Bengaluru Central University: Courses, Fees & Admission 2026

University Name

The university was established as Bengaluru Central University in 2017. It was later renamed Bengaluru City University (BCU) in June 2020. The university is now officially named Dr. Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University.

It is located at the historic Central College Campus in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Establishment

The Government of Karnataka approved the establishment of Bengaluru Central University with effect from 1 July 2017. Academic activities began in the 2018–19 academic year with seven postgraduate departments.

The university was created as part of reforms intended to improve academic quality and administration in Bengaluru's higher-education system.

UGC Recognition

Bengaluru City University is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956.

The university's official prospectus states that UGC recognition was granted through Notification No. F9-19/2017(CPP-I/PU) dated 20 October 2017.

Academic Structure

BCU provides undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, certificate and PhD-level academic programmes through its university departments and affiliated colleges.

The official 2026–27 prospectus lists programmes in areas such as:

• Arts
• Commerce
• Science
• Social Sciences
• Management
• Computer Science
• Education
• Journalism and Communication
• Social Work
• Visual Arts
• Design
• Psychology
• Economics
• Sociology
• Political Science
• History
• Geography
• English
• Kannada and other languages

The university's prospectus contains the detailed programme list for both the university and its affiliated colleges.

Undergraduate Courses

The university and its affiliated colleges offer a broad range of UG programmes. Examples include:

The exact availability of courses varies between the university campus, constituent colleges and affiliated colleges.

Postgraduate Courses

BCU offers postgraduate programmes across several disciplines. Its 2026–27 admission information includes PG programmes in areas such as:

• M.A.
• M.Com.
• M.Sc.
• MBA
• MCA
• M.Ed.
• MSW
• Other specialized postgraduate programmes

The university has also introduced/revised certain PG programmes and fee structures for the 2026–27 academic session.

Admission Process

For the 2026–27 academic session, BCU has published separate admission notifications for UG and PG programmes.

The university directs candidates applying for admissions to use the University of Karnataka Unified University & College Management System (UUCMS) for online registration.

Admission requirements differ according to the programme, so students should check the course-specific eligibility criteria before applying.

Affiliated Colleges

One of BCU's important features is its large affiliated-college network. When the university was established, 232 affiliated colleges were transferred to it in October 2017.

The university currently provides dedicated information regarding affiliated colleges and the programmes offered by them.

Research & PhD

The university also conducts doctoral-level academic and research activities. Its official website provides PhD syllabi, notifications and information related to research centers and doctoral admissions.

Campus

The main university campus is associated with the historic Central College Campus, located in the heart of Bengaluru.

The university's official prospectus highlights the historical importance of Central College and notes that notable personalities including Sir M. Visvesvaraya, C. Rajagopalachari and C. N. R. Rao studied at Central College.

Official Website

The university has recently announced that it has migrated to a new web domain and directs visitors to the Karnataka Government's university website. Its existing official website also continues to provide admission notices, prospectuses, syllabi, fee notifications and other academic information.

bcu.karnataka.gov.in

Contact Information

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Bengaluru Central University the same as Bengaluru City University?

Yes. The institution was originally established as Bengaluru Central University in 2017 and was later renamed Bengaluru City University. It is now officially named Dr. Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University.

2. Does Bengaluru City University offer distance education?

Students should check the university's current official programme list before applying for distance or online education. The university's 2026–27 official website currently highlights regular UG, PG, diploma and certificate programmes, and its admission information directs applicants to the applicable official registration system.

3. What is the fee structure of Bengaluru Central University?

The fee varies according to the programme and institution. For 2026–27, BCU has published separate fee notifications for UG and PG programmes, including different schedules for affiliated colleges, autonomous colleges and the Dr. Manmohan Singh BCU Main Campus/PG Centre.

4. What is the official website of Bengaluru City University?

The university's website is bcu.ac.in. BCU has also announced that it has migrated to a new government web domain, bcu.karnataka.gov.in.

5. Where is Bengaluru City University located?

Dr. Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University is located in Bengaluru, Karnataka, with its main university campus associated with the historic Central College area.

6. What courses are offered by Bengaluru City University?

BCU offers undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and certificate programmes across disciplines including Arts, Commerce, Science, Management, Computer Science, Social Sciences and other specialized areas. The university also provides PhD-level programmes.

7. How can I apply for admission to Bengaluru City University?

For the 2026–27 admission cycle, BCU directs candidates to use the University of Karnataka Unified University & College Management System (UUCMS) for online registration. Programme-specific eligibility and admission instructions should be checked before applying.

8. Is Bengaluru City University a government or private university?

Bengaluru City University is a state public university established by the Government of Karnataka, rather than a private university.

9. Does Bengaluru City University have affiliated colleges?

Yes. BCU has a network of affiliated colleges offering various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The university publishes information about its affiliated colleges and the programmes they offer on its official website.

10. Does Bengaluru City University offer PG courses?

Yes. The university offers several postgraduate programmes, and its official website has published PG admission and fee information for the 2026–27 academic session.