Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is a private deemed-to-be university founded in 1953, with its main campus in Manipal, Karnataka.[1] It sits in the 851–900 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027.[2][3] MAHE’s own website gives two student figures: about 45,000 on campus in one place and “over 58,000 students from 60+ nationalities” in another.[1]
For 2026-27, MAHE publishes a separate Foreign/NRI fee sheet in US dollars. A B.Tech at Manipal costs US$28,400 to US$60,800 for the whole four-year course, depending on the branch, and the MBBS at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal is US$197,200 for the 5.5-year course.[4] Teaching is in English.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) |
| Location | Manipal, Udupi district, Karnataka, India (main address Madhav Nagar, Manipal 576104)[6] |
| Type | Private institution deemed to be a university; describes itself as the first multi-disciplinary, multi-faculty private deemed university; Institution of Eminence; NAAC A++[1] |
| Founded | 1953; the current organisational structure as a deemed university dates from 1993[7] |
| Students | About 45,000 (homepage statistic) or “over 58,000” from 60+ nationalities (body text), both on MAHE’s own site; Wikipedia lists 30,000+[1] |
| Campuses | Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur and Dubai (as listed by MAHE)[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 851–900 band[2] |
| QS Asia University Rankings 2027 | 195th[2] |
| NIRF 2025 (national ranking) | 3rd in the University category and 14th overall, as stated by MAHE[1] |
| Foreign/NRI tuition 2026-27, B.Tech (MIT Manipal) | US$28,400 to US$60,800 for the four-year course, depending on the branch[4] |
| Foreign/NRI tuition 2026-27, MBBS (KMC Manipal) | US$197,200 for the 5.5-year course[4] |
| Application fee (Foreign/NRI path) | Rs. 2,500 for all courses[8] |
| Language of teaching | English[5] |
| Official website | manipal.edu |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 6 November 2026.
About Manipal Academy of Higher Education
MAHE’s website says it was founded in 1953 and calls itself the first multi-disciplinary, multi-faculty private deemed-to-be university in India. It holds Institution of Eminence status and a NAAC A++ accreditation.[1] Wikipedia dates the current deemed-university structure to 1993 and says the main campus at Manipal covers about 600 acres.[7]
Besides Manipal, MAHE lists campuses in Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur and Dubai.[1] Wikipedia also names a Malaysian campus.[7]
How is Manipal Academy of Higher Education ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, MAHE is in the 851–900 band. This comes from MAHE’s own research portal and from an Indian education news site that lists the Indian institutions in the QS 2027 top 1,000; a third list of Indian entries gives the same band.[2][3][9] MAHE also states a position of 195th in the QS Asia University Rankings 2027.[2]
Nationally, MAHE says it ranks 3rd in the University category and 14th overall in the NIRF Rankings 2025, the Indian government’s national ranking.[1] The sources we read give a band, not a single position. Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Manipal Academy of Higher Education?
MAHE’s 2026-27 Foreign/NRI fee sheet groups its programmes by institution. It lists medicine (Kasturba Medical College in Manipal and Mangalore, and Manipal Tata Medical College in Jamshedpur), dental sciences, pharmacy, health professions, nursing, life sciences, public health, engineering (Manipal Institute of Technology in Manipal and Bengaluru), architecture and design, management (T. A. Pai Management Institute), commerce, communication, hotel administration, law, and art and design (Srishti Manipal Institute in Bengaluru).[4]
Degrees in the sheet range from bachelor’s and master’s programmes to doctorates and fellowships. Some B.Tech branches are listed as dual-degree programmes with partner universities abroad, so check the exact programme name and fee row before you apply.[4]
How much does Manipal Academy of Higher Education cost in 2026-27?
| Programme (institution) | Course length | Total for the course (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| MBBS (KMC Manipal) | 5.5 years | 197,200 |
| MBBS (KMC Mangalore; MTMC Jamshedpur) | 5.5 years | 148,000 |
| Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Manipal; Mangalore) | 5 years | 50,400 |
| B.Sc. Nursing (Manipal) | 4 years | 22,400 |
| B.Tech Chemical, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical & Electronics, Electronics, Biotechnology (MIT Manipal) | 4 years | 28,400 |
| B.Tech Aeronautical, Mechatronics (MIT Manipal) | 4 years | 30,800 |
| B.Tech Computer Science & Engineering, Electronics & Communication, Mathematics & Computing (MIT Manipal) | 4 years | 60,800 |
| BBA, three-year (School of Commerce and Economics, Manipal) | 3 years | 13,550 |
| M.Tech Computer Science & Engineering (MIT Manipal) | 2 years | 7,100 |
These are the “2026-27 batch totals” from MAHE’s Foreign/NRI fee sheet dated 18 June 2026, in US dollars. Each total includes a refundable caution deposit of US$200 and is paid in instalments: a first instalment and then the remaining ones.[4] For a B.Tech this works out at about US$7,050 (US$28,400 programmes) to US$15,150 (US$60,800 programmes) a year, because the four yearly instalments are equal.[4] The MBBS in Manipal is split into four instalments of US$49,250 over the 5.5 years.[4]
Hostel and living costs are not included in these totals, and we did not find an official figure for them on the pages we read. For living costs in India see our India guide.
How do you apply to Manipal Academy of Higher Education?
Foreign, NRI and NRI-sponsored applicants use a separate application path through MAHE’s portal. You register with your email, fill in the online form, upload documents and pay the application fee of Rs. 2,500, which MAHE states applies to all courses.[8][10]
- B.Tech at MIT Manipal: for Foreign/NRI applicants the 2026 eligibility document lists an online application, submission of eligibility documents, a provisional admission offer, fee payment and a provisional admission order, followed by submission of final results. The Indian applicant column is based on the MET entrance rank; the Foreign/NRI column does not name an entrance test.[11]
- MBBS and other medical programmes: applicants must register for and qualify in NEET UG; seat allotment runs through the national counselling committee (MCC).[11]
- Other programmes: eligibility and selection differ by programme, so use the programme list and the eligibility document.[11][10]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. Check the admissions pages for your programme. For questions, MAHE gives admissions@manipal.edu as the contact.[10]
Which language level do you need?
The language of teaching at MAHE is English.[5] For visiting and exchange students MAHE asks for an IELTS score above 6.5 or an equivalent certificate from the home institution.[5]
For degree applicants, the pages we read do not give one general IELTS or TOEFL cut-off. The eligibility document instead requires English as a subject: for example, English in 10+2 for Indian boards, and English at AS level or five passes including English at IGCSE, GCSE or O level for A-level applicants.[11] Ask the programme which test, if any, it wants before you book one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manipal Academy of Higher Education the same as Manipal University?
“Manipal University” is a common short name for MAHE. Manipal University Jaipur and Sikkim Manipal University are separate sister institutions under the same management group.[7]
How much does a B.Tech cost for international students at MAHE?
For the 2026-27 batch the Foreign/NRI fee sheet lists US$28,400 to US$60,800 for the whole four-year B.Tech at MIT Manipal, depending on the branch. The totals include a US$200 refundable deposit.[4]
Does MAHE publish its international fees in US dollars?
Yes. The Foreign/NRI category sheet for 2026-27 states all fees in US dollars, with a first instalment and remaining instalments for each programme.[4]
Do I need an entrance exam to study at MAHE as a foreign student?
How is MAHE ranked in the QS World University Rankings?
MAHE is in the 851–900 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 195th in the QS Asia University Rankings 2027, according to MAHE’s research portal.[2]
More about studying in India
- India: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in India
- Amity University (Noida)
- Anna University
- Banaras Hindu University
- BITS Pilani
- Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
- Indian Institute of Science
- Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Indian Institute of Technology Indore
- Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Jadavpur University
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- University of Delhi
- University of Hyderabad
Sources
[1] MAHE: World Wide Manipal (page without a date; cites NIRF 2025)
[2] MAHE: Research portal (QS 2027 placement) (page without a date)
[3] Education21: QS World University Rankings 2027, India’s report card (article of 21 Jun 2026; QS edition released 18 Jun 2026 (QS publishes at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access))
[4] MAHE: 2026-27 NRI (Foreign/NRI category) fees as on 18-06-2026 (fee sheet dated 18 Jun 2026 in its file name; US dollars)
[5] MAHE: International collaboration guidelines for visiting students (page without a date; the address now redirects, we read the copy on evbab.manipal.edu)
[6] MAHE: Office of International Affairs & Collaborations, contact page (postal address) (page without a date)
[7] Wikipedia: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (history, deemed status and sister universities; page without a date)
[8] MAHE: How to apply (page without a date; title refers to admissions 2027)
[9] PhDTalks: 52 Indian universities in QS World University Rankings 2027 (article of 28 Jun 2026; secondary list)
[10] MAHE: Admission overview (page without a date)
[11] MAHE: Eligibility & admission process 2026, undergraduate programmes (General / Foreign / NRI category) (document for the 2026 admission cycle, without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.