Some of the well-known education providers in Kashmir: NIT Srinagar, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, University of Kashmir, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir.

Kashmir has also been witnessing a growth in the distance education system. A variety of distance education courses are provided by
institutions. This has benefited many candidates hailing from remote villages. Applicants have a great opportunity of getting into good colleges in
Kashmir. Its popularity is increasing with regards to quality education imparted in these institutes. In this article, we have mentioned the top 5
universities in Kashmir.

1- National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar

NIT, Srinagar is the most popular engineering college in Kashmir. It is a public institute which functions under the MHRD. It offers both UG and PG as well as Ph.D. courses on its campus. The university has 8 engineering departments- Chemical, Civil, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics and Communication, Mechanical, Metallurgical and Information Technology. It also included 4 physical science departments for Math, Physics, Chemistry, and Humanities.

The admissions to the B Tech programs are done by CSAB on the basis of JEE Main scores. In 2016, NIT, Srinagar closed at an AIR of 46826 for the General category. Applicants who wish to pursue the M Tech course must clear GATE and secure a good rank. The institute offers M.Sc. programs in 4 streams. For admission to this course, students must clear JAM and participate in its common counseling.

A number of companies visit this institute for offering job placements. Students have placed all over the country as well as abroad. The highest
package offered was around INR 13 lakh with INR 5 lakh being the average. Companies like Mu Sigma, IBM, L&T Info, Polaris and Reliance Jio Infotech recruit candidates of NIT, Srinagar.

2- Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST)

SKUAST is a renowned university that has several agricultural science courses. It has multiple campuses but the campus of Srinagar and Jammu is preferred by most applicants. It offers UG, PG and Ph.D. courses in various fields like Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Veterinary Sciences, and Forestry. Candidates can also pursue engineering in agricultural sciences in this university.

SKUAST university conducts its own entrance exam. Admissions to all courses are done on the basis of scores obtained in this exam. Aspirants
must fill in the online application form to appear for the exam. The application process will commence from the 2nd week of April.

The exam will be held in June for UG courses and in July for PG courses. The institute admits only Jammu & Kashmir residents (or J & K origin) for its UG course. Aspirants have to attend the counseling session and will be offered seats based on merit.

3- University of Kashmir

Kashmir University is one of the largest public universities. The university has several campuses but the main school is located in Srinagar. It has a number of departments which offer UG, PG and Doctorate programs in different fields. Faculty of Law and Business School are the departments which have the highest number of student enrolments.

The university conducts its own entrance exam for admission to various courses. Eligible aspirants should apply for the exam. The syllabus and exam pattern will be given on the official website of the university. They must obtain a positive score in order to qualify the exam. Seats will be offered based on merit and preferred stream and campus.

The University of Kashmir provides a lot of scholarship opportunities for good students. Merit scholarships are offered to the top 2 scorers of the
entrance test. Applicants pursuing Ph.D. and M Phil degrees are given research scholarships. Student aid is provided to meritorious candidates of low- income groups.

4- Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University is a popular choice for engineering aspirants. It offers various programs in the streams of science,
management, philosophy, engineering and other contemporary subjects.The business department has been ranked within 100 by the National
Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).

Many individuals are admitted into the engineering and architecture programs each year. Admissions are offered based on JEE Main scores and
counseling is conducted by CSAB. For MBA course, aspirants should clear CAT/ MAT and appear for the other rounds of selection. PG seats of other streams are filled on the basis of national level entrance exams.

This university does not have any reserved seats. There is no reservation quota for any category of applicants and seats are allotted solely on the basis of merit. It also has a Student Assistantship Program. In this program, the top 10% candidates in each class are awarded a scholarship. They also receive a tuition fee waiver ranging from 50- 100% provided students fulfill
the merit restrictions.

5- Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri

Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University offers UG and PG courses in several streams. It has 8 schools of studies- Engineering & Technology, Mathematical & Computer Sciences, Management Studies, Bio- Sciences & Biotechnology, Islamic Studies & Languages, Education, Nursing & Biomedical Sciences and Social Sciences.

Candidates who wish to get into this Institute must appear for its entrance test. Admission to M Phil and Ph.D. courses will be done on the
basis of scores obtained in the qualifying bachelor’s exam. This university is becoming popular amongst applicants from all over India due to the variety of programs offered by it.

The institute has a fully functioning Training and Placement Cell. It also organized various job fairs, campus drives, industrial visits and summer
internships for candidates. Companies like ICICI Prudential, HCL, PEPSI, HDFC bank and Capgemini to offer jobs to the university students.