PES University is a state private university located in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. It was established under an Act of the Karnataka State Legislature and grew out of the People's Education Society (PES) group of institutions, which has been active in higher education in southern India for several decades. The university is best known for its programmes in engineering, computer science, management, law, and life sciences, and is among the prominent private universities in the city of Bengaluru.
| Name | PES University |
|---|---|
| Type | State private university |
| Location | Bengaluru Urban district, Karnataka, India |
| Parent organisation | People's Education Society (PES) |
| Country | India |
| Language of instruction | English |
The institution traces its origins to the People's Education Society, a trust that began running educational institutions in Bengaluru in the early 1970s. Its initial flagship was an engineering college, which over time expanded into a multi-disciplinary group offering programmes in technology, medicine, management, and the arts. The conversion of the core institution into a full-fledged university enabled it to design its own curricula, conduct its own examinations, and award its own degrees, while continuing to function within the regulatory framework of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Government of Karnataka.
The university operates from multiple campuses in and around Bengaluru. The main campus is situated in the Banashankari area in south Bengaluru, while additional campuses house specific schools and programmes. The campuses host academic blocks, research laboratories, libraries, hostels, sports facilities, and student innovation centres.
PES University offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes through several faculties and schools. Major academic divisions typically include:
The university also supports research centres in areas such as cyber security, artificial intelligence, data sciences, nanotechnology, and crop sciences, and runs an entrepreneurship and innovation programme that supports student-led startups.
Undergraduate admissions to engineering programmes are conducted through a combination of national entrance examinations and a university-administered entrance test, commonly referred to as PESSAT. Admissions to management, law, and other programmes are based on a mix of national tests, academic record, and interviews, depending on the programme.
The university hosts a range of student bodies, technical clubs, cultural societies, and sports teams. Annual technical and cultural festivals are organised by the student community, drawing participation from colleges across India. The institution also fields student teams in inter-collegiate robotics, programming, motorsport, and aero-modelling competitions.
As one of the older privately managed higher-education groups in Bengaluru, PES has contributed to the city's reputation as a centre for technical education and information technology. Its alumni are represented in the Indian software industry, multinational technology firms, research institutions, public services, and entrepreneurial ventures, particularly within Bengaluru's startup ecosystem.