Mumbai University: Student Population And Campus Life

The University of Mumbai, formerly known as the University of Bombay, is one of the largest universities in the world by student enrolment. It is a public state university and one of the oldest in India, dating back to 1857. The university has two campuses, Vidyanagri and Fort, and three sub-campuses at Ratnagiri, Thane and Kalyan. It offers over 200 undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, doctoral and certificate programmes across various disciplines, including engineering, arts, science, management and law. The university has more than 500,000 students enrolled across its campuses and affiliated colleges.

Student enrolments in 2017-18

The University of Mumbai is one of the largest universities in the world in terms of student enrolment. In the academic year 2017-18, the university witnessed the highest rise in enrolment in the last eight years with more than 260,000 students enrolling. This surge in student enrolment was attributed by many to the lack of viable options for students, as the university covers a vast swathe of land in far-flung suburbs.

The University of Mumbai, formerly known as the University of Bombay, is a public state university in Mumbai. It was established in 1857 and is one of the oldest and premier universities in India. The university has two campuses, spanning 230 acres and 13 acres respectively, with sub-centres at Thane, Kalyan, and Ratnagiri.

The university has always focused on offering undergraduate courses and, later, postgraduate teaching and research initiatives. It is known for its excellence in sports, cultural, and outreach activities, with various departments recognised under national programs.

In recent years, the university has seen a steady decline in student enrolments, particularly within Mumbai, due to economic distress and the emergence of more educational options in India and abroad. The rise of private and deemed universities has also contributed to this trend. Despite this, the University of Mumbai remains one of the largest universities in the world, with more than 700 affiliated colleges and institutions.

Campuses and affiliated colleges

The University of Mumbai is one of the largest university systems in the world, with over 549,000 students across its campuses and affiliated colleges. As of 2013, the university had 711 affiliated colleges. The university has two campuses spanning 243 acres, with sub-centres in Thane, Kalyan, and Ratnagiri.

The university's main campus is in Kalina, Santacruz, and spans 13 acres. The campus features the central Jawaharlal Nehru Library, which is in need of restoration as of May 2019. The campus also has a virtual classroom, making the University of Mumbai the first public university in the country to introduce this facility.

The Fort campus is located on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Fort, Mumbai. The campus is home to the iconic Rajabai Clock Tower, which was completed in the 1870s and houses the university's library. The tower was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, modelled on the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster in London.

Several departments of the University of Mumbai are part of vocational institutions and are located off-campus. These include the departments of Medicine and Medical Research, located in prominent hospitals in Mumbai, such as the Tata Memorial Hospital, Bombay Hospital, and G.S. Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital.

Student enrolments in 1949 and 1975

The University of Mumbai, formerly known as the University of Bombay, is a public state university in Mumbai. It is one of the largest university systems in the world.

In 1949, two years after India gained independence, student enrolment at the University of Bombay was 42,272, with 80 affiliated colleges. This was a significant increase from the university's early days; for instance, in 1862, the university awarded its first degrees, with 6 graduates receiving a Bachelor of Arts and 11 a Licentiate in Medicine.

By 1975, 26 years after independence, enrolment had more than tripled to 156,190 students, with 114 affiliated colleges. This growth is even more impressive considering that until 1904, the University of Bombay only conducted examinations, awarded affiliations to colleges, developed curricula, and produced guidelines for colleges developing curricula. It was only from 1904 onwards that teaching departments, research disciplines, and post-graduate courses were introduced, with several additional departments established over time.

The growth in student enrolments between 1949 and 1975 reflects the university's expanding role and influence in the post-independence era, as well as the increasing demand for higher education in India during this period.

Student enrolments in 2019-20

The University of Mumbai, formerly known as the University of Bombay, is one of the largest universities in the world in terms of student enrolment. In the academic year 2017-18, the university witnessed the highest rise in enrolment in the last eight years with more than 260,000 students enrolling. The university has two main campuses, two sub-campuses, and two model colleges, with over 700 colleges and institutions affiliated with it.

In 2019-20, the University of Mumbai received more than 200,000 applications for places, with affiliates accounting for another 660,000. The university offers a wide range of UG, PG, diploma, doctoral, and certificate programmes across various disciplines, such as Engineering, Arts, Science, Management, and Law. The duration of the courses ranges from one year to five years.

The university has a vast network of affiliated institutions, which accounts for a large amount of academic activity, especially in disciplines like medicine and engineering. The university's main campus is now a 93-hectare site in suburban Kalina, with sub-campuses at Ratnagiri and Thane.

The University of Mumbai is one of the oldest state universities in India, dating back to 1857. It was established along with the University of Madras and the University of Calcutta. The university initially focused on offering undergraduate courses, but later moved to establishing and enriching postgraduate teaching and research initiatives.

The university has always actively contributed to various academic, research, and social initiatives. It has excelled in sports, cultural, and outreach activities, with many of its departments recognised under various national programs. The University of Mumbai is accredited with a 'Five Star' status by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and is ranked 61st among universities in India in 2024 by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).

Student enrolments in 2024-25

The University of Mumbai is one of the largest universities in the world in terms of student enrolment. It has two main campuses, two sub-campuses, and two model colleges, as well as numerous affiliated colleges.

In the academic year 2017-18, the university witnessed a record surge in student enrolments with more than 260,000 students enrolling. This was the highest rise in enrolment in the last eight years. However, this has been attributed to a lack of viable alternatives, rather than the popularity of the university. The university covers a large area, including far-flung suburbs in Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and Palghar districts. The results were also delayed, leaving students with no other option but to choose the university as other application deadlines had passed.

The University of Mumbai has approximately 781 affiliated colleges along with 50 departments, 12 specialised centres, two main campuses, two sub-campuses, and two model colleges. Through these, the university offers a wide range of UG, PG, diploma, doctoral, and certificate programmes in various fields.

The university offers more than 200 UG, PG, diploma, doctorate, and certificate degrees across various disciplines, such as Engineering, Arts, Science, Management, and Law. The duration of the courses ranges from one year to five years. The university's popular courses include MBA, BTech, and BSc.

The university's enrolment process is conducted online. Candidates seeking admission must fill out a pre-enrolment form and an application form for MU-affiliated colleges. The university releases three to four merit lists based on different categories of candidates and programmes. Candidates who make it through the merit lists must report to the college for document verification and counselling procedures.

The University of Mumbai is expected to continue to be a popular choice for students due to its wide range of course offerings, large number of affiliated colleges, and accessibility to students across a large geographical area.

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