Bengaluru’s public universities are facing a decline in postgraduate admissions, prompting several departments to intensify marketing efforts to attract students. At Bengaluru City University (BCU), some programs like environmental science and political science, with a combined intake of 73 seats, have attracted only six students each. Other programs such as mass communication, sociology, and fashion design are also struggling with low enrolment, while more in-demand fields like computer science and social work are seeing better numbers.
Lingaraju Gandhi, Vice Chancellor of BCU, noted that postgraduate education is losing appeal, with many students opting for job-oriented undergraduate courses instead. To address this, departments are turning to innovative approaches, including brochures, social media reels, and videos. For example, the English department at BCU worked with an ad agency to create a video that boosted applications significantly.
The Mass Communication and Journalism department also used social media to showcase student work and testimonials, which garnered attention and increased interest in their program. Faculty members visited affiliated colleges to spread awareness and inform potential applicants about scholarships.
In an effort to ease financial barriers, Bangalore University’s computer applications department introduced installment payment options for students. This initiative has proven successful, with a significant portion of students choosing the installment option.
The challenges facing public universities include competition from private institutions, the need for improved infrastructure such as college buses, and a robust placement cell. Faculty members stress that these issues need to be addressed to make postgraduate courses in public universities more appealing to students.
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