University of Petroleum and Energy Studies

What University of Petroleum and Energy Studies does

University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) is a private multidisciplinary university founded in 2003 and headquartered in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India, with a corporate office in New Delhi. It operates nine academic schools covering advanced engineering, business, computer science, design, health sciences, law, liberal studies, plus a dedicated life-skills module ("School for Life") and a student startup incubator (Runway). The university delivers instruction through on-campus programs at Bidholi and Kandoli campuses and via the UPES Online platform, and has begun positioning itself as an "AI-first university" through a campus-wide deployment of OpenAI's ChatGPT Edu across teaching, research, evaluation, and administration for over 100,000 students, faculty, and staff.

UPES offers 50+ unique course combinations through a "Design Your Own Degree" construct and runs specialized industry-aligned programs (e.g., MBA in Strategic Financial Management with EY India, B.Tech CSE in Immersive Technologies, BA in AI and Law). Its core technology layer is an AI-integrated education platform anchored by the OpenAI partnership, supplemented by integrations with IBM, Microsoft, Cisco, Coursera, and Elsevier for research collaboration (e.g., the ICMLDE conference with 3,800+ contributors from 47 countries). The university's primary revenue stream is recurring tuition and academic fees across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs; secondary revenue comes from UPES Online (e.g., the "1,000 Women – 1,000 Dreams" Online MBA scholarship) and corporate knowledge partnerships. Go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, relying on multiple entrance examinations (UPESEAT, UPESMET, UPESDAT, ULSAT, UPESPAT), board merit pathways, and national-level test scores (JEE Main, CLAT, NEET, CAT, CUET, SAT), supported by open days, campus visits, counselor outreach, and a multi-channel digital marketing presence.

Name

University of Petroleum and Energy Studies

Legal name

University of Petroleum and Energy Studies

Website

https://upes.ac.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

UPES is a private multidisciplinary Indian university founded in 2003, offering undergraduate through doctoral programs across engineering, business, computer science, design, health sciences, law, and liberal studies to over 100,000 students via Dehradun campuses and an online platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue generated from tuition fees across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs including B.Tech, MBA, BBA, B.Des, M.Tech, and PhD programs. Fees vary by program with specialized programs (MBA with EY partnerships) having higher eligibility thresholds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

UPES is a private multidisciplinary university offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degree programs across nine academic schools spanning engineering, business, computer science, design, health sciences, law, and liberal studies. The university delivers education through on-campus programs at its Dehradun campuses (Bidholi and Kandoli) and through its UPES Online platform for distance learners. It also operates a startup incubator (Runway), an alumni mentorship program (NEST), and life-skills training (School for Life) as part of its holistic education model.

Product overview

UPES is a multi-disciplinary university with a platform-plus-schools architecture offering over 50+ unique course combinations across 9 academic schools. The institution operates through its main campus in Dehradun and the UPES Online platform for distance education. Core academic offerings span engineering (School of Advanced Engineering), business (School of Business), computer science, design, health sciences, law, and liberal studies. Unique differentiators include the 'Design Your Own Degree' flexibility program, the 'School for Life' life-skills module, the UPES AI-First University initiative, and the Runway Incubator for student startups. The university also provides specialized programs like BA (AI and Law), B.Tech. in Sustainability Management, and M.Tech. in Disaster Management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UPES Online: Online learning platform offering programs including Online MBA with full tuition fee waivers for women under the '1,000 Women - 1,000 Dreams' initiative.

Products and services

• School of Advanced Engineering Programs Undergraduate and postgraduate engineering degree programs offered across multiple engineering disciplines, targeting students seeking technical careers in sectors such as aerospace, petroleum, civil, mechanical, and computer engineering.
• School of Business Programs Business administration and commerce degree programs at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels, with industry-partnered specializations in finance, AI, and capital markets targeting aspiring managers and business professionals.
• School of Computer Science Programs Computer science and information technology degree programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including specializations in immersive technologies, mathematics and computing, and computer science and economics, targeting future software engineers and tech professionals.
• School of Design Programs Undergraduate and postgraduate design degree programs with multiple specialization tracks, targeting aspiring designers pursuing careers in transportation design, game design, and related creative disciplines.
• School of Health Sciences & Technology Programs Undergraduate and postgraduate programs in pharmacy, nutrition and dietetics, and health sciences, targeting students pursuing careers in pharmaceutical sciences, public health, and allied health fields.
• School of Law Programs Undergraduate and postgraduate legal education programs including integrated law degrees and an emerging BA (AI and Law) program, with focus areas in environmental law, ESG, and AI-related legal practice, targeting aspiring lawyers and legal scholars.
• School of Liberal Studies & Humanities Programs Undergraduate and postgraduate liberal arts and humanities degree programs covering social sciences, economics, environment, and related disciplines, targeting students pursuing careers in research, policy, and social sectors.
• UPES Online MBA Program Online MBA program delivered through the UPES Online platform for working professionals and distance learners, with a scholarship initiative offering full tuition fee waivers for women under the '1,000 Women - 1,000 Dreams' program.
• Runway Incubator On-campus startup incubator providing grants and support for student-led ventures, having funded 250+ startups to date, targeting aspiring student entrepreneurs across all academic disciplines.
• NEST Alumni Program Lifetime alumni engagement program offering placement support, skill upscaling, and mentorship connections for current students and graduates, supported by the broader UPES alumni community.
• School for Life Dedicated life-skills training module embedded in the curriculum for all enrolled students, covering holistic development competencies as part of the university's broader educational offering.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% placement rate for 2024-25
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OpenAIcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 February 2026Strategic partnership to deploy ChatGPT Edu across campus-wide operations including teaching, research, evaluation, and campus administration. Expected to support over 100,000 students, faculty, and staff over the next year. Initiative signals shift from AI awareness to institutional adoption in India's higher education landscape.
• EY IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge partnership for specialized MBA programs including Strategic Financial Management, AI for Business, Financial Technology, and Investment Banking and Capital Markets. Programs require minimum 60% marks in graduation.
• NASSCOMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry collaboration for tech talent development and curriculum alignment with IT sector requirements.
• KPMGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge partnership for finance and business programs providing industry insights.
• NSE (National Stock Exchange)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for finance and capital markets education programs.
• L&T (Larsen & Toubro)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry collaboration for engineering programs and infrastructure projects.
• Lotus Petal Foundation (LPF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmart Class Program partnership for state-of-the-art digital learning initiative in government schools, revolutionizing key competencies of literacy with interactive multimedia content.
• American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolar Lamp Distribution collaboration supporting 50 families in rural communities.
• ElseviercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research collaboration organizing ICMLDE conference attracting 3,800+ contributors from 47 countries. Partnership for publishing and research support.
• University of DaytonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic collaboration for ICMLDE conference and research initiatives.
• Providence UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic collaboration for ICMLDE conference and research initiatives.
• Indian Development FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for education of handicapped, poor and marginalised children in rural areas, tribal villages and urban slums, with focus on women empowerment and Sarva Sakhi Swabhiman project.
• 200+ Academic and Research InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-institutional synergies fostered through active collaboration with academic and research institutions globally.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lovely Professional University: One of India's largest single-campus private universities with broad multi-disciplinary programs and aggressive digital recruitment. Comparable in scale, multi-school structure, and tuition-driven model targeting similar North Indian applicant segments.
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education: Multi-disciplinary private deemed university in India offering programs across engineering, business, law, design, and health sciences with strong placement outcomes. Most directly comparable to UPES in scale, structure, and multi-school platform model.
• Christ University: Indian private deemed university offering programs across business, law, sciences, humanities, and engineering with strong placement outcomes. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary private university with similar reputation-tier positioning.
• Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT): Major Indian private university with strong engineering and computer science programs plus expanding business and design schools. Comparable as a placement-driven private university competing for similar B.Tech and MBA applicants.
• OP Jindal Global University: Indian private university with strong programs in law, business, liberal arts, and international affairs. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary private university with QS-recognized brand reputation and premium positioning.
• Shiv Nadar University: Indian private research-focused university spanning engineering, natural sciences, humanities, and management with selective admissions. Comparable as a premium multi-disciplinary private university targeting similar high-achieving applicant pool.
• Amity University: One of India's largest private multi-disciplinary university systems with nationwide campuses and similar 9+ school structure spanning engineering, business, law, design, and computer science. Comparable in tuition-based model and broad program portfolio.
• BITS Pilani: Premier Indian private university focused on engineering and sciences with very high placement rates and strong industry recruiter relationships. Comparable as a placement-led private institution competing for top engineering talent.
• Chandigarh University: Indian private university in North India offering programs across engineering, business, law, design, and computing with comparable tuition band and recruiter-driven positioning. Comparable in scale and geographic focus.
• SRM Institute of Science and Technology: Large multi-campus Indian private university offering engineering, medical, management, and humanities programs with comparable scale and tuition-based model. Direct competitor for engineering and management applicants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UPESDehradun
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UPESUniversity/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/UniversityofPetroleumandEnergyStudies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/486541
• Instagraminstagram.com/upes_dehradun

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about University of Petroleum and Energy Studies