When my senior was a student at Azim Premji University, things were a bit different in terms of environment, pedagogy, and the way things were being taught then.

Some of the things he noticed were as follows.

• The system of evaluation was not divided on the basis of mid-term and end-term performance entirely. It was distributed across various elements like class participation, assignments, case studies, presentations, etc. Topics were mailed to the students on which they were asked to discuss and debate. 
• The limits of the students are pushed and they are encouraged to think from different perspectives and come up with different possibilities. Critical thinking and discussions not only help in having an in-depth understanding of the topic but in the development of patience. 
• The classes were taken by professors who were experts in their fields and even the students contributed rather than just attending lectures.
• The syllabus of the first year for all development students was the same and students can choose their subject of interest in the second year.

The university addresses the grievances of the students and the hostel facilities are also up to the mark. My senior got a scholarship of 50%. The university provides support by giving loans for the remaining amount.

A non-profit university, Azim Premji University considers students with the knowledge, aptitude, and communication skills. The university has structured the admission process in such a way that it stands out from other universities in so many ways. Here is Azim Premji University’s process of selecting candidates for a B.Sc.

Eligibility Criteria

There is no such long list of requirements, but there are slightly different criteria for students who come from different education boards. With this, the university seems more inclusive to different aspirants. For instance, aspirants who have passed 10+2 under the CBSE/State/ISC board require a minimum of 50% marks while students from IGCSE board require to have completed at least three subjects at the GCE Advanced Level with a recognized 10th standard certificate from an Indian or foreign certifying board or IGCSE or O Levels with at least five subjects including English.

Similarly, for the International Board, a recognized 10th standard certificate with successful completion of IB Diploma/Certificate with at least 24 points from a total of at least six subjects with a minimum of three subjects at a higher level and three subjects at a standard level is required.

There is also an age limit for the aspirants applying for bachelor’s programs. Candidates must not be more than 19 years of age while joining the programme.

Selection Process

The selection of aspirants at Azim Premji University is a two-tier process. The selection process for B.Sc and other undergraduate programmes includes (1) an entrance test and (2) personal interview.

1. Entrance Test

The entrance test consists of two parts – Part A and Part B. The first part consists of a test that assesses the knowledge of English language and quantitative reasoning while the second part has a written component where applicants are asked to write an essay/data analysis/problem solving based on their major preference to assess writing and analytical skills. Here is a table showing the insights of the entrance test:

Note:In Part A, there are 2 marks each for every correct answer and 1 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.

2. Personal Interview

After qualifying the entrance test, the candidate will be shortlisted for a personal interview.

Azim Premji University provides ample scope to the students, as multiple companies visit the campus for recruitment. More than 1000 students get placed every year, where 67% of the placement is done by reputed NGOs like Aangan, Youth of Seva, Jeevika, Udyogini, Asia Peace Foundation, etc. Fellowship, School, and Training Institute like Centre of Civil Society, Eklavya Education, Gandhi fellowship, etc. hire 20% of the students. Students are also hired for jobs like Corporate Social responsibility, funding organization.

Students can also work with International Development Agencies, Government agency, Think-tanks or they can pursue PhD Philosophy. Students also receive offers from UNGC, the Association of Democratic Reforms based on their performance. Companies that visit the campus frequently for recruitment are Galaxy Product, CMS India, CIPLA Ltd., Foundation of Ecological Security and the average package which is offered to the students is ? 25,000 - ? 30,000 per month.

Yes, Azim Premji University (APU) is a good option for MA in Development studies. It is one of eminent social science universities in Bangalore. Development studies courses are purely Economics based in most institutes. However the course curriculum is quite different at APU, it is a fusion of multiple disciplines including Sociology, Economics, Ecology, Politics, etc. The institute has a group of highly qualified faculty, most of the faculty are alumni of Ivy League schools.

Given below is a brief insight to the program.

Every year more than 90 organizations visit the campus for the recruitment of the students from various NGOs, CSOs, CBOs, CSR units, corporate bodies, etc.

The course of BA Economics offered at Azim Premji University is not limited to theoretical knowledge of books and attending semester exams, but the course offers practical learning. Students get to learn in groups and explore the application to implement them in the real world situation. From 2019 the Economics specialization component consists of 48 credits. This consists of 36 credits from within Economics and 12 credits that can be obtained from a series of allied courses. The course is of 3 years where the first-year course fee is Rs.52,500. The faculty is highly qualified in their respective subject and well-experienced.

The minimum salary offered in campus placement is 3.2 lakh p.a. whereas the median salary offered is 3.6 lakhs per annum. Companies that frequently visit the campus for recruitment of economics students are SBI Fellowship, Eklavya Education Foundation, Green Foundation, Cipla Foundation, FitKids Education & Training Pvt. Lts etc., for job roles like Accounting, Audit, Management, Education, and Research.

Azim Premji university is a private, non-profit institution with affiliation from UGC. It offers BA, MA, L.L.M, B.Sc. courses. A relative of mine who has been studying there has recommended the Institute based on its eligibility criteria, good placements and campus life. 

Admission and eligibility criteria -

To be eligible for admission, students are expected to have passed LLB courses of 3 year or 5 year duration followed by a written test and interview.

• The L.L.M course at Azim Premji university is lucrative for its course structure, which sets it apart from others. 
• A very significant part of the curriculum is the fieldwork component, which is a unique feature of APU. The fieldwork element plays a crucial role in providing a different perspective of the law, which students would have studied in theory.
• The typical structure of exams is also absent from the LLM course at APU. Instead, response papers are given to students with a deadline of 24 hours for submission of the paper.

This new approach to the exam system at APU, helps the student to be more attentive towards the course curriculum, ensuring long term retention of the knowledge gained.The faculty of APU has been vouched for as one of the best, by many former students of the university, even considered better than other law schools of repute.

Overall, APU is a very good university to do your LLM from. Everything at the university starting from campus life to placements will surely meet up to your expectations. This distinctive aspect of APU, makes it a different and a much better alternative to other universities following the traditional approach and also the National Law University(NLU).

Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) offers M.H.A, PGD, MA, B.Ed courses. Azim Premji University offers BA, MA, L.L.M, B.Sc. courses. A friend of mine recommended M.A in Education from Azim Premji University(APU) as it is better, considering various aspects: 

• Faculty: Azim Premji University includes faculty from all over the world. Eminent educationists like Aman Madan, ex faculty of TISS and Rohit Dhankar are now part of the renowned faculty of APU.

• Infrastructure: Both the universities are well known for their state of the art infrastructure, with the APU campus being a marvel in progress and will have an even more of a competitive edge against other universities.

• Diversity: The geographic diversity among students is well matched in both TISS and APU, with their campuses being colloquially dubbed as “Mini India”. On one hand, TISS focuses more on reservation and representation from each state and a majority of the urban student population. On the other hand, APU encompasses an urban to rural student population ratio of 50:50.

• Field Connection: The Field experience in both institutes are considered exemplary. TISS is known for giving the field exposure of working in various NGOs, experience of working in rural areas and slums whereas APU gives field experience at NGOs as well as at Azim Premji Foundation, an umbrella body for all NGOs.

• Financial Support: At TISS, financial assistance is provided on the basis of reservation and APU provides financial assistance on the basis of economic status. Economic status is confirmed through a field visit by a team of APU to the student’s home to confirm their candidature for financial support. At APU, all students in need of financial support can avail scholarships and also many students take up side jobs to earn extra money while pursuing studies. 

In conclusion, TISS is known for its legacy of many famous social workers, but APU is favoured now by those who are education oriented.

Economics undergraduates at Azim Premji University are engaged in roles like Accounting, Audit, Management, Education, and Research, for which the minimum salary offered is ? 25000-30000 whereas the median salary offered is 3.6 lakhs per annum. The maximum salary received by the student is 4.85 lakhs per annum. More than 300 organization visits the campus for placements which are of various sizes starting from a small NGO space to research institutions, quasi-government institutions, school, etc. Around 90% of the students are actively working in social sectors which provide various exciting opportunities that contribute to the betterment of the country and which requires various specific competencies. The placement cell actively takes care of the whole recruitment process and where the student is free to choose from various options available to them.

Overall, the undergraduates receive a good salary after completing their studies and are often hired by reputed organizations. SBI Fellowship, The Bridge Schools, India School Leadership Institute, Cipla Foundation, Teach For India are few companies that visit the University frequently for economics undergraduates.

Ashoka University offers undergraduate programs in B.A and B.Sc, for which the fee is 24.55 lakh for 3 years and 16.7 lakhs for 2 years respectively. Students seeking admission must have completed 10+2 from a recognized school. The placement percentage of the University is 90-95% where top recruitment firms like Microsoft, Deloitte, Mckinsey & Co., Toshiba, and many more visit the campus. The average package which a graduate receives is 10 lakh p.a. whereas the highest package offered is 19 lakh p.a.

Coming to Azim Premji University, the fees structure for B.A and B.Sc is 1.58 and 4.2 lakhs respectively for 3 years, which is relatively less when compared to Ashoka University. The eligibility criteria for obtaining admission is that the student must have a 50 % aggregate score in class XII and he must not be above the age of 19. Companies visiting the campus frequently are Galaxy Project, CMS India, BOSCH Ltd, Cipla Ltd, etc., and they recruit 80% of the graduates. The average package is 3.8 lakhs p.a. and the highest salary offered is 4.85 lakhs p.a.

Anyone who is looking to start their career from a multinational company and is ready to invest a good amount of money in their education can choose to study at Ashoka University as they have got the best placement percentage and having brilliant companies coming to recruit at their campus. Azim Prem University as well offers good placement with comparatively less investment in the fees.