EASWARI SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS (ESLA), SRM UNIVERSITY-AP, AMARAVATI

The Easwari School of Liberal Arts (ESLA) at SRM University-AP

The Easwari School of Liberal Arts (ESLA) at SRM University-AP brings the humanities and social sciences into a research-oriented academic ecosystem, advancing the university’s broader commitment to multidisciplinary education. Established as one of the university’s constituent schools, ESLA reflects the belief that dealing with contemporary challenges entails an extensive understanding of society, culture, history, economics, politics, language, and human behaviour, and not just scientific and technological expertise. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum, inquiry-driven pedagogy, and a strong emphasis on critical thinking, ESLA prepares students to become informed citizens, ethical leaders, and lifelong learners.

The school’s academic philosophy rests on the founding principles of liberal arts education – intellectual curiosity, analytical reasoning, and evidence-based inquiry. Rather than restricting students to narrow disciplinary boundaries, the school encourages them to explore connections across multiple fields of knowledge, a philosophy which is in line with SRM University-AP’s commitment to multidisciplinary education and the broader targets of India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates flexibility, holistic learning, research, and innovation.

The school offers undergraduate programmes across disciplines within the humanities and social sciences, including English, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, and Media Studies. Students begin with a broad academic foundation before progressing into their chosen disciplines through structured coursework, electives, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities. The curriculum is formulated to balance conceptual understanding with hands-on application, enabling students to engage with contemporary issues through multiple academic perspectives.

Under the mission “Crafting Selves, Curating Leaders,” the school offers 3-Year B.A./B.Sc. and 4-Year B.A./B.Sc. (Honours with Research) degrees, alongside M.Sc. programmes — including specialised, AI-integrated M.Sc. degrees in Psychology and in Economics — and Ph.D. programmes. Admission is merit-based: undergraduate applicants require a minimum of 60% aggregate marks in Class 12, with CBSE, ISC, State Board, and CUET qualifications accepted; doctoral admission is based on UGC-NET qualification, or on the SRM AP entrance examination followed by an interview. Applications open early summer, typically in the month of March, with rolling admissions continuing late into the season. The school supports 100% tuition-fee waiver merit-based scholarships with international universities, field immersion projects, and structured placement support in corporate, research, and public policy sectors. Teaching and research are anchored by a distinguished faculty body drawn from globally ranked universities, including Harvard, Columbia, NYU, UCL, and UC Berkeley, among others, bringing international academic perspectives and rigour directly into the classroom.

Students who opt for the honours-with-research pathway, offered in accordance with University Grants Commission guidelines, gain additional research training that strengthens their preparation for postgraduate study and independent scholarship. This reflects the university’s broader institutional goal of producing graduates who contribute to society through knowledge creation, innovation, and ethical leadership.

Pedagogy at ESLA moves past conventional lecture-based instruction. Faculty members draw on seminars, structured classroom discussions, collaborative projects, presentations, analytical writing, and research-based assignments to develop independent thinking. Students are encouraged to question assumptions, interpret evidence, evaluate diverse viewpoints, and communicate their ideas with clarity and self-assurance. A learner-centred approach like this promotes intellectual engagement while strengthening academic and professional competencies.

Research and Interdisciplinary Learning

Research is a defining feature of the ESLA experience. As part of SRM University-AP’s research-intensive environment, students are introduced to scholarly inquiry early in their academic journey. Research methodology, academic writing, literature review, and project-based learning help develop rigorous analytical skills. Faculty mentorship provides opportunities for students to participate in independent research and disciplinary exploration, supporting the university’s wider commitment to knowledge creation alongside knowledge dissemination.

One of ESLA’s greatest strengths is its interdisciplinary environment. Students benefit from studying within a university where engineering, science, management, entrepreneurship, and liberal arts coexist on the same campus. This proximity creates opportunities for collaboration across schools, allowing students to appreciate how humanistic inquiry complements scientific and technological innovation, an experience that develops graduates who can approach complex global challenges from multiple perspectives while integrating multiple frameworks and dimensions into decision-making.

The academic environment is supported by modern learning resources and campus infrastructure. Students have access to library collections, digital learning resources, academic journals, collaborative learning spaces, and university-wide seminars and workshops, alongside facilities such as the Centre for Interdisciplinary Media Studies and dedicated laboratories for Econometrics, Language, and Psychology. Guest lectures, conferences, cultural events, and interdisciplinary interactions further enrich the educational experience by exposing students to scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and industry professionals. These engagements encourage intellectual curiosity and broaden students’ understanding beyond the classroom.

Holistic development remains central to the educational philosophy of ESLA. Along with academic excellence, the school encourages communication skills, leadership, teamwork, creativity, ethical reasoning, and social responsibility. Participation in cultural activities, student organisations, academic clubs, and community engagement initiatives enables learners to translate classroom knowledge into meaningful real-world experiences while fostering personal growth.

Graduates of ESLA carry forward a set of transferable competencies — research training, analytical thinking, strong communication, and cultural awareness — that prepare them for careers in media, public policy, education, civil services, corporate communication, publishing, and development work. Equally important, the research orientation of the curriculum provides a firm foundation for postgraduate study and advanced scholarship.

Taken together, ESLA’s curriculum, its research-informed pedagogy, its interdisciplinary setting, and its emphasis on holistic student development position it as a distinctive model within Indian liberal arts education. The school’s structure reflects a deliberate institutional choice: rather than treating the humanities and social sciences as a supplement to technical and professional training, ESLA positions them as a rigorous discipline in their own right, taught with the same expectations of research depth, methodological grounding, and intellectual accountability found elsewhere on campus.

By combining intellectual rigour with practical relevance, the school prepares graduates equipped not only with disciplinary knowledge but with the analytical, communicative, and ethical grounding to engage seriously with the complexity of contemporary society. As liberal arts education in India continues to develop as a distinct academic pathway, ESLA’s model — grounded in interdisciplinary inquiry, sustained research training, and close integration with a broader multidisciplinary university — offers a demonstrable framework for how such institutions can combine academic ambition with measurable outcomes for their graduates.

Note: This page switches from ESLA to the School of Engineering and Sciences (SEAS), SRM University-AP. I am retaining it because it is physically included in the uploaded PDF.

The school has also secured research grants from a range of government bodies, international agencies, and industry partners, including the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and Amara Raja Batteries. With a strong focus on student-led innovation and hands-on learning, the school encourages active participation in technical clubs, interdisciplinary forums, innovation projects, conclaves, and exhibitions — giving students valuable platforms to showcase research prototypes and real-world solutions.

Placements, Higher Studies and Entrepreneurship Excellence

The School of Engineering and Sciences has recorded successful placements, startup ventures, and a higher acceptance rate of up to 100% at top QS-ranked universities worldwide, since the university’s inception.

A strong collaboration with 1200+ recruiters, including renowned MNCs such as Barclays, Microsoft, Toshiba, BOSCH, J.P. Morgan, BNY Mellon, Deloitte, Autodesk, IBM, etc., guarantees students’ placement success. SRM AP engineering graduates are placed with an average package of Rs 9.59 LPA, with the record-highest package of Rs 55 LPA. 120+ students have received international offers from Japan, Sweden, Australia, USA, etc.

The university also has a startup ecosystem that features a Technology Business Incubator – the Hatchlab Research Centre (HRC), which is recognised as an MSME and awarded as a Centre under the MeitY GENESIS Scheme. 1200+ students are engaged in entrepreneurship, with 240+ student entrepreneurs, 33+ startups onboarded, and 51 students shortlisted for a minor in Entrepreneurship.

Admission Process and Eligibility Criteria

The school conducts SRMJEEE for all registered and eligible candidates applying for Engineering programmes.

Candidates who have acquired a minimum aggregate score of 60% in both Class X and XII in Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry/ Computer Science/ Information Technology/ Informatics Practices/ Engineering Graphics can apply for B.Tech. programmes at SEAS.

B.Sc., M.Sc. and M.Tech. admissions are based on meeting the eligibility conditions and performance in the interview. Candidates with a minimum aggregate score of 60% in both Class X and XII can apply for B.Sc. programmes, and candidates with a minimum aggregate score of 60% in both Class X, XII and a relevant UG Degree can apply for M.Sc. and M.Tech. programmes.

What sets the School of Engineering and Sciences apart is its distinctive approach to education – immersive, participatory learning, a rigorous curriculum, world-class facilities, and thriving partnerships with globally renowned universities. SEAS serves as a foundational pillar for SRM University-AP’s mission to develop technologically adept, industry-ready, and innovation-focused graduates with a strong focus on interdisciplinary learning.

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