Ashoka University's Review and Verdict by CollegeDekho

Campus at a Glimpse

Founded in 2014, Ashoka University is located in Sonepat, Haryana. It is one of the newer private universities that has been recognized by the UGC and offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes in the fields of Liberal Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Fundamental Natural Sciences. Admission at Ashoka University is generally conducted through a merit-based selection process and its own entrance examination, known as the 'Ashoka Aptitude Test'. Additionally, it accepts some of the popular national-level entrance exams, such as GATE, UGC-NET, and CSIR-NET. Ashoka University follows a unique approach to education by imparting knowledge through an 'Experimental Learning Method,' wherein the subjects are divided into separate modules.

Ashoka University's campus is spread across a sprawling 25 acres of land and houses 6 academic buildings, 10 residential buildings, various utility and services buildings, and a sports field. As reported by the students, the university also majorly focuses on the extracurricular activities and skills of students, through creative and performative arts, leadership and training opportunities, experiential learning, volunteering opportunities, driving student-led programs and much more. 

Although Ashoka University appears to be the dream university for students, it has churned up a few serious controversies which makes it a little less desirable. As per a leading newspaper, several eminent university authorities resigned, including the former VC of the University, within a gap of a few days of each other. It was alleged that the reason behind such happenings was the curb on academic freedom in the university. Many people have also blamed the political influence of the university to be the reason behind such episodes. Contributing to the circumstances was the recent resignation of the Assistant Professor of the Economics Department, Sabyasachi Das. As stated by the authorities, the university had decided to distance itself from a controversial paper by Sabyasachi Das. This outraged the students and the rest of the faculty members, and as a result, the entire 'Economics Department' of Ashoka University resigned in protest of the University's decision. Ironically, the University claims to be an institution of liberalization of education, but these frequent similar incidents say otherwise. There is no denying the fact the university is a perpetual institute of chaos and problems.

Ashoka University Rankings: On the Decline!

Ashoka University NIRF Ranking

Ashoka University has been ranked among a handful of best universities in India by NIRF. The institution has managed to grab a position under the same category in the NIRF Rankings every year since 2021. Check out the Ashoka University NIRF Rankings below:

Other Rankings

Mentioned below are some of the other rankings of Ashoka University as recorded by different organizations for the year 2023: 

Our Take:

Ashoka University has bagged several awards across various fields of education. The institution secured a place among the 100 best universities in the country in the years NIRF 2021 and NIRF 2022. But, in NIRF 2023, the position significantly dropped to the rank band of 101- 150. Apart from NIRF, other renowned organizations have recognized the contributions of Ashoka University in the field of education in just over a short span of years. Although Ashoka University seems to be making remarkable progress by redefining the learning experience, the university still needs to think about the reasons behind the dramatic drop in 2023.

Ashoka University Academia & Batch Size

Ashoka University provides a decent seating capacity in each batch of admission. To give an example, the first batch of undergradation had around 133 students admitted across several disciplines, out of which 102 students actually completed their degree. The subsequent batches have seen a steady growth of approximately 100 students per year. As per the data, the class of 2018 and 2019 had around an additional 250 and 350 students respectively, and the class of 2020 had about 450 students additionally.

Overall, the campus can accommodate up to 2,200 students, including MA (Econ), YIFs, MLS and more recently PhD candidates. However, these are still fewer in number as compared to the number of students granted admission to undergraduate courses. In 2021, about 475 students were granted admission to Undergraduate courses at Ashoka University. The acceptance rate at Ashoka University is merely 7%.

Our Take:

Ashoka University has a fairly decent batch size across all disciplines. With each passing year, the batch size and capacity at Ashoka University keep increasing. Therefore, the University has not fixed a proper number of seating capacity per admission session yet. According to students, securing Ashoka University admission is difficult due to relatively low admission rates.  

Pedagogy for Programmes

Mentioned below is a list of the most popular courses at Ashoka University, along with the course fee structures and selection criteria:

Ashoka University Infrastructure 

Ashoka University campus is very often talked about for its impeccable design, high-quality campus facilities, and student accommodations, which are very well thought out and practical. The University campus consists of the best and the most modern facilities for enhancing the learning experience of its students. Let’s take a quick glance at Ashoka University's infrastructure in detail as mentioned below:

Classroom

As previously mentioned, there are about 1,250 classrooms and 12 research laboratories spread across the different campus buildings at Ashoka University. All classrooms are spacious and properly air-conditioned. Each classroom is properly equipped with all the necessary amenities for conducting practical classroom learning. Additionally, every classroom has an installed projector for conducting e-learning mode of classes for students, along with other audio-visual systems including smartboards, recording facilities, etc. Moreover, the entire campus is Wi-Fi enabled, with a strong internet connection. Hygiene and cleanliness are especially looked after throughout the University campus. Each classroom has a varied seat capacity, depending on the purpose of the classroom. For example, classrooms range from 25-seater capacity for seminars and tutorials to 240-seater lecture halls for guest speakers, performances and town-hall sessions. 

Internet connection

Ashoka University has a very strong and stable internet connection access throughout the campus. All classrooms, staff rooms, libraries, laboratories, cafeteria, etc., have Wi-Fi access all round the year. There have been no recorded instances of a failed internet connection access at any given time. Additionally, there are no rules to access the internet connection; any student or faculty member is eligible to use the University's Wi-Fi access without any restrictions. 

Library

Ashoka University's library constitutes a large section of the campus. Not only is the library well-stocked with a massive collection of articles, online catalogues, free academic ebooks, etc., but it also has a huge collection of books and theses on liberal Arts, journals and many more. Ashoka University's library is equipped with various facilities including xerox machines, printers, fax machines, computers, and other amenities. Additionally, all bibliographic details of the available resources at the library can be searched and viewed online. All students are required to register themselves with their Email IDs to access the digital library of the University. The entire library is air-conditioned and completely automated.

Hostel

Ashoka University's hostel facilities are considered top-notch in the game of student accommodations for a number of reasons. The hostel room accommodations at the University are assigned to students on a twin-sharing basis, which means that there are no private rooms for students to reside individually. Each and every hostel building is assigned one executive team member from the residence life office, along with a warden and a senior in charge in the absence of a warden. The students' abodes are spacious and well equipped with the basic everyday student necessities: a common area, clean drinking water flowing 24*7, food, power supply backup, laundry facilities, entertainment zones, on-campus Medical Healthcare facility, activity rooms, an auditorium, gymnasiums, and 24*7 security services, etc. Around a total of 250-400 students can be accommodated at the hostel facilities at Ashoka University. Regular extracurricular activities are also a common sight in the hostel wings of Ashoka University.

Dining Services 

One of the intriguing facilities at Ashoka University is its on-campus dining service for the students residing in the University's hostel buildings. The campus has a dining and catering service for the University students, serving approximately 2,000 meals per day. The meals are served at the dedicated dining hall, which is a separate four-story building, with several food stations serving hot meals to students, instructors, and employees from a wide range of cuisines as determined by the mess committee. Additionally, the canteen kitchen has a bakery, which regularly produces freshly baked bread, confectionery goods, sweets and savoury items as well. There are several outlets of some of the popular food joints inside the campus dining building as well, for example, Subway, Amul Parlour, Shudh Desi Dhaba, etc. A detailed information about the timings of each one of these are mentioned below for reference:

Moreover, the in-house kitchen at Ashoka University is also responsible for planning and executing the food and beverage requirements for all of the on-campus events that are arranged by the University authorities. The dining building is fully air-conditioned, with modern furnishings and an automatic cooking system, along with a huge food storage facility. A special focus on hygiene and cleanliness is always maintained in the canteen kitchen and moreover, the prices of the food items are also reasonable. 

Health Care Facility 

The healthcare facilities at Ashoka University are truly remarkable in comparison to any other Private University in the country. The University has an in-house 16-bed Infirmary located at the Sports Complex, which provides free First Aid services and medical assistance to the students. This infirmary is well-equipped and properly manned by medical professionals. There are resident doctors and nurses available on a 24*7 basis to cater for medical emergencies. Interestingly, all students at Ashoka University are eligible for medical insurance of about INR 1 Lakh, applicable upon hospitalization of 24 hours or more. Moreover, the Campus is also equipped with its own 24*7 ambulances for medical transportation. 

Transportation  

The transport facilities inside Ashoka University campus is convenient for the students as it provides a shuttle service through tempo travellers to and from Jahangirpuri metro station and Ashoka University Campus, as per the approved and advertised schedule, for students, staff, and visitors. There is quite a large number of on-campus vehicles available for connectivity across the campus and for connecting the city and the campus. These vehicles operate 24*7, and are specifically designed for industrial visits, and academic and co-curricular events inside the University campus. 

Amphitheater 

Another cool campus facility at Ashoka University is the on-campus amphitheatre that has been installed by the University authorities. There are 2 amphitheatres located in between the first two front campus building spaces respectively. These are mostly preferred for hosting cultural activities like music festivals, theatres, talk shows, poetry reading competitions, documentary screenings, various language festivals, art competitions, and many other activities.

Dr. Reddy's Auditorium 

The campus at Ashoka University has a primary auditorium, known as the "Dr. Reddy’s Auditorium," which is used for the important events conducted by the University authorities for its students. This auditorium is located on the third floor of the main building, with around 400 seating capacity and is fully air-conditioned. 

General Facilities 

1. Lost and Found: The Lost and Found Desk is one of the most convenient features for the students at the University as it allows the administration to provide a safe and secure learning atmosphere for its students, by introducing the "lost and found" concept inside the University campus. Any unattended item found is submitted at this desk for its owner to reclaim later on. 

2. Courier: The Administration department also facilitates courier services to the students, wherein a student may contact the reception desk to send out their personal couriers on a payable basis. 

3. SIM cards: A provision to hand out mobile SIM cards was made active inside the University campus as well. A student may claim a new SIM card at the SIM Card kiosk after completing all necessary documentation during the days of the onboarding of the new batch in the new academic year. 

4. ATM: The University campus also has on-campus ATM machines installed near the dining hall.

5. Locker Facility: Additionally, a locker facility is also available for students to store their personal belongings during semester breaks or vacations.

6. Mailroom: A mailroom facility is also available inside the University campus for the students to receive any emails including couriers. 

Sports 

The institution has a very good reputation when it comes to emphasis towards the extracurricular activities for students. Therefore, it is no surprise that the college campus hosts a number of sports activity centres for its students to indulge in, apart from focusing on medical studies. The college campus has several sports facilities including a Badminton Court, Basketball Court, Cricket Ground, Football Ground, Squash Court, Swimming Pool, Tennis Court, Volleyball Court, Running Track, Long Jump Pit, Billiards Table, Shooting Range, etc. There are separate gymnasiums and auditoriums as well. Additionally, there are designated dance rooms, music rooms, and others specified for several extracurricular activities as well. 

Other Facilities 

Some other campus facilities at Ashoka University which are worth mentioning are: a unisex salon located in the Sports Complex, a Documentation Centre, Departmental Laboratories, a General Store, a Stationary Store, dedicated pantries inside hostel buildings, a common lounge, etc. 

Our Take:

There is no doubt that the Ashoka University campus is the epitome of infrastructural genius but one of the major setbacks for such an infrastructure is that, with so much emphasis on creating a 'home-like' environment for students studying at the university, the essence of being a student seems lost for those residing in the campus hostel facilities. The learning experience at Ashoka University seems to be no less than a luxurious experience at a weekend gateway, which is not an ideal learning atmosphere for students who may wish to excel in the field of academics.

Moreover, with the constant emphasis on extracurricular activities and sports, students may often get diverted from focusing on academic excellence to nurturing sportsmanship skills and others. While creating a comfortable environment for students should be a priority, it is also important to put some sort of restrictions as well, to secure a properly disciplined learning atmosphere for the students. 

Ashoka University's Diversity & Representation

Ashoka University grants admission to a decent number of students every year, with mostly 60% of the students from within the state. Being one of the largest universities in the country, the diversity and representation at Ashoka University is somewhat decent. The college witnesses a large number of women's admission appeals every year, boosting the overall gender ratio of Ashoka University as a learning institution. 

Our Take:

Ashoka University grants admission to students hailing from different states of India. This often puts a barrier in students' interactions due to the vastly different lifestyles, language, dressing sense, etc.

Ashoka University Internships & Placements

Internships

As per students' recorded responses, the internship opportunities for students studying at Ashoka University are much higher than most private institutions, catering to the fact that the university has marked its presence as one of the best contemporary learning institutions in the country. Many top companies are always on the lookout for interns to add to their valuable organizations, offering higher stipends and hands-on practical experience. While the stipends may vary depending on the course of the particular student, the average salary range offered to students post their graduation at Ashoka University is no less than INR 50K/month.

Placements

The placement opportunities at Ashoka University are remarkably higher than other private universities in the country. With over 300 companies offering placement opportunities at Ashoka University the previous year, this institution has certainly broken records and exceeded expectations. The employment rate after graduation at Ashoka University is higher than other universities. The placement cell is responsible for efficiently managing and administering all the professional development of the students at Ashoka University. According to a student's feedback from the University, the highest package received by a candidate in 2022 was around INR 30 LPA, while that of the lowest was no less than INR 11 LPA.

Mentioned below is the previous year’s placement data of Ashoka University:

Top Recruiters

Some of the top recruiting agencies to recruit students from Ashoka University are mentioned below:

Our Take:

There is no doubt that the internship and placement opportunities at Ashoka University have an immense success rate. The placement cell of the University has successfully managed to provide unbeatable professional guidance and help to the students studying at Ashoka University, to excel in their approach and way of conduct when it comes to showcasing their skills and knowledge at the recruitment process. Additionally, many reputed companies offer better opportunities to students of this University due to the good name of the institution in the field of education. 

With an abundance of job opportunities, there comes one major drawback of pursuing a course at Ashoka University. The competition at Ashoka University among the students for placement opportunities at reputed companies is much higher than at other private universities in the country. 

Ashoka University Faculty & College Management/Administration

Ashoka University's faculty mostly comprises a huge number of authors, scientists, historians, journalists, artists, and entrepreneurs, each having considerable experience and expertise, as well as recognized contributions in the relevant fields of high-quality research. One of the good things about this university is that it equally focuses on the diversity of experience and research in its faculty fraternity, which in return reflects the University’s foundational goals. The faculty team of Ashoka University is supportive, knowledgeable, and has strong communication skills. Some of the notable alumni of Ashoka University are Samarth Mahajan (Filmmaker), Ankur Tulsian (Director of Strategy at Careem), Abhishek Choudhary (Co-founder Saajha), etc.

Our Take:

Despite a large number of knowledgeable teaching faculty, conflicts between the faculty members and the university authorities are a constant happening. These often lead to a negative impact on the students studying at the university, often provoking them to be a part of these protests and conflicts. This is not only a serious threat to the learning atmosphere at Ashoka University, but a grave concern for the state authorities as well. Painting a negative picture of the university may not only hamper the university's name but also the future of the students may be jeopardized due to the constant political influence on the learning institution. Therefore, despite good positions at NIRF and other ranking frameworks, Ashoka University still struggles to establish proper trust among students.

Ashoka University Location

Ashoka University is located at Rajiv Gandhi Education City in Sonepat, Haryana. The full address of the University is: Plot No. 2, Rajiv Gandhi Education City, National Capital Region P.O. Rai, Sonepat Haryana-131029 (India). The location of the college is right in the centre of the city, which makes connectivity much easier and convenient for the students. 

Ashoka University Expectation vs Reality: CollegeDekho Verdict

For a private institution which stands out for its enormous campus and a wide range of contemporary campus facilities, Ashoka University is certainly making a name for itself. However, as aforementioned, there are still persistent issues that the university needs to address, in order to avoid getting a negative spotlight. The university must also address the state authority for aiding resolutions to any political influence on the university, making it a safe atmosphere for students to nature and enhance the quality of education provided by Ashoka University. Here is our report card for Ashoka University: