GetMyUni's Verdict on MANIT Bhopal

Parvathy Krishnakumar

“Although it has faced allegations regarding strict rules and regulations, MANIT Bhopal is regarded as one of the best Engineering institutes in the state, with a strong academic reputation and successful placement rates.”

Ranked in the top 100 list for Engineering and top 20 list for Architecture based on previous year’s NIRF rankings, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal, is considered to be one of the best institutes in the state. It is known for its beautiful location and widely established alumni network. Students are also impressed by the overall unity within the student body, with seniors and batchmates always ready to help their fellow students with academics and other matters.

With his strident actions, the current director of the institute has made considerable efforts to revamp and improve the academic and learning environment of the institute. Along with that, the highly engaging campus atmosphere ensures students interested in various activities are encouraged to pursue their talents and skills alongside academics. Besides, the institute also offers numerous opportunities to assist students who are primarily focused on academics.

Apart from a rapidly growing infrastructure, the students at the institute also get successful job opportunities from reputed companies owing it to its academic excellence and strong alumni network. Overall, MANIT Bhopal is renowned for its well-facilitated infrastructure and stellar placement records with recognition from the national and international educational organisations.

Table of Contents

• Regularly Updated Courses
• Knowledgeable & Helpful Professors
• Large & Developing Infrastructure
• Various Hostel Facilities
• Energetic Campus Environment
• High Placement Rates
• Final Verdict on MANIT Bhopal

Regularly Updated Courses

The courses offered by MANIT Bhopal hold high regard among the students for their well-structured and regularly revised course curriculum and syllabus that equips students with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to excel in the professional world. Along with Engineering discipline programs, the institute also offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral-level programs in the Architecture, Science and Management disciplines.

While the course curricula are regularly updated to include new and advanced concepts, some students have mentioned on online forums that some programs fall behind in providing students with practical and industry-related knowledge, which may be seen as a drawback in the long run.

Nonetheless, as mentioned earlier, the institute is considered to be among the best in the state with high NIRF rankings, which legitimises its reputation. In any case, like in all academic institutions, specific courses offered by the institute have received more recognition than the others. 

Although the institute offers fewer undergraduate courses, students have a wide range of specialisations for postgraduate and doctoral programs. Additionally, the institute also offers a five-year dual degree program which is a combination of B.Tech and M.Tech courses in Mathematics and Data Science.

The top courses offered by the institute based on the course structure, concepts and topics covered, quality of professors and placement opportunities are listed below:

• B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering
• B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering
• B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering
• B.Tech in Electrical Engineering
• Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)
• Bachelor of Planning (B.Plan)
• M.Tech in various specialisations under Civil Engineering
• M.Tech in VLSI Design and Embedded System
• M.Tech in Nanotechnology
• Master of Computer Application (MCA)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Course Fee Structure

Although the institute has a good track record of offering quality education, its course fees are slightly higher than that of the other public institutions in the country. However, there are relaxations in the semester tuition fee for students based on their family income and the categories they belong to.

Students who belong to families with annual income of less than INR 1 lakh and those who belong to SC/ST/PwD categories are exempted from tuition fees. Additionally, the course fees vary from one course to another based on the course type, specialisation, course duration and requirements. 

Based on the latest course fee structure, the semester fees for students whose family income is above INR 5 lakhs and belong to GEN/OBC/EWS categories is INR 62,500 for B.Tech, B.Arch and B.Plan programs. It is INR 20,834 for students whose annual family income is between INR 1 to 5 lakhs.

Similarly, the course fee for M.Tech, M.Plan and M.Sc programs for GEN/OBC/EWS students is INR 35,000. The SC/ST/PwD category students are exempted from tuition fees for these programs. However, there are no fee exemptions or relaxations for students who are pursuing MCA, MBA and doctoral programs. The semester fee for MCA and MBA programs is INR 35,000 and INR 10,000 for PhD candidates.

In addition to the semester tuition fees, students are also required to pay additional costs, such as library fees, student medical funds, registration and examination fees, etc.

While the course fees vary depending on the courses, the institute offers numerous scholarships to eligible students based on their academic performance and financial need. It also provides the required assistance for students to obtain educational loans and other financial aid.

Attendance Policy

The institute has a strict attendance policy that mandates students to maintain a minimum attendance of 75% in the theoretical and practical sessions for all subjects. Failing to meet the minimum attendance requirement will result in the students being restricted from appearing in the end-semester examinations. 

Knowledgeable & Helpful Professors

Although the institute had only above-average professors before, the new director is actively recruiting qualified and well-experienced professors to enhance the quality of academics at the institute. Nevertheless, the students have mentioned that the professors at the institute are cooperative and ready to help students with their academics as well as career prospects.

However, there are mixed responses from the students as the quality of teaching and professors vary from one department to another. With adequate knowledge in their respective fields and industrial experience, the professors are said to be capable of clarifying students’ doubts and giving them valuable inputs for advanced learning. They also promote and encourage students to pursue their innovative ideas through start-ups and other ventures.

The majority of the professors are also well-connected with industrial developments which help them include out of syllabus concepts and topics to ensure students have a well-rounded learning experience.

Additionally, most professors utilise newer teaching methods to match the industry standards and for an interactive learning environment. Overall, the professors at the institute are a mixed bag with many experienced and approachable professors. Although there are some variations in the quality of professors across different disciplines, students are generally satisfied with their teaching and learning experience.

Large & Developing Infrastructure

Sprawling across over 600 acres of land, the institute has a vast campus infrastructure that includes all the necessary facilities and amenities to provide students with a conducive learning and campus environment. Along with that, the institute is undergoing various improvements and changes to offer a comprehensive learning environment that supports academic pursuits, extracurricular activities and a comfortable living experience. 

The academic infrastructure at the institute includes all the basic facilities, such as spacious classrooms, seminar halls, well-equipped laboratories for each department, extensive central library and other computing facilities. 

The classrooms at the institute are modern and well-equipped with audio-visual aids, such as projectors, whiteboards, etc. Although some classrooms are of out-dated design, all the lecture halls are well-lit and properly ventilated to ensure students have a comfortable and interactive learning atmosphere.

Every department at the institute has designated laboratories that are sufficiently equipped with the required instruments, devices and technologies to ensure students have the necessary facilities and resources to perform their experiments and cutting-edge research. As practical experience is mandatory to excel in the respective industries, students are assured of having a hands-on learning experience. 

The central library at the institute houses an extensive collection of both printed and electronic resources, like books, journals, e-books, e-journals, and other online databases to cater to the diverse academic needs of different departments. Students can access the online and electronic resources through the computer systems available at the library. It also provides an ambient atmosphere to ensure students can read and study peacefully.

Apart from the academic infrastructure, the institute also includes various recreational and extracurricular facilities. The institute boasts a well-maintained sports infrastructure which provides for multiple facilities for indoor and outdoor sports, like football, basketball, badminton, etc. The institute also has a well-equipped gymnasium to ensure students can maintain their physical fitness alongside academics.

It also has multiple canteens and food stalls located within the institute’s radius, where students can get a variety of food and beverages at reasonable prices. The general quality of food and cleanliness in these canteens are maintained properly. The canteens and food outlets are among the main hangout spots of the institute.

Besides, the institute has well-established research and computing facilities to provide academic scholars with the necessary environment to perform advanced research and development.

In short, the institute’s infrastructure is a combination of all the essential facilities to ensure students have a wholesome campus experience with equal opportunities for academic and extracurricular activities. Future entrepreneurs are also provided with incubation centre facilities like a workspace and other resources to turn their ideas into successful ventures.

Various Hostel Facilities

The institute offers numerous housing facilities for both boys and girls in 12 separate on-campus hostels. It enables the institute to provide accommodation to a large number of students. These hostels are praised for having basic amenities and fostering a sense of community living among the students. The hostel rooms are mainly of shared occupancy type with two or more students in one room based on the availability of vacancies. 

Each separate hostel block consists of common bathroom facilities, water coolers, and common rooms for social interaction and recreational activities. Additionally, some hostels also include indoor sports facilities such as table tennis facilities. However, the amenities available in the hostels vary based on the infrastructure. While there are Wi-Fi connectivity and other electrical facilities, there are restrictions on using personal electronic devices within the hostel rooms.

Timely meals are served in the hostels through a centralised mess system. Although both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals are available, there are limitations in the variety of foods served and the taste of the food items are compromised. However, the cleanliness and hygiene within the hostel mess facilities and dining areas are taken care of by dedicated staff members.

Additionally, the safety and security of students are assured by security personnels placed at various locations in the hostel premises. Each hostel also has wardens who are responsible for maintaining the general decorum and addressing the students’ concerns regarding the facilities provided. The hostels also have strict rules and regulations imposed by the authorities in terms of the curfew timings and guest visiting.

The hostel fees vary depending on the available facilities, the allotted hostels, room occupancy type and other additional charges for mess facilities. Based on the latest fee structure, the average hostel fees at the institute fall between INR 19,250 and INR 47,850. 

While there are ample numbers of hostel rooms available within the institute’s campus, some students prefer off-campus accommodation facilities for more freedom and facilities. There are several private hostels and PGs available within walking distance of the institute with nominal monthly rents.

The monthly rents at these private accommodation facilities vary depending on the room type, luxury and other amenities available. Typically, the monthly rents for the PGs available near the institute range from INR 3000 to INR 20,000.

Energetic Campus Environment

Although there is limited scope for recreational and extracurricular activities, the institute supports several professional, cultural, tech-related, literary and social service clubs and associations. The artistic and technical clubs cater to the diverse interests of students, namely robotics, coding, photography, dance, drama and many more. Being part of these clubs enables students to pursue their interests and hobbies and participate in different activities. 

The clubs are mainly run by the students, which helps them to develop critical thinking, problem-solving and leadership skills. Apart from the departmental societies and club activities, the institute also organises various annual cultural, technical and sports events to offer students with platforms to showcase their talents and skills. 

In terms of academic activities, the institute conducts different events like seminars, workshops, guest lectures and career development programs to create awareness among the students on the job opportunities available in the various fields of Engineering. Its collaboration with the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) helps students to inculcate the professional and technical skills required to succeed in the industry. 

In other words, students have various opportunities to pursue their interests and passions along with their academics. With different activities and events conducted regularly, the institute has a vibrant campus and provides an enriching campus environment to its students. They also have the chance to interact with students from other disciplines, connect with like-minded individuals and create long-lasting memories.

Diversity on Campus

Although the institute attracts students from different parts of the country, even from the South Indian states, it falls behind in terms of gender ratio. Based on the recent statistics, the student body at the institute mainly consists of 77% male students, while on the other hand, only 23% female students are present on the campus.

Even though the course fee structure is slightly higher than the other institutions in the country, the availability of scholarships ensures students from underprivileged backgrounds have a chance at obtaining quality education.

Dress Code

Although the institute had previously implemented a strict dress code for female students, it has been removed from the code of conduct. As of now, there is no dress code being enforced for the students at the institute campus. It also does not have a defined uniform. Hence, students can wear comfortable clothes as per their choice. However, they are expected to maintain a certain decency and wear clothes appropriate to an academic setting.

High Placement Rates

A vital reason why students prefer to join MANIT Bhopal is its long-standing reputation for providing students with successful placement opportunities across different industries. According to the previous year’s statistics, more than 90% of the graduating students were recruited by top national and international companies across various sectors. Besides, the institute has also witnessed an increase in its placement rates as well as the salary packages offered to the students. 

Based on the previous year’s records, the most number of placement offers were received by students from the Computer Science and Engineering branch. While these offers were impressive, students have mentioned that the inconsistency in the recruitment of only specific branches leaves the other branches with fewer opportunities.

Nevertheless, the training and placement cell at the institute actively works towards providing students from all branches with the necessary preparation and opportunities to get a good head start towards a successful career. According to the previous year’s placement records, the highest salary offered to the students was INR 82 LPA and the average package was INR 15.6 LPA. The median salary package offered was INR 10 LPA.

Final Verdict on MANIT Bhopal

In conclusion, it can be inferred that MANIT Bhopal is an excellent option for students who aim for a successful career in the Engineering field. With a variety of options available, the courses at the institute are highly regarded for the course curriculum, renowned faculty members and numerous successful placement opportunities. 

In addition to that, the students have unanimously said that the current director of the institute is actively making several changes to ensure the institute offers students with world-class academic experience.

Along with strong academic excellence, the institute is also popular among the students for its various extracurricular activities and impressive infrastructure, which offers a wholesome campus life. Students can pursue their interests alongside their studies, which gives them an enriching experience.

Furthermore, aspirants are advised to connect with current and former students to learn more about the institute. Some of the general pros and cons mentioned by the students on online platforms regarding academics and their general experience at MANIT Bhopal are listed below for better understanding.

*Source: MANIT Bhopal Facebook and manit.ac.in