Symbiosis International University (often abbreviated SIU) is a private, coeducational, multi-institutional university located in the Pune district of Maharashtra, India. It functions as the umbrella academic body for a network of constituent institutes engaged in higher education across disciplines such as management, law, computer studies, health sciences, media, design, liberal arts, and engineering.
| Type | Private deemed-to-be university |
|---|---|
| Location | Pune district, Maharashtra, India |
| Coeducational | Yes |
| Parent body | Symbiosis Society |
| Structure | Multi-institutional, with several constituent institutes |
The university traces its origins to the Symbiosis Society, an educational trust based in Pune that established a number of institutes over several decades, beginning with programmes aimed at supporting international students studying in India. Over time, these institutes expanded into a wide range of academic and professional fields, eventually being brought together under a single university framework.
Symbiosis International was granted the status of a deemed-to-be university by the Government of India under the University Grants Commission framework, allowing the Symbiosis group of institutes to confer their own degrees through a unified academic structure.
The university is organised as a federation of constituent institutes, each focused on a specific discipline. Among its better-known constituents are institutes of management studies, law, computer studies and research, media and communication, health sciences, international business, and liberal arts. The institutes operate from multiple campuses in and around Pune, with additional centres in other Indian cities.
Admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are conducted through entrance examinations administered by the university, including separate tests for management, law, general undergraduate programmes, and other professional streams. These examinations are open to candidates from across India and, for several programmes, to international applicants.
Symbiosis International University is recognised as one of the larger private university systems in western India, with a notable share of international students compared to many Indian higher education institutions. Its constituent management and law institutes are widely cited among well-known private professional schools in the country, and the broader Symbiosis brand is associated with multidisciplinary higher education in Pune, which is itself a prominent educational hub in Maharashtra.