List of Colleges in Srinagar 2026: Top Colleges & Universities

Searching for a reliable list of colleges in Srinagar for 2026? Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, has a central engineering institute (NIT Srinagar), the state's highest-ranked university (University of Kashmir), a major medical institute (SKIMS), the government medical and dental colleges, an agricultural university (SKUAST-Kashmir) and several government degree colleges that are more than 60 years old. This guide covers the top colleges in Srinagar by stream, with NIRF 2025 ranks, admission routes, locality and official websites.

Two universities that many Srinagar students consider, the Islamic University of Science & Technology (Awantipora) and the Central University of Kashmir (Ganderbal), are just outside the city. They are included here and clearly marked as "nearby".

Top 10 colleges in Srinagar at a glance

NIRF ranks below are from the NIRF 2025 India Rankings (released on 4 September 2025), which is the latest edition we could confirm from independent sources. "Not ranked" means we found no confirmed rank for that institute in the 2025 lists.

Universities in and around Srinagar

University of Kashmir

The University of Kashmir (KU) is the oldest and largest university in the Valley, with its main campus beside Dal Lake at Hazratbal. In NIRF 2025 it moved up to 34th in the University category (from 45th in 2024) and 59th Overall, and it was 8th among state public universities. In June 2025 it received a NAAC A++ grade (CGPA 3.68) in its fourth accreditation cycle.

• Established: 1948 (as University of Jammu & Kashmir; KU took its current form in 1969)
• Type: State public university; it also affiliates most degree colleges in the Kashmir division
• Popular courses: MA, M.Sc, M.Com, MBA (Business School), MCA, LLB/LLM, B.Tech at its Institute of Technology, Zakura
• Admission: university entrance tests and merit lists for most PG courses; check the yearly prospectus
• Approx. fees: low, in line with state university norms; check the official notice

SKUAST-Kashmir

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir has its main campus at Shalimar, with faculties of veterinary science, fisheries and forestry elsewhere in the Valley. It placed 7th in the NIRF 2025 Agriculture & Allied Sectors list and entered the Overall top 100 for the first time at 94.

• Established: 1982
• Popular courses: B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture and Horticulture, B.V.Sc & AH, B.Sc Forestry, B.F.Sc, M.Sc and PhD
• Admission: SKUAST entrance test for most UG courses; some seats through national quotas

Islamic University of Science & Technology (nearby)

IUST is in Awantipora, Pulwama district, roughly 30 km south of Srinagar. It made its NIRF debut in 2025, placing in the 151–200 band in both the University and Engineering categories and in the 51–100 band among state public universities.

• Established: 2005
• Popular courses: B.Tech (civil, mechanical, electrical, CSE, ECE), B.Sc, MBA, M.Sc, PhD
• Admission: JEE Main and JKBOPEE routes for B.Tech, university tests for many PG courses

Central University of Kashmir (nearby)

The Central University of Kashmir was set up in 2009 and now runs from its campus at Tulmulla in Ganderbal district, north of Srinagar. As a central university, it fills most UG and PG seats through CUET. We found no confirmed NIRF 2025 rank for it.

Engineering colleges in Srinagar

NIT Srinagar

NIT Srinagar began in 1960 as a Regional Engineering College and became a National Institute of Technology in 2003. In NIRF 2025 it ranked 73rd in Engineering, up from 79th in 2024, and stayed in the 101–150 band Overall. Its campus is at Hazratbal, close to the Dal Lake shore and the University of Kashmir.

• Type: Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Education
• Popular courses: B.Tech in CSE, ECE, electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical, metallurgy and IT; M.Tech; PhD
• Admission: JEE Main rank through JoSAA counselling (home-state and other-state quotas apply)
• Approx. fees: standard NIT fee structure with income-based tuition waivers; check the current fee notice

Medical and dental colleges in Srinagar

SKIMS Soura

SKIMS opened in 1982 and is the main tertiary-care and super-speciality hospital of the Valley. It runs postgraduate and super-speciality programmes at Soura, and its undergraduate MBBS course is at SKIMS Medical College, Bemina. SKIMS has filed NIRF data, but we could not confirm any NIRF 2025 Medical rank for it in two independent sources, so it is shown as "Not ranked".

Government Medical College Srinagar

GMC Srinagar, established in 1959, is the oldest medical college in Jammu & Kashmir and is affiliated to the University of Kashmir. Associated hospitals include SMHS Hospital and several speciality hospitals in the city. MBBS seats are filled through NEET-UG: 15% via the all-India quota (MCC) and the rest via JKBOPEE counselling. Seat intake has changed in recent years, so check the NMC list for the current number.

Government Dental College Srinagar

The Government Dental College and Hospital at Shireen Bagh, Karan Nagar, was established in the mid-1980s and is affiliated to the University of Kashmir. It offers BDS and MDS through NEET.

Arts, science and commerce colleges in Srinagar

Sri Pratap College

Founded in 1905, SP College is one of the oldest colleges in the region and is known mainly for science. Since 2016 it has been a constituent college of the Cluster University of Srinagar, which handles its admissions and examinations.

Amar Singh College

Amar Singh College started in 1913 as the Amar Singh Technical Institute and became a degree college in 1942. Its stone heritage building at Gogji Bagh is a city landmark. Like SP College, it is now part of the Cluster University of Srinagar.

Islamia College of Science & Commerce

Islamia College at Hawal in the old city was established in 1961 and is a UGC-recognised autonomous college affiliated to the University of Kashmir. It is popular for B.Sc and B.Com, and runs a few professional and postgraduate programmes.

Government College for Women, Nawakadal

Set up in 1961 in downtown Srinagar, this women's college offers BA, B.Sc and B.Com programmes and is affiliated to the University of Kashmir.

Management, law and other specialised institutes

• Management: The Business School of the University of Kashmir (MBA) and the management departments of NIT Srinagar and IUST are the main options. Note that the nearest IIM is IIM Jammu, in Jammu, not Srinagar.
• Law: The School of Law at the University of Kashmir and the Central University of Kashmir (Ganderbal) offer LLB/integrated law programmes.
• Fashion and design: NIFT Srinagar offers B.Des and B.F.Tech through the NIFT entrance exam; its campus is at Ompora, Budgam, close to the city.

How admission works in Srinagar

Most admissions in Srinagar depend on a national or UT-level entrance test. Here is the usual route by stream:

1. Engineering: Take JEE Main. NIT Srinagar seats are filled through JoSAA and CSAB. B.Tech seats in UT colleges and some university departments are filled through the JKBOPEE CET and JKBOPEE counselling.
2. Medical and dental: Qualify NEET-UG. 15% of government MBBS/BDS seats go through MCC (all-India quota) and the rest through JKBOPEE counselling for UT domiciles.
3. Central university courses: Apply through CUET-UG or CUET-PG for the Central University of Kashmir and some other central institutions.
4. Agriculture and allied: Appear for the SKUAST entrance test (or ICAR AIEEA for all-India quota seats).
5. General degrees (BA/B.Sc/B.Com): Apply online through the Cluster University of Srinagar or through the University of Kashmir affiliated-college admission portal, based on Class 12 marks.
6. Postgraduate: KU and IUST hold their own entrance tests for many PG courses; NIT Srinagar uses GATE for M.Tech.

How to choose the right college in Srinagar

• Match the stream first: NIT Srinagar for engineering, SKIMS/GMC for medicine, SKUAST for agriculture and veterinary science, and KU for most PG programmes.
• Read NIRF ranks carefully: A rank only compares institutes within the same category and edition. Many good local colleges simply do not take part in NIRF.
• Check approval: Medical and dental seats should appear in NMC/NDC lists, and engineering programmes should be AICTE-approved or run by an INI.
• Think about travel: IUST, CUK and NIFT are outside city limits, so factor in hostel availability and commuting in winter.
• Plan for the weather: Some Kashmir institutions follow a different academic calendar with winter breaks, so check the session dates.

Scholarships for Srinagar students

Students from Jammu & Kashmir have access to both national and UT-specific funding:

• PM Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS): Run by AICTE for J&K and Ladakh domiciles who study outside the UT. It covers academic fees up to a fixed cap (about ₹30,000 a year for general degrees, ₹1.25 lakh for professional courses and ₹3 lakh for medical courses) plus a maintenance allowance of up to ₹1 lakh a year. Registration for the 2026-27 cycle opened in July 2026; renewals go through the National Scholarship Portal. Check the official AICTE PMSSS portal for the current notice.
• National Scholarship Portal (NSP): Central sector, post-matric and minority scholarships for students in J&K colleges.
• J&K UT schemes: Social Welfare Department scholarships for SC/ST/OBC and economically weaker students, announced each year.
• Merit scholarships: Students can also compete for the AISEE scholarship for college students, a national merit-based exam for Class 12 and college students.

For a wider list, see our guide to scholarships after 12th in India. Medical aspirants can also read about scholarships for medical students.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best college in Srinagar?

It depends on the stream. NIT Srinagar is the top engineering institute (NIRF 2025 Engineering rank 73), the University of Kashmir is the best-ranked university (NIRF 2025 University rank 34), and SKIMS and GMC Srinagar are the leading medical institutions.

What is the NIRF 2025 rank of the University of Kashmir?

The University of Kashmir ranked 34th in the University category and 59th in the Overall category of NIRF 2025. It was also 8th among state public universities.

How can I get admission to NIT Srinagar?

You need a valid JEE Main rank and must take part in JoSAA counselling (and CSAB for leftover seats). Seats are split into home-state and other-state quotas, so closing ranks differ for J&K and non-J&K candidates.

Is AIIMS Awantipora open for MBBS admission in 2026?

We found no official confirmation. As of October 2026, construction was reported at about 78%, with completion targeted for December 2026 and the OPD expected to start soon. Check the MCC counselling seat matrix before believing any claim about MBBS seats there.

Which medical colleges are there in Srinagar?

The main ones are Government Medical College Srinagar, SKIMS (with SKIMS Medical College at Bemina) and Government Dental College Srinagar for BDS. All admit through NEET.

Can Srinagar students get PMSSS if they study in Srinagar?

No. PMSSS is meant for J&K and Ladakh domiciles who take admission in eligible colleges outside the UT. Students studying in Srinagar can apply for NSP and J&K UT scholarships instead.

Which colleges come under the Cluster University of Srinagar?

Its constituent colleges are Sri Pratap College, Amar Singh College, Government College for Women (M.A. Road), Abdul Ahad Azad Memorial College (Bemina) and the Institute of Advanced Studies in Education.

Conclusion: Choosing from the list of colleges in Srinagar

This list of colleges in Srinagar shows a city with strong options in every major stream: NIT Srinagar for engineering, the University of Kashmir and SKUAST-K for research and higher studies, SKIMS and GMC for medicine, and century-old colleges like SP College and Amar Singh College for general degrees. Check the latest NIRF rankings, confirm admission details on each official website, and plan your funding early. A good next step is to try the AISEE free test series to prepare for scholarship exams alongside your entrance tests.