CEPT University

Mission Statement

CEPT University advances excellence in education, research, and practice to shape creative leaders capable of addressing real-world challenges across products, projects, places, and processes. The University brings together the disciplines of architecture, planning, technology, design, and management in an integrated learning ecosystem.

Its studio-centred teaching programs foster critical thinking, professional judgment, and ethical responsibility, preparing graduates to engage meaningfully with complex spatial, social, and environmental contexts

International Role

As a university engaged in educating professionals, CEPT University recognises the importance of developing a considered worldview—one that connects an understanding of local contexts with an awareness of global perspectives, challenges and possibilities. Engagement with different cultures, academic traditions and professional practices enriches how we learn, teach, research and practice.

Established in 2013, the International Office at CEPT University began with a focus on student exchange and international learning opportunities. Over time, this engagement has grown to encompass a wider community of students, faculty, researchers, staff and practitioners, connecting people and institutions through shared interests and new possibilities for collaboration.

Through international partnerships, exchanges and collaborative initiatives, CEPT seeks to create opportunities for learning across cultures, disciplines and contexts. These engagements allow members of the CEPT community to encounter diverse approaches to education and practice, while bringing their own experiences and perspectives into dialogue with others. They also open avenues for collaborative research, new pedagogical approaches and professional engagement, connecting international relationships with the university's ongoing work in education, research and practice.

The International Office works to develop and sustain these relationships, support international visitors and students, and identify opportunities that respond to the evolving interests and aspirations of CEPT's academic community. The aim is not simply to build a wider international network, but to make these connections meaningful to the life and work of the university.

CEPT's international engagement is guided by three interconnected priorities:

01. Global Exposure and Engagement: Enable students, faculty, researchers, staff and practitioners to engage with diverse cultures, contexts and knowledge systems through international learning, research and professional opportunities.

02. Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration: Develop meaningful relationships among institutions, educators, researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas, explore different approaches and create opportunities for collaboration across education, research and practice.

03. A Globally Connected Campus: Engage an international community of learners, academics, researchers and professionals whose experiences, knowledge and perspectives contribute to the intellectual and cultural life of CEPT University.

Together, these priorities position international engagement as an integral part of CEPT's academic and institutional life—connecting local knowledge with global perspectives and creating opportunities to learn from, contribute to and collaborate with the wider world.

National Role

CEPT University was started as a School of Architecture in 1962 with support from the Ahmedabad Education Society. With the addition of new schools and programs every decade since then, it has evolved into what is today known as CEPT University. Through its academic program offerings and its research and advisory services, CEPT University has cemented its place as a recognized leader in the country in areas of architecture, planning, design, technology and management. CEPT’s consistent effort to strive for excellence has been acknowledged nationally and internationally through many awards and accolades:

• Accorded the status of Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India (2023)
• Accorded the status of Centre of Excellence by the Department of Education, Government of Gujarat (2022)
• Ranked consistently among the top 10 academic institutions in the country in the Architecture & Planning Category in the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) since 2020.
• Rated as a 5-star University in the Gujarat State Institutional Rating Framework (GSIRF) of the Government of Gujarat since 2020 and 5-star plus University in 2024
• CEPT laboratories are NABL Accredited (2023)

Main Focus

CEPT University advances excellence in education, research, and practice to shape creative leaders capable of addressing real-world challenges across products, projects, places, and processes. The University brings together the disciplines of architecture, planning, technology, design, and management in an integrated learning ecosystem.Its studio-centred teaching programs foster critical thinking, professional judgment, and ethical responsibility, preparing graduates to engage meaningfully with complex spatial, social, and environmental contexts

It has consistently ranked in the top 10 ranks in the national rankings of India since 2020. Moreover, the university has over 50 active exchange programs with leading universities across the world facilitating student and faculty mobility and research collaborations.

Established in 1962 as the School of Architecture, by the Pritzker Prize winning architect Dr. B V Doshi, CEPT University has been at the forefront of architectural education in the country. More recently, since 2015 the university offers among the most innovative and highly sought after programs in design.

CEPT University is deeply committed to high quality education focused on development of students’ abilities and critical-thinking through problem-based learning, hands-on skill building and experiential learning. CEPT University has a diverse student body of 2,000 students across its five Faculties. Its teaching and learning is supported by 100+ faculty members, 200+ visiting faculty and 200+ staff members. Its scholarship program, among the largest in the state, ensures that its education is affordable to a large section of the society.

CEPT’s faculty members are not only engaged in teaching and academic administration, they are also actively engaged in research and advisory work that is directly relevant to improving the towns and cities of India. To facilitate this, the CEPT Research and Advisory Foundation (CRDF) – a not-for-profit entity – was set up in 2013. Recently, CEPT University was the only private university among four in the country selected for an endowed Center of Excellence established by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs of the Government of India. This new center will focus on research and capacity building for India specific knowledge in Urban Planning and Design.