Rabindra Bharati University's Review and Verdict by CollegeDekho

Campus at a Glimpse

Rabindra Bharati University was founded to mark the birth centenary of the legendary poet and noble laureate, Rabindra Nath Tagore in 1962. RBU was established to carry forward Tagore’s legacy of art and culture through various branches of visual arts, fine arts and humanities. It has been duly recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and accredited by NAAC with an ‘A’ grade. 

RBU has three campuses in Kolkata. The Jorasanko campus has been developed as a heritage zone of international importance, where Rabindra Bharati Museum, West Bengal State Academy of Dance Drama Music and Visual Arts and various centres of study and research are housed. The other two campuses have been developed to run various academic programmes at undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD levels. 

Walking down the corridors of Rabindra Bharati University, one can feel the aroma of Rabindra Sangeet fused in the environment. The university is rich in art and culture and committed to promoting artistic excellence and talent. Rabindra Bharati University’s curriculum and events are a breath of fresh air in a world where education is increasingly standardised. 

On the downside, RBU has some challenges too. It has a large number of students per faculty which is 60:1. Furthermore, it lacks diversity with only 3.2% of students hailing from out of West Bengal and a few international students. Above that, there persist some disputes between faculty and students regarding the assessment process. 

Let’s discuss more about Rabindra Bharti University to have a clearer understanding. 

Rabindra Bharati University Academia & Batch Size

Rabindra Bharati University undertakes a strong emphasis on academia and research. It has been promoting Tagore’s ideas through the faculties of Arts, Fine Arts and Visual Arts. A wide range of RBU courses are being offered under 30 departments of these faculties. Here is the list of departments of Rabindra Bharati University. 

Rabindra Bharati University is a temple of learning for music, fine arts and visual arts students. The atmosphere is purely cultural and the curriculum matches the latest trends. Students remain busy attending lectures, practical sessions and conducting activities. However, teaching quality in some departments such as mathematics and foreign language can be improved as per students’ feedback. 

Rabindra Bharati University Batch Size:

Our Take:

Rabindra Bharati University is truly a unique institution that offers students a well-rounded education in arts and humanities. However, some departments should improve their quality of teaching to cater to the needs of students. Also, the university needs to curtail down its student faculty ratio.

Rabindra Bharati University Infrastructure

Classroom: Classrooms at Rabindra Bharati University have basic infrastructure including benches, desks and blackboards. Though classrooms are well-maintained but can be improved in terms of furniture and ICT facilities. 

Auditorium/Studio/Labs: The university has a ‘Dwarkanath Mancha’ to conduct cultural programmes. There is also a studio for audio recording which can be accessed by the students. Furthermore, all the departments have required laboratories with essential equipment. Students seem satisfied with the facilities available in laboratories. 

Library: There is a huge central library, Sangeet Bhavan Library at Rabindra Bharati University and several departmental libraries on both campuses. The libraries are well-stocked with course-related materials and other resources. The central library has over 125000 books, 2550 journals, more than 800 thesis and various other reading materials. 

Internet: Students can access free Wi-Fi across the RBU campus. All the departments, labs, libraries and hostels have access to the Internet. 

Hostel: Rabindra Bharti University provides hostel facilities mainly to outstation students. As per students’ feedback, the hostels are spacious and clean and the food quality of the mess is superb! Also, the hostels are supervised by the students’ union which caters to all the needs of the borders. 

Activities: Rabindra Bharati University is also known for its vibrant cultural life. The university hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year, including concerts, plays, and exhibitions. RBU conducts an annual spring fest which is very famous among students and artists. 

Moreover, there are some unions such as students unions, faculty unions and hostel unions created by the prevalent political party. These unions organise activities and events and look after the needs and rights of its members. 

Canteen: Rabindra Bharati University has two student canteens at the Emerald Bower Campus. The other campus does not have any canteen facilities. 

Our Take:

Overall, Rabindra Bharti University has a well-developed infrastructure with all the required facilities. It provides students with opportunities to learn about and celebrate different art forms and cultures from around the world through various events. However, it can further enhance its infrastructure by renovating classrooms and building more canteens. 

Rabindra Bharati University Internships and Placements 

RBU is a university with a strong focus on academia and research, but it does not offer a wide range of internship and placement opportunities. However, students can work with faculty on research projects to get hands-on experience. Also, there is a training and placement cell that caters to the students' job needs. 

Let’s have a look at the placement statistics of Rabindra Bharati University as per the NIRF Report 2023. 

• No student of Rabindra Bharati University was placed in 2022. However, all the students opted for higher education as per the report. 
• In 2021, six students of the UG (3-year) programme were placed with a median salary of 1.92 LPA. 
• Nine students of the PG (2-year) programme were placed in 2020 with an average package of 2.16 LPA. 

To promote employability, the university runs a number of job-oriented courses and provides full assistance to students preparing for NET/SET/JRF and other related competitive examinations. 

Our Take:

Rabindra Bharti University appears more focused on preparing students for higher education and research than on providing them with internship and placement opportunities. The university should shift its focus on catering to students' needs for exposure opportunities relevant to modern times. 

Rabindra Bharati University Diversity & Demographics

Let’s inspect the demographics of Rabindra Bharti University based on the NIRF Report 2023. 

Student Population:

Gender Representation:

Our Take:

Rabindra Bharti University enjoys great regional popularity as more than 90% of students belong to West Bengal. On the flip side, it means the diversity in the campus is meagre! Only 3.2% of the students hail from other states and international students make up only 1.9% of the total student population. However, the university has more female students than male students. The male-to-female ratio stands at 3:7 which creates a women-centric atmosphere. 

Rabindra Bharati University Faculty/College Administration & Management

Rabindra Bharti University is home to a highly qualified and experienced faculty with a deep understanding of their subjects. According to the NIRF Report 2023, the university has 130 regular faculty members. Out of which, the majority of the teachers are PhD holders. As per students’ reviews, the faculty members of some departments such as music, fine arts and visual arts are experts in their respective fields. Also, the majority of professors are generous, and helpful and use a student-centric teaching approach. However, a few professors focus highly on personal benefits and try to influence students towards politics. 

Based on the students' inputs, some professors at RBU try convincing students to join their coaching classes and favour those who do. These students are reportedly given information about the topics they will be tested on before exams, while those who do not join the coaching are allegedly given lower marks. The administration and management are reportedly aware of the situation but haven’t taken any action. 

Our Take:

While the university claims to promote art and culture-rich education, some of its faculties appear to be promoting personal agendas on the campus. The intent of genuine teaching is surely missing in some of the faculty members of the university. Now, the question is why the management is silent on this matter. Strict action should be taken to promote a healthy teaching-learning environment at the university. 

Rabindra Bharati University Location

Rabindra Bharati University has three campuses located in the cultural land of Kolkata, West Bengal. Let’s know the location of all the three campuses. 

• The main campus of RBU is located at Emerald Bower Campus, 56A, B. T. Road, Kolkata. 
• Jorasanko campus is located at Jorasanko, 6/4, Dwarakanath Tagore Lane, Kolkata. 
• The third campus is situated at Rabindra Bhawan, EE 9&10, Sector II, Salt Lake, Kolkata. 

Rabindra Bharati University: Expectation vs Reality CLD Verdict!

Indeed, Rabindra Bharati University is a unique institution with a rich history and culture. It is a place where students can pursue their academic and artistic passions in a nurturing environment. Along with an affordable fee structure that ranges from INR 4K to 50 K, the university offers various scholarships to help students financially. The curriculum and faculty are brownie points of the university. 

On the other hand, Rabindra Bharati University could do more in areas of diversity, student-teacher ratio, internships and placements. Otherwise, RBU is a good match for students looking to develop their academic, artistic, and personal potential in arts, fine arts and visual arts. 

Our Final Checklist!