In early 2000, Azim Premji Foundation set out to work in the field of elementary education in government schools across India. The Foundation hoped to impact the quality of education of India at a deep and institutional level in close partnership with the government.

Over the years, the Foundation set up district-level institutes that worked to improve the capacity of teachers, school leaders, teacher educators and administrators in public education.

A decade of grassroots work generated critical insights into the challenges and opportunities on the ground. The biggest need of the hour was for well-qualified professionals in the social sector.

Azim Premji University was set up in response to this need in 2010. We began with two programmes in education and development, along with courses for working professionals that enhanced the capacity of those who already work in the field.

We now have postgraduate degrees in Education, Development, Economics and Public Health. We offer undergraduate degrees in social science (Economics, Social Science), science (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology), and the Humanities (English, History, and Philosophy). We offer a dual degree in science and teacher education.

We conduct more than 150 short courses for professionals every year, in the fields of education, development, policy, and governance across the country.

Our Library aims to serve the teaching and research needs of our University community. It serves all students and active members of the Foundation and its partners: at the University, Field Institutes, and Philanthropy.

We have conducted more than 1000 workshops for working professionals – teachers, teacher educators, development professionals and researchers alike. Our students come from diverse social backgrounds and are supported through our efforts to make education accessible.

Over 3314 graduates from our programmes have gone on to create gradual but impactful change in the social sector. Our faculty create and teach challenging and reflective curricula for the classroom, research, and field practice.

Our Research Centre brings together individuals from across the University, and collaborates with other institutions in interdisciplinary teams. We address critical questions about India’s futures.

The first Azim Premji University was set up in Bengaluru in 2010. Today it operates from a 110-acre campus. The second one, i.e., Azim Premji University, Bhopal, is now operational. The work on the third University in Ranchi is currently underway.

Azim Premji University, Bengaluru has been offering degree programmes since 2011. Its mandate is to run teaching programmes and conduct research to contribute to the social sector in India, and to be an exemplar higher education institution – with inclusion and quality.

The degree and short-term teaching programmes are focused on domains of human development, for example, Education, Livelihoods, Development, Governance and Policy, Public Health, and Sustainability. The undergraduate programmes offer a broad-based liberal education as envisioned in the NEP – along with fields of human development that are the overall focus of the University. The research programmes are designed for direct contribution to matters of policy and practice, in these fields of human development.

The University, Field Institutions, and Philanthropy (the operating unit that handles partner grants) work together to integrate the real grassroots and systemic knowledge to contribute to policy, research and continuing education.

Ten cohorts of over 3000 students from the programmes have graduated from the University and almost hundred percent of students from the of master’s programmes have received job offers on campus. Nearly 90 percent of these students have chosen to work in the social sector, many in grassroots field locations across the country.

The Universities are entirely philanthropic; currently, 89 percent of the expenditure is borne by the Foundation. Currently, about 60 percent of students are on scholarships offered by the University.

The student body is very diverse, from across 26 states and varied socio-economic backgrounds.

The University also produces a large collection of teaching-learning material for free public use. These include magazines on school subjects, development case studies, translations of higher education material, etc.

Azim Premji University, Bangalore Admission Process
Undergraduate and postgraduate admissions to Azim Premji University are available. APU Bangalore admission to the undergraduate programme is accomplished through the university's entrance exam. A personal interview and an entrance exam are both parts of the Azim Premji University undergraduate admissions procedure. Students who successfully pass the university's entrance exam will be awarded admission to the postgraduate programme at Azim Premji University. Students can submit an online application for APU Bangalore admission to PG programmes for LLM and MA courses. A personal interview, an entrance exam, and an online application are all parts of the Azim Premji University admissions procedure for PG programmes.

Azim Premji University UG Courses Admission Process
Aspirants must fulfil the requirements for admission to Azim Premji University's undergraduate programme for the course they have applied for.
Students must take the admission test, which is divided into two parts: Part A: Multiple Choice: This test will evaluate your quantitative and English language skills. Part B: Written component: Applicants must compose an essay, conduct data analysis, or solve a problem in accordance with their preferred major.

A personal interview will be scheduled for the shortlisted individuals.
The final decision will be based on the results of the entrance exam, a personal interview, the verification of supporting documentation, and the payment of the course fee to get the APU Admission confirmed.

Azim Premji University PG Courses Admission Process
For admission to the graduate programme at Azim Premji University, applicants must be eligible.
Students must submit an online application to the programme after proving they are eligible.
In order to be considered for admission to Azim Premji University, qualified applicants must take a university-conducted entrance exam.
There are two parts to the entrance exam: Questions with multiple choices in Part 1 and an essay based on the initial programming preference in Part 2.
Candidates who have been shortlisted will be contacted for a personal interview to evaluate their qualifications.
Following document verification and fee payment, the APU Bangalore admission will be finalised.

Azim Premji University Admission Documents Required:
All educational certificates.
All entrance exam scorecards.
ID proof.
Migration certificate.
Transfer certificate.

Vision of the Placement Cell
Central to realising our vision is to see our students engaged with the social sector after they graduate. The Placement Cell at the University constantly thrives and acts as a platform to assist the students to find the ideal place of work to contribute to building a better society.

Placement Overview
More than 3,700 of our graduates have gone on to find the work that they do meaningful and impactful. About 90% of the students work in the social sector and 80% of our alumni now work in disadvantaged parts of India at the grassroots.
The Placement Cell constantly takes efforts to bring in organisations that have values, ethics and commitment that are in adherence to that of the University’s. The Placement Cell is trying to expand its network year after year to provide the right kind of opportunities to students to work in the social/​development sector.
Various organisations come to the campus for recruitment each year. Every year, on an average, more than 100 organisations visit the campus for placement process. The recruiting organisations are from social sector, including not-for-profit, government/​quasi-government, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), policy think tanks, schools, for-profit, and others.

Azim Premji University placements are good and are focused on building the social purpose of seeing the students engaged in good jobs. More than 2700 of the Azim Premji University graduates find their work both meaningful and impactful. Around 78% of the Azim Premji University students are freshers, followed by 10% which have (0-2) years of experience, 9% are having work experience of around (2-5) years, and so on. In the last ten batches, more than 3350 students have graduated.

About 70% of the students work in the social sector and 80% of the Azim Premji University alumni work in disadvantaged parts of India. Over 2300 alumni of the Azim Premji University work across 500 locations across India, and many at the grassroots. Every year, on an average, more than 90 organisations visit the campus for the placement process.

Azim Premji University Placement Cell
The placement cell carries the outplacement process at the institute. This committee comprises students representatives, faculty coordinators, and other members. The campus placement activity is undertaken by the Placement Cell of Azim Premji University Campus. Once an organization confirms its participation, the information provided by it is made available to the students.

This is followed by a process of deciding upon the slots
of placement process for respective organizations. This is done to ensure that the process goes on smoothly and with minimal logistical inconvenience. Once the slots are decided, the dates of the placement process are fixed and the same will be communicated to the organizations. The other roles of the placement committee are as follows:

It plans the placement calendar and sets rules for placement.
The committee communicates with organizations regarding opportunities for fellowships, jobs, and higher studies.
It conducts practitioner lectures, workshops, and seminars.
Students are also trained in soft skills such as communication skills, resume building, identifying interest areas, and interview skills.
It ensures smooth operations of pre-placement talks(PPT), interviews and final offer processes.

Azim Premji University Scholarships and Funding

Scholarship 1
Undergraduate Programme Need-based scholarships: The scholarship is for those students whose annual family income is less than 12 lakhs.

Scholarship 2
Postgraduate Programmes Need-based scholarships: The scholarship is for all PG programs and for those students whose annual family income is less than 7 lakhs.

Scholarship 3
Experience-based tuition fee waiver - Only for two-year programmes:

Eligibility - Min 3 years experience after graduation.
Students with three or more years of work experience after graduation will be eligible for a 50% waiver on tuition fees.

The Azim Premji University campus, spread over 90 acres and with 2.6 million square feet of space at the end of the first phase of construction, will be a learning and living space with state-of-the-art facilities. The Azim Premji University infrastructure facility is state-of-the-art, and the details are listed below.

Hostel
Azim Premji University hostel provides lodging to students, university members, and visitors.

Medical Center
The medical center supplies free general care, medical care, ambulance on-call, and referrals.
The institute provides resources for medical emergencies for common and minor disorders at the clinic.
A health insurance plan covers students for in-patient and out-patient charges, and students can contact the student helpdesk with any questions or concerns.

Counseling Facilities
Azim Premji University provides counseling services to assist students in coping with challenges or distress.
The center has a team of skilled and trained counselors to listen to and comprehend issues.
They also provide individual and group treatments and skill-building programs.

Mentorship Facility
The mentorship sessions at Azim Premji University cover topics like selecting areas of interest for a job or higher education, communication, project management, data handling, resume writing, and interviewing skills.

Other Facilities
Facilities like a library, seminar halls, open-air Amphi theatre, outdoor playgrounds, indoor sports facilities, water treatment facilities, rainwater harvesting facilities, and cycling trails are available at the Azim Premji University campus area.