Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU) is a public state university set up by the Government of Bihar under the Aryabhatta Knowledge University Act, 2008. It was formally established on 19 March 2010 and is named after Aryabhatta, the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer. The university is recognised by the UGC and is a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

AKU works as Bihar's main affiliating university for professional and technical education. Its affiliated colleges offer courses in engineering, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, management, education, allied health sciences, and related fields. The university has more than 280 affiliated colleges across Bihar, including 37 government-aided institutions. Bihar College of Engineering (BCE), Patna, established in 1900, is the oldest institution in this network.

The main campus of AKU is located at Gyan Parisar, Mithapur, Patna, Bihar 800001. It houses specialised schools and centres such as the Centre for Geographical Studies, Centre for River Studies, School of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, School of Astronomy, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Patliputra School of Economics.

  • B.Tech is offered in 9 engineering branches through AKU-affiliated government and private colleges in Bihar.
  • MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHUMS are available in medical and allied health sciences through AKU-affiliated medical colleges.
  • B.Pharm is a 4-year course and B.Sc Nursing is also a 4-year course through affiliated pharmacy and nursing colleges.
  • BBA, MBA, and other management programmes are offered through AKU-affiliated management institutions.
  • B.Ed, M.Ed are available through affiliated education colleges across Bihar.
  • MCA, BCA are offered through affiliated IT and computer application colleges.
  • M.Tech is a 2-year programme offered in 10+ specialisations through AKU-affiliated engineering colleges.
  • Specialised PG programmes are run directly at AKU schools, including M.Sc in Remote Sensing and GIS, River Science and Management, Nanoscience and Technology, Space Science, and Journalism and Mass Communication.
  • PhD is offered in Engineering, Medical Sciences, Pharmacy, Management, Sciences, and allied subjects.

For government engineering colleges affiliated with AKU, the total B.Tech fee is INR 3.72 Lakhs for 4 years. MBA at AKU-affiliated colleges costs INR 1.34 Lakhs for 2 years. B.Sc Nursing in affiliated private nursing colleges has a total fee of INR 8 Lakhs for 4 years. MBBS fees in state government medical colleges remain among the lowest in India.

Eligible students of AKU-affiliated colleges can apply for government scholarship schemes such as Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana and post-matric SC/ST/OBC scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal.

Admission Update: AKU admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are in the final stage. NEET 2026 state quota counselling for MBBS seats at AKU-affiliated medical colleges is ongoing.

AKU Admission Dates 2026

Admissions to AKU-affiliated colleges use different entrance routes for different courses. B.Tech admission is handled through BCECE UGEAC based on JEE Main rank. MBBS, BDS, BAMS, and BHUMS admissions use NEET UG. Medical PG admission is through NEET PG state quota counselling, and B.Ed admission follows state-level counselling.

EventDate
MBBS / BDS state quota counselling through NEET UG 2026July to October 2026
BAMS / BHUMS AYUSH state quota counselling through NEET UG 2026July 2026 onwards
B.Ed state-level counselling for AKU-affiliated collegesJuly 2026 onwards
PhD admission through AKU Research Aptitude Test (PAT-2026)2026 cycle

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

Students applying for B.Tech seats in AKU-affiliated government engineering colleges must register on the BCECE Board portal for UGEAC counselling. The merit list is prepared from JEE Main rank. Bihar government reservation rules apply for BC, BC-W, EBC, SC, ST, and EWS categories.

AKU Courses and Fees

AKU offers courses through affiliated colleges in engineering, medicine, management, pharmacy, nursing, education, sciences, and allied fields. The fees below show the total course fee at government affiliated colleges as per the AKU fee structure. Private affiliated colleges may charge different fees under the Bihar state fee regulatory committee.

CourseDurationTotal Fees (Govt. Affiliated)Entrance Exam
B.Tech (Civil, CS, EE, ECE, IT, Mechanical, Instrumentation, Leather Tech)4 yearsINR 3.72 LakhsBCECE UGEAC / JEE Main
MBBS5 yearsINR 1.16 LakhsNEET UG
BDS5 yearsINR 1.16 LakhsNEET UG
BAMS (Ayurveda)5 yearsINR 0.41 LakhsNEET UG
B.Arch5 yearsINR 4.65 LakhsNATA / JEE Paper 2
B.Pharm4 yearsINR 3.92 LakhsBCECE / Direct
B.Sc Nursing4 yearsINR 8 Lakhs (private nursing colleges)NEET / Direct
BBA3 yearsINR 2.28 LakhsMerit / Direct
BCA3 yearsINR 2.04 LakhsMerit / Direct
B.Ed2 yearsINR 1.00 LakhsBCECE CET for B.Ed
MBA2 yearsINR 1.34 LakhsBCECE PE / CAT / MAT
MCA2 yearsINR 2.90 LakhsBCECE / Direct
M.Tech (various specialisations)2 yearsINR 0.60 LakhsGATE / Direct
MD/MS/M.Ch (Medical PG)3 yearsINR 0.70 LakhsNEET PG
PhD3 years minimumINR 1.29 LakhsPAT (AKU Research Test)

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

B.Tech at AKU-affiliated government colleges costs INR 3.72 Lakhs total, which is below INR 1 Lakh per year. MBBS and BDS in state government medical colleges are subsidised. M.Tech in affiliated government engineering colleges costs INR 0.60 Lakhs for 2 years. Private affiliated colleges have higher fees under the state fee rules.

AKU Admission Process

B.Tech Admission

For B.Tech admission in AKU-affiliated government engineering colleges, including Bihar College of Engineering Patna, GEC Nalanda, GEC Vaishali, and other colleges, students must take part in BCECE UGEAC centralised counselling. Admission is based on JEE Main rank. Bihar-domicile students can apply for UGEAC seats, while non-Bihar students may apply directly to private AKU-affiliated colleges. The minimum eligibility is 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics and 45% aggregate.

Reservation for government-quota seats follows Bihar government rules: BC 12%, BC Women 3%, EBC 18%, SC 16%, ST 1%, and EWS 10%. The UGEAC merit list is used for allotment. Students must fill college preferences on the BCECE Board portal and confirm the allotted seat by paying the admission fee online. Counselling usually has several rounds between June and October.

Private AKU-affiliated engineering colleges manage their own management quota admissions. These colleges generally ask for a valid JEE Main or BCECE rank. KCET and COMEDK admission routes are not used in Bihar.

MBBS and Medical Admission

AKU-affiliated medical colleges admit students to MBBS, BDS, BAMS, and BHUMS through NEET UG. Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (BCECEB) conducts Bihar state quota counselling. For MD/MS/M.Ch seats, NEET PG state quota admission is processed through Bihar PGMAC counselling.

MBA and PG Management

MBA admission at AKU-affiliated management colleges may use BCECE PE, CAT, MAT, or CMAT scores. The selection process can also include group discussion and personal interview. Some private affiliated institutions offer direct admission based on graduation marks. Registration is handled through the AKU PG admission portal, adms.akubihar.ac.in.

Specialised School Admissions at AKU Campus

Direct AKU-campus courses such as M.Sc in Remote Sensing and GIS, River Science, Nanoscience, Space Science, and Journalism use the AKU portal for admission. Selection may be through a written test or merit. PhD admission is through PAT, also called Patliputra Aptitude Test or AKU's research aptitude test, conducted every year.

AKU Career Outcomes

Aryabhatta Knowledge University is mainly an affiliating university, so it does not run one central placement cell for all students. Career results depend on the affiliated college and the branch or course chosen by the student. Placement levels differ widely across AKU-affiliated institutions.

Bihar College of Engineering (BCE), Patna is the oldest and most reputed AKU-affiliated engineering college. It has a known placement record among government engineering colleges. B.Tech students from government AKU-affiliated colleges either join campus placement drives or prepare for GATE, M.Tech admission, and PSU jobs. Students who qualify GATE can apply for PSU recruitment and M.Tech seats at NITs and IITs.

MBBS graduates from AKU-affiliated government medical colleges usually move towards residency in government hospitals, NEET PG for higher studies, or government service through state healthcare recruitment. BPSC, the Bihar Public Service Commission, is also an important recruitment route for graduates from engineering, education, and management streams linked with AKU.

MBA graduates from AKU-affiliated management colleges commonly work in financial services, government sector roles, retail banking, and small enterprise management, mainly in Bihar and eastern India. Starting salaries for MBA graduates from state-affiliated Bihar colleges are usually between INR 3 LPA and INR 6 LPA, depending on the college and specialisation.

AKU Scholarships

Students studying in AKU-affiliated colleges can apply for Bihar government scholarships and central government scholarship schemes. Applications are submitted through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and the Bihar state scholarship portal.

ScholarshipEligibilityCoverage
Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana (MKUY)Female students, Bihar domicile, graduation levelINR 50,000 to INR 1,00,000 graduation incentive
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)SC/ST students, Bihar domicile, family income below INR 2.50 LakhsFull tuition fee + maintenance allowance
Post-Matric Scholarship (BC/EBC/OBC)BC/EBC/OBC students, Bihar domicile, family income below applicable limitPartial tuition fee support
EWS / NSP Central Sector SchemeTop 20% in Class 12, family income up to INR 4.5 LakhsAs per government notification
PMSSS (PM Special Scholarship Scheme)Students from Jammu and Kashmir and LadakhAnnual scholarship as per scheme norms
Merit-cum-Means ScholarshipMinority community students, as per national minority scholarship schemeAs per government notification

The Bihar state scholarship portal, scholarship.bihar.gov.in, is used for state schemes. Central schemes are handled through NSP at scholarships.gov.in. Bihar government announces scholarship deadlines every academic year. Students who meet the rules for both portals should apply on both.

AKU Campus and Infrastructure

Aryabhatta Knowledge University has its main campus at Gyan Parisar, Mithapur, Patna, Bihar 800001. The campus is located in central Patna and is connected by road and rail to Patna Junction and Patna Airport. It directly houses AKU's specialised teaching and research schools.

The specialised schools and centres on the AKU campus include:

  • Centre for Geographical Studies: M.Sc programmes in Remote Sensing and GIS, River Science and Management, and Space Science
  • Centre for River Studies: Research on river ecology, water resources, and basin management with focus on the Ganga
  • School of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: M.Sc and M.Tech in Nano Sciences and Technology, along with PhD research
  • School of Astronomy: Programmes in space science and astrophysics
  • Centre for Journalism and Mass Communication: MA in Journalism and Mass Communication, PG Diploma in digital journalism, film making, and photography
  • Patliputra School of Economics: MA Economics and BBE (Bachelor in Business Economics)

The AKU campus includes a central administrative block, seminar halls, a library, and research laboratories. The university does not have a separate residential campus. Hostels and other facilities are provided by individual affiliated colleges across Bihar.

AKU vs Patna University vs LNMU

Students in Bihar often compare Aryabhatta Knowledge University with Patna University and Lalit Narayan Mithila University (LNMU). All three are state universities in Bihar and are recognised by the UGC, but their academic focus is different.

ParameterAryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU)Patna UniversityLNMU, Darbhanga
Established201019171972
Primary FocusProfessional education (Engineering, Medical, Management, Pharmacy)General arts, science, commerce, some professionalGeneral arts, science, commerce, education
Affiliated Colleges280+Constituent and affiliated colleges in Patna300+ colleges in Mithila region
Admission RouteBCECE UGEAC, NEET, CAT/MAT, AKU PG PortalCentralised Patna University admissionLNMU centralised admission
UGC RecognitionYesYesYes
Flagship ProgrammeB.Tech (government engineering colleges)BA, B.Sc, B.ComBA, B.Sc, B.Com

AKU is meant mainly for professional education such as engineering, medicine, management, and pharmacy across Bihar. Patna University, founded in 1917, is one of India's older universities and is known for arts and science faculties. LNMU serves the Mithila and Tirhut regions of Bihar. Students aiming for engineering, medical, or management courses usually enter AKU-affiliated institutions, while students choosing arts, science, or commerce often study through Patna University or LNMU-affiliated colleges.

AKU FAQs

Ques. What type of university is AKU?

Ans. Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU) is a public state university started by the Government of Bihar in 2010 under the AKU Act, 2008. It affiliates professional colleges in fields such as engineering, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, management, and education. AKU is recognised by UGC and is a member of AIU. Its main campus is at Gyan Parisar, Mithapur, Patna, Bihar 800001.

Ques. What is the size of AKU's affiliated college network?

Ans. Aryabhatta Knowledge University has more than 280 affiliated colleges across Bihar, including 37 government-aided institutions. Its network includes Bihar College of Engineering, Patna, government medical colleges, private engineering and management colleges, pharmacy colleges, nursing colleges, and education colleges.

Ques. How do students get B.Tech admission in AKU-affiliated government colleges?

Ans. B.Tech seats in AKU-affiliated government engineering colleges are filled through BCECE UGEAC centralised counselling based on JEE Main rank. Students register on the BCECE Board portal and take part in online counselling for college allotment. Bihar domicile is needed for state quota seats. Private AKU-affiliated engineering colleges may also offer direct management quota admission to students with JEE Main or BCECE rank.

Ques. How much does B.Tech cost at AKU-affiliated colleges?

Ans. In AKU-affiliated government engineering colleges, the total B.Tech fee is INR 3.72 Lakhs for 4 years, which is below INR 1 Lakh per year. This makes it one of the cheaper engineering options in India. Private AKU-affiliated colleges charge higher fees under the Bihar state fee committee. SC/ST students can apply for post-matric scholarships that cover full tuition fees.

Ques. Does AKU have a NAAC grade?

Ans. Aryabhatta Knowledge University does not have a NAAC grade at the university level. Some affiliated colleges may have their own NAAC grades. AKU is recognised by UGC and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Students should check the NAAC status of the specific affiliated college before applying.

Ques. Which scholarships can AKU students apply for?

Ans. AKU-affiliated college students can apply for Bihar government schemes such as Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana for female graduates, post-matric scholarships for SC/ST/BC/EBC students through the Bihar scholarship portal, and central schemes through the National Scholarship Portal. SC/ST students with family income below INR 2.50 Lakhs can get full tuition fee support under the state post-matric scheme.

Ques. Which engineering college under AKU is considered the most reputed?

Ans. Bihar College of Engineering (BCE), Patna, established in 1900, is the oldest and most reputed engineering college affiliated with AKU. It is a government engineering college with a long history in Bihar. Admission to BCE is through BCECE UGEAC counselling based on JEE Main rank. GEC Nalanda and Government Engineering College Vaishali are also government engineering colleges affiliated with AKU.

Ques. Which PG courses are taught directly at the AKU campus?

Ans. At its Mithapur, Patna campus, AKU directly offers M.Sc programmes in Remote Sensing and GIS, River Science and Management, Nanoscience and Technology, Space Science, and Journalism and Mass Communication through its specialised schools. Patliputra School of Economics offers MA Economics and BBE. The campus also supports PhD research in several disciplines through the PAT research aptitude test route.