Manipal School of Architecture and Planning

Manipal School of Architecture and Planning (MSAP) was established in 1978 under Mysore University as the Department of Architecture, making it one of the oldest architecture programmes in Karnataka. It became a constituent institution of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) in 2010 and was elevated to a full school in 2018. MSAP is ranked 27th nationally in NIRF 2025 for Architecture and holds the 3rd position among private architecture colleges in India by IIRF 2025. It was ranked 1st in the Outlook-Based Education Ranking 2024 for architecture colleges. The school is approved by the Council of Architecture (COA), New Delhi, and is an institutional member of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Programmes offered at MSAP include B.Arch (5 years), B.Des in Interior Design and Fashion Design (4 years each), M.Arch in Urban Design and Development, M.Des in Interior Design, Sustainable Design, and Product Design, and certificate programmes in design and architecture. The B.Arch total fee is approximately Rs. 21,95,000 paid over 5 years. Admission to B.Arch requires a valid NATA score with minimum 50% marks in 10+2 with Mathematics as a compulsory subject. B.Des admissions are portfolio-based with the school conducting its own shortlisting process. The 1,45,000 sq ft MSAP campus is built on 3.9 acres of contoured land adjacent to the MIT campus in Manipal, designed to accommodate 1,200 students across Architecture, Design, and Fashion programmes. Facilities include 12 design studios, a building technology lab, an urban design research centre, a digital fabrication workshop with 3D printers and laser cutters, a materials library, a photography studio, and a film production room. The entire 600-acre Manipal campus is Wi-Fi enabled. Placement at MSAP is handled by a dedicated cell headed by the Associate Director. Around 60 companies visit campus annually for recruitment drives. Industry tie-ups include Infosys, Tata, Philips Healthcare, and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Graduates have worked on national projects including the Smart Cities Mission with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Some alumni have gone on to practice at internationally recognised firms. Scholarships available include the Scholar and Achiever Scholarship for students with 80% or above in 10+2 (UG) and 70% or above in graduation (PG). A 10% fee waiver applies to children of MAHE alumni meeting the same academic criteria. Education loans are available under the Vidya Turant Scheme with a reduced interest rate for MSAP students. Full scholarships are offered to EWS students under applicable government schemes. MSAP runs regular workshops in parametric design, furniture design, vernacular materials, and traditional art forms. Annual events include Opus and Equinox. International study tours and exchange programmes with European architecture schools are part of the curriculum. The school is particularly strong in sustainable architecture and urban design research.