Azim Premji University

What Azim Premji University does

Azim Premji University is a private, not-for-profit higher education institution headquartered in Bengaluru, India, established in 2010 and wholly funded by the Azim Premji Foundation, which bears approximately 89% of its expenditure. It offers 28 programmes spanning four-year undergraduate honours degrees (arts, sciences, ITEP BSc BEd), postgraduate degrees (MA Education, MA Development, MA Economics, MA Applied Economics, MPH, Executive MBA Development Management, MSc Climate Change and Sustainability), postgraduate diplomas, certificate programmes, and professional development courses for working professionals. Teaching is anchored in fieldwork and immersion, drawing on the parent Foundation's field network of 59 institutions across six states, 1,000+ partner NGOs, and outreach to 3.5 lakh government schools.

The institution operates three campuses—Bengaluru (100 acres, founding campus), Bhopal (50 acres, opened 2023), and Ranchi (150 acres, opening July 2026)—with a fourth campus planned in Guwahati, and reports 270+ faculty, 3,200+ enrolled students, 5,300+ alumni since inception, and a 100% on-campus placement rate for master's students with 90% entering the social sector. Revenue is overwhelmingly philanthropic; tuition and professional development fees exist but 60% of students are on scholarships, and the institution runs open-access content assets such as school-teacher magazines, Anuvada Sampada translations, and the State of Working India research series.

Name

Azim Premji University

Legal name

Azim Premji University

Website

https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Azim Premji University is a Bengaluru-based, philanthropic private university wholly funded by the Azim Premji Foundation, offering 28 undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate programmes across campuses in Bengaluru, Bhopal, and Ranchi for students pursuing careers in education, development, public health, and the social sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Applied Research & Innovation Universities (EDAHAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Postgraduate programmes
• Teacher education
• Development studies
• Professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Bengaluru

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Programme Fees: The university charges tuition fees for its degree and diploma programmes. Approximately 60% of students receive scholarships that cover a significant portion of fees, with 89% of total university expenditure being borne by the Azim Premji Premji Foundation.
2. Professional Development Courses: Short-duration professional development courses and workshops for working professionals in education, development, policy, and governance sectors generate revenue from participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Azim Premji University is a private not-for-profit university that offers undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate programmes in fields including education, development studies, public policy, economics, and sustainability. The university operates across multiple campuses in India and is primarily funded by the Azim Premji Foundation, which bears the majority of its operating expenditure.

Product overview

Azim Premji University is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of 28 programmes across undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate levels. The university's academic offerings are organized into multiple programme categories: Four-Year Honours Undergraduate Degrees (BA in Economics, Social Science, English, Media and Communications, History, Philosophy Politics and Economics; BSc in Information Sciences, Mathematics, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Psychology; Integrated Teacher Education Programme); Postgraduate Degrees (MA in Education, Development, Early Childhood Care and Education, Economics, Applied Economics; Master of Public Health; Executive MBA in Development Management; MSc in Climate Change and Sustainability); and Postgraduate Diplomas/Certificates in Education (Early Childhood Education, Educational Assessment, Teaching Children with Learning Disabilities) and Development (Development Leadership, Local Development and Governance). The university also operates three research centres (Centre for Local Democracy, Centre for the Study of the Indian Economy, Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability) and provides resources including a library, radio station, publications (Anuvada Sampada, Magazines for School Education), cultural initiatives (Kannada Initiative), and a Social Enterprise Cell. The institution operates across three campuses in Bengaluru, Bhopal, and Ranchi with a fourth planned for Guwahati.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programmes Multi-year bachelor's degree programmes for students who have completed secondary education, offered across disciplines such as education, sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
• Postgraduate Programmes Master's degree programmes for graduates in fields including education, development studies, public policy, economics, and sustainability.
• Doctoral (PhD) Programmes Research-focused doctoral programmes offered across the university's academic departments for scholars pursuing advanced research.
• Diploma Programmes Short-duration diploma programmes focused on specialized professional skills and academic content for working professionals and recent graduates.
• Certificate Programmes Short-term certificate courses designed for upskilling, professional development, and continuing education across multiple disciplines.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of master's programme graduates work in the social sector
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies, University of MysoreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026Collaborative partnership to host Sahitya Sahavasa, an annual literary programme exploring modern Kannada literary sensibilities. The seventh edition held at B.M. Sri Auditorium in Mysuru with 300+ literature enthusiasts participating.
• Telangana State GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026MoU signed to launch a six-month pre-school education certificate course for Anganwadi teachers, enhancing professional capacity of early childhood educators in the state.
• GMR Aero AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Partnership to provide aviation-sector training for orphaned youth at Shakti Sadan, covering airport operations, cargo services, and ground handling. First batch of 20 trainees starting March 2026.
• FICCI Ladies OrganisationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Partnership to provide industry exposure and soft-skills training for orphaned girls in polytechnic education, supporting their transition to employment.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS): India's premier institute for social sciences, development studies, education, and public health. TISS is the closest analogue to APU given its mission focus on social sector professionals, similar academic portfolio (MA Education, MA Development, MPH), and emphasis on field-based learning.
• Ashoka University: Private liberal arts and research university with similarly philanthropic backing, four-year UG honours programmes, and emphasis on critical thinking and social impact. Comparable in scale (~2,000 students) and mission-driven positioning despite somewhat broader curriculum.
• Krea University: Newer private university (founded 2018) explicitly focused on liberal arts and sciences with a mission-driven, philanthropic model. Similar in programme structure (interdisciplinary UG, focus on social impact) and in building research capabilities from scratch.
• FLAME University: Private liberal arts university in Pune offering UG and PG programmes in social sciences, humanities, and sciences. Comparable in mission and programme mix (BA, BSc honours) though less focused on development sector than APU.

Broad incumbents

• Shiv Nadar University: Private research university founded by HCL's Shiv Nadar with philanthropic backing, multi-campus presence, and strong research focus. Larger and more STEM-oriented than APU but comparable in private, mission-driven university positioning.
• O.P. Jindal Global University: Private research university in India with philanthropic backing (O.P. Jindal Group) and multi-disciplinary programmes including social sciences, law, and international affairs. Similar philanthropic model but broader scope and larger scale.
• Christ University: Large private deemed university in Bengaluru with comparable UG/PG programmes across humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Similar geographic presence (Bengaluru-based) but larger scale and broader disciplinary coverage.
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE): Large private deemed university with multiple campuses and a broad portfolio across health sciences, engineering, management, and humanities. Comparable in multi-campus structure but vastly larger scale and different mission orientation.
• Symbiosis International University: Large private university with programmes across social sciences, liberal arts, and professional fields, including development-related disciplines. Comparable in private university status and broad programme mix but operates at significantly larger scale.

Others

• Indian School of Business (ISB): Top Indian business school with strong executive education programmes, particularly the Executive MBA in Development Management which is directly comparable to APU's Executive MBA offering. Different primary focus (management) but overlapping in development sector training and executive education delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/azimpremjiuniv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AzimPremjiUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/azimpremjiuniversity
• LinkedInin.linkedin.com/school/azimpremjiuniversity
• Instagraminstagram.com/azimpremjiuniv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Azim Premji University