Awarding universities

One admissions process, three universities

A Manipal online degree is awarded by MAHE, Manipal University Jaipur or Sikkim Manipal University. They differ in accreditation, catalogue and history - and the one that awards your programme is the name on your certificate.

3 awarding universities
83 programmes
All UGC-entitled

How the three compare

University	Established	Accreditation	Programmes online
MAHE - Manipal Academy of Higher Education	1953	NAAC A++, Institution of Eminence, UGC-entitled	23
MUJ - Manipal University Jaipur	2011	NAAC A+, UGC-entitled	48
SMU - Sikkim Manipal University	1995	NAAC A+, UGC-entitled	12

Which one suits you

MAHE

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

The oldest and most decorated of the three. MAHE holds Institution of Eminence status - a designation the central government has granted to only a small number of Indian universities - alongside a NAAC A++ grade.

You want the strongest brand recognition of the three, particularly with international employers.
You are drawn to the specialised MAHE-only programmes, such as the M.Sc in Biostatistics or Financial Economics.
Institution of Eminence status matters to you or to a credential evaluator.

About MAHE

MUJ

Manipal University Jaipur

The widest online catalogue of the three, and the one most learners end up with. MUJ carries the Manipal Group teaching model into a NAAC A+ university with a broad spread of specialisations.

You want the largest choice of specialisations - most MBA, BBA and B.Com options sit here.
You want a programme that has been running online the longest at scale.
You are looking for a widely recognised NAAC A+ degree without a niche specialism.

About MUJ

SMU

Sikkim Manipal University

The one with the longest track record in distance learning. SMU has been teaching at a distance since 2001, well before online degrees were formally entitled, and that experience shows in how its programmes are structured for people already working.

You are a working professional and want a university built around distance learners from the start.
You want the dual-specialisation MBA, which is an SMU-specific option.
A long, established record in distance education matters more to you than campus ranking.

About SMU

Choosing a university

Which Manipal university will award my degree?

It depends on the programme, not on you - each programme is offered by one specific university. The awarding university is named on every programme page, and it is the name that appears on your certificate. If you want a particular university, choose from that university’s programmes.

Is one of the three better than the others?

They are different rather than ranked. MAHE carries Institution of Eminence status and the longest history. MUJ has the widest choice of specialisations. SMU has the deepest experience teaching people who are already working. All three hold UGC entitlement for the programmes offered online, so all three degrees are equivalent to the on-campus version.

Does the certificate say "online"?

No. Under UGC regulations an entitled online degree is the university’s standard degree certificate, the same one awarded on campus. It names the university - MAHE, MUJ or SMU - not the mode of study.

Can I switch universities partway through?

No. Each programme is registered with one university, so a change means applying again to a programme at the other university and starting that curriculum. It is worth settling the university question before you enrol rather than after.

Not sure which university fits?

Tell us your goal and a counsellor will call you back.