Sido Kanhu Murmu University (SKMU) began operating as a state government university in Dumka, Jharkhand, on January 10, 1992. It was created through an amendment to the Bihar University Act, 1976, after the jurisdiction of Bhagalpur University was divided. The University Grants Commission recognised SKMU under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act in May 2007, and the university holds NAAC accreditation.

The university serves the tribal-majority Santhal Pargana region and has not featured in the major national university ranking lists. Its Dighi Campus is situated on Dumka-Pakur Road, Dumka, Jharkhand 814110. SKMU covers all six districts of Santhal Pargana and manages 13 constituent colleges and 9 permanently affiliated colleges. Its departments have 450 faculty members.

Students can study undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and research programmes in arts, science, commerce, management, education, law and library science. The university also supports eligible students through central and state government scholarships, including the Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST students, Jharkhand e-Kalyan and central schemes offered through the National Scholarship Portal. These schemes are especially relevant to students from tribal communities in Santhal Pargana.

  • UG Arts: The BA is available in 14 subjects: Hindi, English, Bangla, Santali, History, Ancient History, Geography, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Home Science and Sanskrit.
  • UG Science: B.Sc students can choose Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Botany or Zoology.
  • UG Commerce and Management: The available programmes are B.Com, BBA and BCA.
  • UG Professional: SKMU offers the 2-year B.Ed, 3-year LLB and 1-year B.Lib programmes.
  • PG Arts: The university runs MA programmes in 15 subjects, including Hindi, English, Bengali, Santali, Urdu, History, Geography, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Sanskrit and Indigenous Culture Studies.
  • PG Science and Commerce: Options include M.Sc in 5 subjects, M.Com, MBA, MCA, M.Ed and M.Lib.
  • Research: Ph.D. programmes are offered in 17 disciplines.

The BA costs INR 4,185 per year and INR 12,555 for 3 years. B.Sc students pay INR 10,000 annually, making the 3-year total INR 30,000. The complete 2-year MBA fee is INR 1.46 Lakhs.

Admission Update: The 2027-28 admission cycle is expected to begin between June and July 2027. UG applications are expected through the Jharkhand state academic portal, while SKMU will release PG merit lists directly. Applicants should monitor skmu.ac.in and the JAC portal for the official 2027 schedule.

SKMU Admission Dates 2027

The tentative 2027-28 admission window is expected to start from June to July 2027 for undergraduate courses and from July to August 2027 for postgraduate courses. SKMU publishes confirmed notices through skmu.ac.in and the Jharkhand academic portal.

EventDate
UG registration for BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BBA and BCA through the Jharkhand state UG admission portal or directly through SKMUJune to July 2027, tentative
PG registration for MA, M.Sc, M.Com and MCA, based on UG marks or a state entrance testJuly to August 2027, tentative
MBA admission through MAT, JCECEB or state counsellingJuly to August 2027, tentative
B.Ed and M.Ed admission through the JCECEB B.Ed Entrance ExamJune to July 2027, tentative
LLB admission through CLAT, merit or the process stated in the SKMU notificationJuly 2027, tentative
Ph.D. registration under an SKMU admission noticeAs notified by the university

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

SKMU Courses and Fees

SKMU provides undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and doctoral education across arts, science, commerce, management, education, law and library science. The following charges apply to General category students under the 2025-26 fee schedule. A fee is shown as a total when only the complete programme amount is available.

Course FamilyDurationFees
BA in 14 subjects3 yearsINR 4,185 per year (INR 12,555 total)
B.Sc in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Botany or Zoology3 yearsINR 10,000 per year (INR 30,000 total)
B.Com3 yearsINR 16,660 per year (INR 49,980 total)
BBA3 yearsINR 16,600 per year (INR 49,800 total)
BCA3 yearsINR 16,800 per semester (INR 1,00,800 total)
B.Ed2 yearsINR 1,50,000 total
LLB3 yearsINR 25,000 total
B.Lib1 yearINR 25,000 total
MA in 15 subjects2 yearsINR 25,000 per year (INR 50,000 total)
M.Sc in 5 subjects2 yearsINR 30,000 per year (INR 60,000 total)
M.Com2 yearsINR 25,000 per year (INR 50,000 total)
MBA2 yearsINR 36,600 per semester (INR 1,46,400 total)
MCA2 yearsINR 35,000 per year (INR 70,000 total)
M.Ed2 yearsINR 1,70,000 total
M.Lib1 yearINR 32,000 per semester (INR 64,000 total)
Ph.D. in 17 disciplines3 to 5 yearsINR 55,000 for registration and the programme

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

Among Jharkhand universities, SKMU is one of the few that teaches Santali and Indigenous Culture Studies at the MA level. These programmes support the study of tribal language and heritage in Santhal Pargana. Doctoral research is available in 17 disciplines covering arts, science, commerce and social sciences.

SKMU Admission Process

Selection for most UG courses depends on Class 12 marks and takes place through a state portal or at the college level. For most postgraduate courses, SKMU prepares merit lists from undergraduate scores. Applicants to professional programmes must meet the entrance examination conditions specified for their course.

  1. Choose a programme and check its required subjects, qualifying degree and minimum marks.
  2. Apply through the Jharkhand state portal, the relevant college process or the channel named in the SKMU notice.
  3. Take the required state or national entrance examination when applying for a professional programme.
  4. Complete admission after selection through merit, entrance scores or counselling, as applicable.

UG Admission (BA / B.Sc / B.Com / BBA / BCA)

Applications for undergraduate seats in SKMU's constituent and affiliated colleges are handled through the Jharkhand state portal or the merit procedure followed by the college.

  • Applicants must have passed Class 12 from a recognised board. B.Sc requires PCM or PCB subjects, while Mathematics is compulsory for BCA.
  • General category students need at least 45% aggregate. Lower qualifying marks may apply to reserved categories under Jharkhand government rules.
  • Class 12 marks determine merit. Depending on the college, students may need to apply online through the state portal or the college website.

PG Admission (MA / M.Sc / M.Com / MCA)

Marks in the qualifying bachelor's degree form the basis of PG selection. Most MA and M.Sc specialisations do not have a separate entrance examination.

  • For MA admission, students need a graduation degree or BA Honours in the relevant subject with at least 45% aggregate.
  • M.Sc applicants must hold a B.Sc in the relevant science subject and have a minimum of 50% aggregate.
  • MCA requires graduation with Mathematics as a subject and at least 50% aggregate. Admission may use the JCECEB MCA entrance examination or merit, depending on the SKMU notice.

Professional Programmes (B.Ed / M.Ed / MBA / LLB)

The JCECEB B.Ed Entrance Exam, a Jharkhand state-level teacher education test, is used for B.Ed and M.Ed admission. MBA applicants may be selected through MAT, the JCECEB management entrance examination or state counselling, and they must have graduated in any stream. For the 3-year LLB, a graduation degree with at least 45% aggregate is required. SKMU uses CLAT or a merit-based method according to its current notification.

SKMU Career Outcomes

Many SKMU programmes support preparation for government jobs, public sector work, competitive examinations, teacher training and advanced study. Graduates of arts, social sciences and tribal language courses can pursue work in education, public services, journalism and social development.

ProgrammeTypical Career Pathways
BA / MAJPSC (Jharkhand Public Service Commission), JSSC, SSC CGL, teaching after TET or CTET, social work, journalism and civil services
B.Sc / M.ScLaboratory technician, science teaching after TET or CTET, JPSC science streams, research assistant and further M.Sc or Ph.D. study
BBA / MBAGovernment banking through IBPS PO or Clerk examinations, public sector management, small business and government tender or procurement work
BCA / MCAIT support, entry-level software development, government IT departments and banking IT cadres
LLBJharkhand Judicial Services, district court practice, legal aid and government legal departments
B.Ed / M.EdGovernment school teaching after TET or CTET qualification, faculty positions in teacher training colleges and educational administration

Because SKMU is based in the Santhal Pargana tribal belt, a significant share of its graduates prepare for JPSC, JSSC and central government competitive examinations. Its Ph.D. scholars conduct academic research connected with Jharkhand, particularly in tribal culture, indigenous languages and social sciences.

SKMU Campus and Infrastructure

The main Dighi Campus stands on Dumka-Pakur Road, Dumka, Jharkhand 814110. Dumka serves as the divisional headquarters of Santhal Pargana and has road and rail connections with the major cities of Jharkhand.

Campus facilities include a central library, student hostels and subject-based laboratories for science courses within the academic departments. Students can also participate through the NCC unit and NSS cell. A UGC Network Resource Centre provides digital access, while the Equal Opportunity Centre assists students from tribal and backward communities.

SKMU is the only university in Jharkhand selected to host three National Integration Camps. These camps support national unity and awareness of tribal culture. The Equal Opportunity Centre also helps first-generation learners from scheduled tribes and scheduled castes, who make up most of the student population in Santhal Pargana.

SKMU vs Kolhan University vs Vinoba Bhave University

Students considering a state university in Jharkhand may compare SKMU in Dumka with Kolhan University in Chaibasa and Vinoba Bhave University in Hazaribag. All three operate under similar UGC-recognised systems but serve different parts of the state.

ParameterSKMU, DumkaKolhan University, ChaibasaVinoba Bhave University, Hazaribag
Established199220091992
Region ServedSanthal Pargana, covering 6 districtsKolhan divisionNorth Chotanagpur division
UGC 12(B)Yes, since 2007YesYes
NAACAccreditedAccreditedAccredited
BA Annual FeeINR 4,185Contact the universityContact the university
Tribal Language ProgrammesSantali and MA in Indigenous Culture StudiesHo language programmesLimited focus on tribal languages
Key StrengthSantali and tribal studies with coverage across Santhal ParganaService to the Kolhan tribal belt and Ho communityA broader academic range and proximity to Hazaribag

SKMU offers geographical access and a low fee structure to students from the six Santhal Pargana districts. Kolhan University performs a similar role for tribal communities in the Kolhan division. Vinoba Bhave University serves the wider industrial belt near Hazaribag and Dhanbad and provides a more varied set of professional programmes. Each institution offers government university education at an affordable cost in Jharkhand.

SKMU FAQs

Ques. Is Sido Kanhu Murmu University privately managed or run by the state?

Ans. SKMU is not a private or deemed university. It is a state government university that was founded in Dumka in 1992 by the Government of Jharkhand, which was part of Bihar at that time. The Jharkhand government funds it, and its UGC Section 12(B) recognition makes it eligible to receive UGC grants.

Ques. How much does the 3-year BA at SKMU cost?

Ans. BA students pay INR 4,185 per year, bringing the programme fee for 3 years to INR 12,555. This amount covers tuition and the basic regulated programme charges. Examination fees and other costs may be added under the university's current fee notice.

Ques. What are the MBA fee and selection requirements at SKMU?

Ans. The 2-year MBA has a total fee of INR 1,46,400, charged at INR 36,600 per semester. Applicants need a graduation degree in any stream with at least 50% aggregate. Selection uses MAT scores or state management entrance test results, followed by merit ranking.

Ques. Is Sido Kanhu Murmu University accredited by NAAC?

Ans. Yes, SKMU has NAAC accreditation. Students can find the specific grade and accreditation cycle in the NAAC certificate published on skmu.ac.in. They should confirm the current grade before taking admission.

Ques. Which government scholarship schemes can SKMU students apply for?

Ans. Eligible SC, ST and OBC students can apply for the Post-Matric Scholarship administered under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Jharkhand e-Kalyan provides support for boarding, lodging and academic fees to qualifying tribal students. Central sector schemes offered through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in are also open to eligible Class 12 toppers and students from economically weaker sections.

Ques. What is the number of constituent and permanently affiliated colleges under SKMU?

Ans. The university supervises 13 constituent colleges and 9 permanently affiliated colleges. They are spread across the six Santhal Pargana districts of Dumka, Deoghar, Godda, Sahebganj, Pakur and Jamtara. SKMU is the main higher education institution serving this region.

Ques. Can students pursue postgraduate study in Santali at SKMU?

Ans. Yes. SKMU runs an MA in Santali as well as an MA in Indigenous Culture Studies. It is among the few Indian universities with formal postgraduate study focused on the tribal language and culture of the Santhal community. These courses are particularly relevant to students from the tribal communities of Santhal Pargana.