the NMC seat matrix before applying.
How Do Deemed Universities Differ From Private and Central Universities?
A deemed university is declared under Section 3 of the UGC Act by the Central Government, while a private university is set up by a state legislature and a central university by an Act of Parliament. Deemed universities enjoy wide academic and financial autonomy but, unlike affiliating universities, cannot affiliate external colleges to themselves.
| Feature 2026 | Deemed University | Private University | Central University |
|---|---|---|---|
| Established under | Section 3, UGC Act 1956 (central notification) | State private university Act | Act of Parliament |
| Approving authority | Central Government on UGC advice | State legislature | Parliament |
| Autonomy over courses and fees | High | High | Moderate (statute-bound) |
| Can affiliate outside colleges | No | No | Sometimes |
| Examples | VIT, SRM, BITS Pilani, TIFR | Ashoka, O.P. Jindal | JNU, University of Delhi |
Which Are Notable Deemed Universities Across India?
Beyond Tamil Nadu, deemed universities are spread across India. Maharashtra hosts TIFR, NMIMS and Bharati Vidyapeeth; Delhi has IIFT, TERI School of Advanced Studies and Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan; and other well-known deemed universities include BITS Pilani, Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Jamia Hamdard. They cover science, management, medicine and the humanities.
Which deemed universities are in Delhi?
- Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
- Indian Law Institute
- National University of Educational Planning and Administration
- Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan
- Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University
- TERI School of Advanced Studies
Which deemed universities are in the Mumbai region?
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)
- Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)
- Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT)
- Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth
- MGM Institute of Health Sciences