CMR University School of Architecture

Written by L K Monu Borkala, Founder & Chief Strategist
Last Updated: August 4, 2026 · Verified with COA, UGC and CMR University data for 2025–26

The School of Architecture at CMR University, Bangalore was established in 2015, two years after the university itself was chartered under Karnataka Act No. 45 of 2013. Approved by the Council of Architecture, it runs a 5-year B.Arch at the 60-acre Lakeside Campus, with fees of Rs 75,000 per semester and an India Today ranking of 27th out of 40 nationally in 2023.

Housed specifically at the 60-acre Lakeside Campus, one of three CMR University campuses in Bangalore.

One of Nine Schools Under a 2013-Chartered University

CMR University runs nine schools spanning Engineering and Technology, Architecture, Design, Legal Studies, Management, Economics and Commerce, Liberal Studies, Science and Computer Studies, and Allied and Healthcare Sciences, sponsored by the CMR Jnanadhara Trust, itself established in 1990. The university operates across three campuses: City Campus at HRBR Layout (Kalyan Nagar), OMBR Layout at Bhuvanagiri, and the flagship 60-acre Lakeside Campus off Bagalur near Kempegowda International Airport, where the School of Architecture is specifically located. Applicants researching other Karnataka architecture schools should note this campus-specific placement, since CMR University's other schools operate from different campuses entirely.

The university holds NAAC A grade accreditation from its first assessment cycle, following a peer team visit in February 2025, and UGC Section 2(f) recognition, though Section 12(B) status is not currently claimed. The B.Arch program specifically carries Council of Architecture approval, and its NAAC status can be verified independently via the NAAC database, distinct from the university's broader UGC and AICTE recognitions covering its other schools.

A Distinctive Facility: The Maker Space

The Lakeside Campus houses a dedicated Maker Space where architecture students work with robotic arms for precision fabrication, experiment with augmented reality for spatial visualisation, explore 3D printing using sustainable materials including mycelium composites, and engage with IoT sensors embedded in prototype structures to measure real-time thermal performance. This level of fabrication technology access is uncommon among Karnataka's architecture schools generally, and the school's stated pedagogical ethos, summarised by its director as "Build Less, Build Light, Build Wise," specifically emphasises material efficiency and sustainable construction methods over conventional design-only training.

NITARA, a Centre of Excellence co-located at the same campus, shares this fabrication space, meaning architecture students have access to interdisciplinary research infrastructure that a standalone architecture school without a co-located research centre typically would not offer directly.

Admission and Fees

Admission accepts either NATA or JEE Main Paper 2 scores, alongside 10+2 completion with a minimum 50% aggregate overall and 50% specifically in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, dropping to 45% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates. This runs entirely independently of KCET-based admission, which does not cover architecture seat allocation. Fees run Rs 75,000 per semester per the university's own published figure, working out to approximately Rs 7.5 lakh across the full five-year, ten-semester program, though applicants should confirm current-year figures directly given standard annual revisions.

Faculty and Small-Cohort Structure

The school's faculty includes Prof. Muralidhar K as Director, alongside assistant professors like Ar. Akshara Verma, reflecting a relatively compact teaching structure consistent with a school established less than a decade ago rather than a large, long-established architecture faculty with dozens of senior professors. Applicants specifically prioritising faculty scale and seniority as a selection criterion should weigh this against the school's genuine technological infrastructure advantage.

Beyond the core B.Arch, the school offers postgraduate and PhD tracks in Architectural Planning, alongside shorter certification courses, giving students a pathway to continue at the same institution beyond undergraduate study. Applicants comparing this against other Karnataka professional programs on total program breadth should factor in this multi-level academic pathway alongside the undergraduate offering.

Who This Fits

This program suits NATA or JEE Main-qualified applicants specifically drawn to fabrication-heavy, technology-integrated architectural education, given the Maker Space's emphasis on robotics, 3D printing and sensor-based design research. Students prioritising a more traditional, drawing-and-drafting-focused architecture curriculum without this level of digital fabrication access might weigh this against other options. For admission guidance or comparison against other Karnataka architecture programs on fees and facilities, confirming current NATA cutoffs directly with the school is essential given that CMR's own admissions team notes cutoffs are confirmed per cycle rather than fixed year to year.

The university's UGC Section 2(f) recognition, without a currently-claimed Section 12(B) status, is a specific regulatory detail worth understanding: 2(f) confirms the institution is recognised by UGC as a genuine university, while 12(B) status relates specifically to eligibility for certain central government grants, a distinction that matters more for institutional funding than for the validity of degrees awarded to students. Applicants concerned about this specific distinction should confirm current status directly with the university given that such classifications can change over time.

Rankings should be read with appropriate context: a 27th-of-40 India Today placement in 2023 reflects a mid-table position among ranked institutions nationally, respectable for a school less than a decade old, though applicants weighing this against schools with multi-decade track records and consistently higher rankings should factor the school's relative youth into that comparison directly.

Prospective students specifically interested in the sustainable-materials angle, mycelium composite fabrication in particular, should note this represents an emerging research area rather than a fully standardised curriculum component across Indian architecture education broadly. Confirming exactly how much studio time and which specific years of the program incorporate Maker Space access, rather than assuming it runs throughout the full five-year curriculum uniformly, helps set accurate expectations before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the School of Architecture established?

2015, two years after CMR University itself was chartered in 2013 under Karnataka Act No. 45. The school is one of nine schools under the university, housed specifically at the Lakeside Campus.

What is the NAAC grade?

CMR University holds NAAC A grade from its first accreditation cycle, following a peer team visit in February 2025. The B.Arch program itself carries separate Council of Architecture approval.

Does KCET matter for admission here?

No. Admission accepts NATA or JEE Main Paper 2 scores alongside 10+2 marks. KCET does not cover architecture seat allocation at this school.

What makes this program's facilities distinctive?

A dedicated Maker Space with robotic fabrication arms, augmented reality tools, 3D printing using sustainable materials like mycelium composites, and IoT sensors for real-time thermal performance measurement, co-located with the NITARA Centre of Excellence.

What does the program cost?

Rs 75,000 per semester per the university's own published figure, working out to approximately Rs 7.5 lakh across the full five-year program. Confirm current figures directly given standard annual revisions.