Shiv Nadar University's Review and Verdict by CollegeDekho

Campus at a Glimpse

While students often dream of attending prestigious institutes like IITs or IIMs, another young institute is making waves in the realm of higher education: Shiv Nadar University Noida (SNU Noida). Established in 2011, Shiv Nadar University Noida has quickly gained recognition for its innovative approach, world-class infrastructure, and dedication to nurturing future leaders. It boasts itself as a multidisciplinary and student-centric research university in India.

The most popular Shiv Nadar University courses are BTech, BSc, MTech, and MBA. BTech programme is available in multiple specialisations, with Computer Science & Engineering being the most popular among others. The institute also offers 17 PhD courses in multiple Engineering, Management, and Science disciplines such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and others.

Shiv Nadar University was established as a private university in Greater Noida. It has four schools: engineering, natural sciences, humanities and social sciences, and management & entrepreneurship, along with the academy of continuing education. It is also known as the first university in the country that offers a 4-year multidisciplinary research degree.

As per the university's yearly status report 2020-21, Shiv Nadar University Noida has a total of 2496 students and a total of 226 full-time faculty. This shows the university has a student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 11:1. This is per the NEP's suggested pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) of under 30:1. However, the student-faculty ratio might vary across different programmes and disciplines within the university. For example, the Chemical Engineering department at Shiv Nadar University consists of 70 students and 10 faculty members, which makes the ratio 7:1.

Shiv Nadar University has been gaining an esteemed position in the engineering and management education sphere due to its academic excellence and excellent research infrastructure. Students have shared that the fees are a bit high, but the university provides scholarships to students based on their academic performance. Apart from this, there were not many negative reviews from students regarding this university. Hence, we can say that there might be some suboptimal side of the university, but the good factors surpass the bad ones when it comes to SNU Noida.

NIRF Ranking: From Good to Great!

SNU Noida has been consistently participating and ranked by NIRF rankings. As per the NIRF Ranking 2023, Shiv Nadar University has been placed in the 62nd position in the overall university category. Its position fell in this category by 1 place as compared to the NIRF ranking 2022, which was 61. Moreover, the university has shown a steady decline in its ranking from 2019 to 2023, which can be checked from the table below:

Our Take
It's not good to see Shiv Nadar University's consistent downfall in the NIRF rankings. SNU Noida has fallen by 14 positions in the NIRF ranking since 2018, demonstrating a steady downfall year on year. While there have been fluctuations, the university's ranking has gone from 48th in 2018 to 62nd in 2023. However, the changes in rank, particularly in the last two years, are relatively small. A one-position change might not be statistically significant and could be due to variations in the ranking methodology or the performance of other universities.

Shiv Nadar University Academia & Batch

Shiv Nadar University follows a multidisciplinary curriculum, according to which the students can choose one major in which they want to have expertise but can also take a wide range of courses outside their major. Apart from this, UG students can also pursue a combination of majors and minors at the same time.

There are three parts to Shiv Nadar University academics: the common core curriculum, majors, and university-wide electives. The Common Core Curriculum (CCC) at Shiv Nadar University Noida is composed of at least 18 credits. This curriculum helps students gain an understanding of local, national, and global change driving factors along with problems related to an increasingly integrated world.

The major is at least 108 credits. All the UG students need to choose one major specialisation. The university-wide electives hold at least 18 credits. Students can choose multiple university-wide electives.

Shiv Nadar University Total Courses

Shiv Nadar University Noida offers courses at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. At the undergraduate level, the university offers 18 courses. The programmes at the UG level include BA, BTech, BSc, Bachelor in Design, and Bachelor of Management Studies. At the graduate level, 12 courses are offered, including MA, MBA, MTech, MSc, and Master of Fine Arts. The university also offers 17 PhD programmes in multiple disciplines. SNU Noida admission to its courses is done either on the basis of entrance exams like JEE Main, CUET, or merit in the qualifying exams.

Our Take

Shiv Nadar University's academic structure seems well-rounded, promoting multidisciplinarity and flexibility. The multidisciplinary approach allows students to explore different fields and develop broader knowledge beyond their chosen major. The combination of major and minor is also impressive, as it provides flexibility and allows students to pursue two areas of interest simultaneously. We are also impressed by the common core curriculum that provides a foundation for all students, and the clearly defined major and elective credits.

However, with 108 credits, students might have less space for specialised courses within their major compared to universities with higher credit requirements. Also, 18 programmes might seem restrictive compared to other universities, especially considering the multidisciplinary focus.

Shiv Nadar University Infrastructure

Shiv Nadar University is spread across an area of 286 acres of lush green campus and houses over 14,000 trees. It offers facilities like grocery stores, cafes, a health & medical centre, a big sports complex, a student recreational centre, a post office, a central library, a saloon, and an in-house bank with ATMs. Some of the top facilities and infrastructure offered by the university can be checked below:

Health & Wellness Centre:

Shiv Nadar University has a health centre that consists of residential paramedic staff and visiting doctors. This ensures the health and safety of students.

Indoor Sports Complex: The university consists of a 120,000-sq. ft. indoor sports complex along with 571,410-sq. ft. of outdoor facilities.

Club House:

Shiv Nadar University also has a club house that offers exclusive dining and recreational spaces.

Transportation:

The university provides round-the-clock bus services for students and staff.

Library:

The Shiv Nadar University central library plays a central role in supporting the academic and research needs of the university community. It offers a large collection of physical and digital resources, including books, journals, databases, and multimedia materials. The library utilises modern technology to streamline its operations and provides access to additional resources through network sharing and interlibrary loan services. A departmental library is also being developed on campus to further cater to the specific needs of each academic programme.

Our Take

Shiv Nadar University's infrastructure seems well-designed to support the holistic development and well-being of its students and staff. The availability of various amenities, healthcare facilities, recreational spaces, and academic resources creates a conducive environment for learning, living, and overall campus life. The 286-acre campus is an impressive point that provides ample space for students. It is also good that there is a health centre with dedicated staff to ensure the well-being of students and staff. The indoor and outdoor sports facilities, along with the clubhouse, show that the university promotes an active lifestyle. Also, the round-the-clock bus service provides convenient transportation within the campus and potentially to nearby areas, which is a good factor.

Shiv Nadar University Internships & Placements

Shiv Nadar University has a career development centre that prepares students for placement through various training workshops, mentorship programmes, skill-development modules, and personality enhancement sessions. As per Shiv Nadar University placement data 2022-23 available on its website, the highest package offered was INR 58.09 LPA. The average salary offered in the same year was INR 11.35 LPA. A total of 129 recruiters visited the campus, among which the top recruiters were IBM, L&T, HP, Deloitte, Decathlon, etc.

SNU Noida Placement Statistics

Our Take

Shiv Nadar University's placement data for 2022-23 paints a positive picture, suggesting several good aspects. The average salary of INR 11.35 LPA and the highest package of INR 58.09 LPA are very impressive and above average as compared to other private universities. Engineering graduates seem to have secured even higher average salaries (INR 12.85 LPA), hinting at targeted support for their placements. However, the slightly wider gap between the average and median salaries suggests a potentially uneven distribution of offers, with some students possibly receiving significantly lower packages than the average.

Shiv Nadar University Diversity & Representation

Shiv Nadar University Moida has students from 28 states in India, reflecting its diversity and representation. The university also welcomes international admissions, which shows progress towards broader representation. Several diversity and representation policies at SNU Noida ensure proper representation and elimination of discrimination, disability, sexual harassment, etc. Some of the diversity and representation policies include the environment, health and safety policy, zero tolerance for discrimination, gender policy, maternity leave policy, prevention of sexual harassment, and disability support.

SNU Noida Male: Female Ratio

As per the Shiv Nadar University UGC report, out of a total of 1803 students, 521 are female students and 1282 are male students. This means that SNU has a male-to-female ratio of approximately 2:1.

Our Take

Shiv Nadar University's efforts towards diversity and representation are positive and impressive. Having students from 28 states and accepting international students contributes to a richer learning environment with varied perspectives. Also, the dedicated policies addressing discrimination, disability, sexual harassment, and other crucial aspects highlight the university's commitment to inclusivity. However, one question we need to ask for further analysis is: do faculty, staff, and leadership positions also reflect diverse backgrounds and identities, or are they just limited to students?

Shiv Nadar University Noida Location

SNU Noida is located on a fully residential campus located on NH-91, near Dadri in Uttar Pradesh, India. There is a supermarket and convenience store located just outside the campus, which is convenient for the students. There are also various schools and hotels located near the campus. One can hire a taxi service from the airport to Shiv Nadar University. The nearest metro station to SNU Noida is Botanical Garden Metro Station. The distance from Metro Station to Shiv Nadar University is approximately 20 kilometres.

Shiv Nadar University: Expectation vs Reality CollegeDekho Verdict

As per our research, Shiv Nadar University is a well-rounded university offering a good academic experience and infrastructure. The multidisciplinary approach, flexible curriculum options, and strong research focus are some of the points that make the academics unique and impressive. The university also offers competitive average and the highest salary packages, with strong support for engineering students. Students from various states and countries and dedicated policies for inclusivity show the university is focusing on diversity and representation along with academic excellence. The extensive campus, well-equipped facilities, good healthcare, and transportation are some other excellent features of SNU Noida.

However, one area for improvement for SNU Noida is that the student-faculty ratio is lower than the NEP recommended 15:20, potentially impacting individual attention. It also needs to focus on limited course options. Only 18 undergraduate programmes might seem restrictive compared to other universities, especially in a multidisciplinary approach. Another challenging factor is the commute. The distance from the metro station to campus is approximately 20 kilometers, which might be inconvenient for students, especially at late night hours.

However, apart from these smaller challenges, we can say that Shiv Nadar University surely lives up to its hype!

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