MBA in Rural Development 

at HPU, Shimla

HPU MAT is the entrance exam required for admission to HPU Business School, Himachal Pradesh University MBA programme.  HPU MAT is a computer-based test of two hours' duration with 200 questions. It is conducted once in a year. The syllabus of the entrance exam is similar to most management entrance test syllabuses, which include topics such as verbal ability, reading comprehension, quantitative ability, data adequacy, and data interpretation.

Candidates planning to apply for HPU MBA programme must complete their graduation. Below is the detailed eligibility for Himachal Pradesh University MBA course:

• Candidates who have passed bachelor's degree with at least 50% aggregate (45% aggregate for SC/ ST candidates) can apply for MBA .
• Candidates appearing for their final year exam of bachelor's degree can also appear in HPU MAT, but the final selection is subject to satisfying the eligibility condition.
• Except for Non-subsidised, serving or retired defence personnel, the maximum age limit is 26 years for boys and 28 years for girls (29 years in case of SC/ST candidates both for ST boys and girls) as on July 1 of the year concerned.

HPU MBA course is a two-year programme divided into four semesters. Below are some of the topics included in MBA curriculum of HPU:

• Methods of Data Collection
• Research Designs
• Management Information System
• Operations Management System
• Methods of Forecasting Demand-Opnion Method, etc.

The total tuition fee for HPU MBA ranges between INR 4,800 and INR 1.4 lakh. This information is sourced from official website/ sanctioning body and is subject to change. There is slight relaxation in fee for students already registered with HP University. Once the candidates are selected, they need to pay a programme fee to confirm their seat in the university. Apart from the tuition fee, aspirants also need to pay an application fee of INR 700 for HPU MAT.

HPU and CUHP both are recognised universities of Himachal Pradesh. Below is the comparison between the popular universities of HP offering MBA:

MBA University	Total Tuition Fee*	Average Package
HPU	INR 4,800 - INR 1.4 lakh	INR 2 Lacs (overall)
CUHP	INR 9,600	INR 2.5 Lacs (PG courses)

*This information is sourced from official website/ sanctioning body and is subject to change.

HPU fee is different for different courses. However, the components of fee remain same for all the programmes offered by the university. Some are one-time paid such as caution deposit, library deposit and admission fee. Find below HPU fee for top courses:

Course Name	Total Tuition Fee
MBA	INR 4,800 - INR 1.4 lakh
BAMS	INR 1.7 Lacs - INR 3.1 lakh
B.Ed	INR 19,200 - INR 2.4 lakh
BA	INR 1,800 - INR 78,000
MSc	INR 2,400 - INR 1.8 lakh

Note: This information is sourced from official website/ sanctioning body and is subject to change.

The eligibility requirement for HPU UG courses is a minimum of Class 12. However, graduation is required for PG courses. Below is course-wise HPU eligibility for top programmes:

Course Name	Common Eligibility
MBA	Bachelor's degree with at least 50% aggregate (45% aggregate for SC/ ST candidates)
BA	Class 12 or an equivalent exam with at least 33% aggregate
B.Ed	Bachelor's degree (Medical/ Non-Medical/ Commerce/ Arts) or master's degree in Science/ Social Sciences/ Humanities/ Commerce or bachelor's in Engineering or Technology with specialisation in Science and Mathematics with at least 55% aggregate or 5.51 CGPA or Grade B+ (45% aggregate or 4.51 CGPA for SC/ ST/ OBC/ Physically Handicapped candidates)
BAMS	Class 12 or its equivalent exam with Physics, Chemistry, Biology which shall include a practical test in science subjects & English individually and must have obtained a minimum of 50% aggregate (40% aggregate for SC/ ST/ OBC)
MSc	Bachelor's degree of a University established by law in India (with the subject of study for MSc as one of the subjects) in 2nd Division or with at least 45% aggregate (40% aggregate in case of SC/ST candidates) or Honours in the subject concerned
BTech	Class 12 with Physics, Mathematics and any other elective subjects with at least 50% aggregate (45% aggregate for SC/ ST)
BCom	Class 12 or equivalent with Maths/ Economics as a compulsory subject

Himachal Pradesh University is recognised by UGC and NAAC. Also, HPU has a total of 7 institutes which include the Department of Evening Studies, HPU Business School, University Institute of Technology, HPU College of Business Studies, University Institute of Legal Studies, Institute of Tribal Studies, Institute of Vocational Studies. Since, it is a public state university, the programme fee is very less. 

Taking admission in HPU will also provide placement opportunities to students. The university conducts placement drive every year. According to Himachal Pradesh University NIRF report 2024, the median package offered during HPU Shimla BTech and MBA placements 2023 stood at INR 4 LPA and INR 5.5 LPA, respectively.

Himachal Pradesh University Cutoff 2024 has been concluded for admission to the MD courses, on the basis of candidates' performance in the NEET PG exam. As per the NEET PG exam cutoff list, the cutoff ranks for various MD courses closed at a range of 493 and 70375, for the General All India category candidates. The Cutoff was released for different categories under the All India quota. candidates can check the detailed category-wise cutoff ranks for HPU Cutoff 2024 on this page.

{Source: M.A. students & alumni}

After analyzing the reviews and feedback from students and alumni, here's a summary of what they have to say:

Pros:

* Knowledgeable faculty: Most reviewers praised the professors' knowledge and willingness to help students.
* Good infrastructure: The campus has modern amenities like Wi-Fi, smart classrooms, and a large library.
* Cultural activities: The university hosts cultural festivals and encourages students to participate in various competitions.
* High placement rate: Around 80% of students in the reviewer's batch got placed, although some may require additional qualifications.
* Affordable fees: With a relatively low annual fee of INR20,000, many students found it feasible to pursue the course.

Cons:

* Teaching methodology: Some reviewers felt that the teaching style could use improvement, suggesting more innovative approaches like using projectors.
* Limited direct placements: While most students got placed, some noted that these opportunities might arise outside of the college's efforts.

Verdict: Pursuing an M.A. at HPU seems worth considering, particularly for those interested in the field of English literature. Although some areas could use improvement, the university's strong faculty, good infrastructure, and affordable fees make it an attractive option. However, students should be aware that limited direct placements may exist, and they might need to explore alternative career paths or further education.