The TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS) is a sustainability-focused deemed-to-be university located in New Delhi, India. It offers postgraduate and doctoral programmes in fields connected to environment, energy, natural resources, public policy, sustainable development and allied disciplines. The institution is closely associated with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the policy research organisation founded under the leadership of R. K. Pachauri.
Key facts
| Type | Deemed-to-be university (private) |
|---|---|
| Focus | Sustainability, environment, energy, public policy |
| Location | New Delhi, India |
| Affiliation | Associated with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) |
| Recognition | Deemed university status under the University Grants Commission |
Background
TERI School of Advanced Studies originated as an academic wing of The Energy and Resources Institute, which had been engaged in research on energy, environment and sustainable development since the 1970s. As TERI's research portfolio expanded, the need for a structured academic institution to train postgraduate students and researchers in these emerging interdisciplinary areas led to the establishment of a dedicated school. It was subsequently granted the status of a deemed-to-be university by the Government of India, on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission, allowing it to award its own degrees.
Academic programmes
The university organises its teaching and research around themes that mirror TERI's areas of expertise. Programmes are typically offered at the master's and doctoral levels, with subjects including:
- Environmental studies and natural resource management
- Climate science and policy
- Renewable energy engineering and management
- Water resources management
- Sustainable development practice
- Public policy and sustainable development
- Geoinformatics
- Plant biotechnology
The curriculum is interdisciplinary, combining science, engineering, management and policy perspectives, and draws on the research environment of TERI for fieldwork, internships and dissertation supervision.
Research and collaborations
Research at TERI SAS is integrated with the wider work of TERI on issues such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, clean energy transitions, air and water quality, biodiversity, and sustainable urbanisation. The institution participates in collaborations with Indian and international universities, government bodies and multilateral organisations involved in environment and development.
Significance
TERI School of Advanced Studies is among the relatively few Indian universities to position sustainability as the central organising theme of its academic identity. By linking formal higher education with an established research institute, it has contributed to building a pool of trained professionals working in environmental governance, energy policy, climate action and allied sectors in India and abroad.
Related topics
- The Energy and Resources Institute
- R. K. Pachauri
- University Grants Commission (India)
- Sustainable development in India
- Environmental education in India
- List of deemed universities in India
References
- Wikidata: Q7670026 – TERI School of Advanced Studies.
- The Energy and Resources Institute – institutional information.
- University Grants Commission of India – list of deemed-to-be universities.