Declining PG Enrolment at Karnatak University Amidst Rising Competition and Faculty Shortage
PG admissions slide at Karnatak University as competition, faculty gaps bite
The Times Of IndiaImage: The Times Of India
Karnatak University in Dharwad, India, is experiencing a decline in postgraduate enrolment due to increased competition from nearby universities, a significant faculty shortage, and a shift towards skill-oriented courses. Enrolment dropped from 3,623 students in 2023-24 to 3,058 in 2025-26, prompting the university to implement reforms to attract students back.
- 01Postgraduate enrolment at Karnatak University has decreased significantly over the past three years.
- 02A shortage of faculty, with nearly 70% of positions vacant, is affecting the university's appeal.
- 03Students are increasingly choosing local colleges for convenience and job-oriented courses.
- 04Affiliated colleges are seeing a rise in PG admissions, contrasting with the university's decline.
- 05The university plans to introduce reforms, including industry-oriented training and AI integration in curricula.
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Karnatak University, located in Dharwad, India, is facing a notable decline in postgraduate enrolment, attributed to rising competition from new universities and local colleges, alongside a severe faculty shortage. Enrolment figures dropped from 3,623 in 2023-24 to 3,334 in 2024-25 and further to 3,058 in 2025-26, leaving many departments with nearly half their seats vacant. Courses like Sanskrit and foreign languages are particularly affected, while high-demand programs such as MBA and Mathematics continue to fill seats. Faculty members report that the university's traditional catchment area has diminished, as students now prefer institutions closer to home. With 70% of faculty positions vacant, academic quality has suffered, further diminishing the university's attractiveness. In contrast, affiliated colleges have seen an increase in PG admissions, rising from 3,768 in 2023-24 to 4,609 in 2025-26, indicating a shift towards decentralised higher education. To combat this trend, the university plans to introduce industry-oriented training and integrate artificial intelligence into its curricula, aiming to enhance student appeal and improve enrolment figures by the 2026-27 academic year.
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The decline in enrolment may affect the university's funding and reputation, potentially leading to fewer resources for students and faculty.
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