Accepted entrance exams
Fees
Fees at SASTRA University for the Bachelor of Computer Applications [BCA] program include an annual tuition fee of Rs. 40,000, typically split into Rs. 20,000 per semester. In the first semester, the tuition fee is notably Rs. 24,750, followed by Rs. 20,000 for the rest of the semesters. Additional fees comprise an exam fee of Rs.
2,500 per semester, with a potential increase of Rs. 200 per paper for any arrears. The admission and registration fee totals Rs. 4,500, while a breakage fee, ranging from Rs. 100 to Rs. 500, is assessed at the end of each semester. Other fees include charges for the medical exam, department association, unit tests, personality development, sports, and games.
The university does not provide scholarships for this program.
About Bachelor of Optometry [B.Optom]
The Bachelor of Optometry (B.Optom) at SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, is a 4-year full-time programme offered in collaboration with the Elite School of Optometry (ESO), Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai - one of India's most prestigious institutions for optometry education with over 39 years of excellence. The programme spans 3 years of academics and 1 year of internship, with the first two years conducted at SASTRA's Thanjavur campus and the remaining two years at the Elite School of Optometry and Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai. The tuition fee is Rs. 55,000 per semester (with a 5% annual increase from Year 2), and the total course fee is approximately Rs. 4.40 Lakhs. The programme is popular for its unique dual-campus structure, strong clinical exposure at Sankara Nethralaya's branches, and excellent career prospects in the growing eye care sector.
Admissions for 2026 are currently open. Applications started on March 27, 2026, and are being conducted on a rolling basis. Admission is based on NEET UG 2026 scores (25% weightage) and normalised Class XII marks (75% weightage). Students who have not appeared for NEET are also eligible, with admission based on Class XII marks alone (75% weightage).
Key Points
- Unique dual-campus programme: First 2 years at SASTRA Thanjavur; next 2 years at Elite School of Optometry and Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai.
- Clinical rotations at all branches of Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, providing unparalleled hands-on clinical training.
- Curriculum covers Basic Sciences, Core Optometry, Applied Optometry, and Supportive courses.
- Elite School of Optometry (ESO) is one of India's oldest and most reputed optometry schools, established in 1986 under Sankara Nethralaya.
- SASTRA is NAAC A++ accredited, lending strong academic credibility to the degree.
- The programme includes a mandatory 1-year internship, ensuring graduates are job-ready.
- Graduates can pursue careers as optometrists in hospitals, eye clinics, optical retail chains, research, and academia.
SASTRA B.Optom Fees
The B.Optom programme at SASTRA University has a tuition fee of Rs. 55,000 per semester for the first year, with a 5% annual increase applicable from the second year onwards. Over 8 semesters (4 years), the total tuition fee works out to approximately Rs. 4,74,114. In addition, a one-time development fee of Rs. 10,000 and a special/registration/medical exam fee of Rs. 6,000 are payable at the time of admission, along with a sports and unit test fee of Rs. 1,000 per annum. The total mandatory course fee is approximately Rs. 4,94,114. Hostel accommodation is optional and available at SASTRA's Thanjavur campus for the first two years.
Fee Breakdown
| Fee Component | Amount (Rs.) |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fee - Year 1 (Rs. 55,000 x 2 semesters) | 1,10,000 |
| Tuition Fee - Year 2 (Rs. 57,750 x 2 semesters) | 1,15,500 |
| Tuition Fee - Year 3 (Rs. 60,638 x 2 semesters) | 1,21,276 |
| Tuition Fee - Year 4 (Rs. 63,669 x 2 semesters) | 1,27,338 |
| Total Tuition Fee (approx.) | 4,74,114 |
| Sports and Unit Test Fee (Rs. 1,000 per annum x 4 years) | 4,000 |
| Development Fee (one-time) | 10,000 |
| Special / Registration / Medical Exam Fee (one-time) | 6,000 |
| Total Fees (approx.) | 4,94,114 |
Hostel Fees
| Room Type | Non-AC (per annum) | AC (per annum) |
|---|---|---|
| Single Room | Rs. 25,000 | Rs. 80,000 |
| 2-in-1 | Rs. 20,000 | Rs. 60,000 |
| 3-in-1 / 4-in-1 | Rs. 16,000 | Rs. 55,000 |
| Single (Bath Attached) | Rs. 30,000 | Rs. 90,000 |
| 2-in-1 (Bath Attached) | Rs. 26,000 | Rs. 65,000 |
| 3-in-1 / 4-in-1 (Bath Attached) | Rs. 22,000 | Rs. 55,000 |
- Hostel is available at SASTRA Thanjavur campus for the first two years of the programme.
- For Years 3 and 4 at Chennai, students need to arrange private accommodation.
- Food charges at Thanjavur are approximately Rs. 5,000 per month (dividing system), for approximately 10 months per year.
- No donation or capitation fee is charged.
- Admissions are purely merit-based.
- Refund and cancellation policy is as per statutory body guidelines and SASTRA's academic calendar.
- The fee figures above are approximate due to the 5% annual increase; students should verify the exact fee schedule from the official SASTRA admissions office.
SASTRA B.Optom Admission 2026
Admissions to the B.Optom programme at SASTRA University for 2026 are open and being conducted on a rolling basis. The admission process is based on a combined merit score derived from NEET UG 2026 scores (25% weightage) and normalised Class XII marks (75% weightage). Students who have not appeared for NEET are also eligible, with admission based on Class XII marks alone. The entire admission process is 100% online.
SASTRA University Admission Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Portal Opens | March 27, 2026 |
| Mode of Admission | Rolling Admissions (NEET score + Class XII marks) |
| Admission Process | Online (Application - Admission - Fee Payment - Enrolment) |
| Batch Commencement | July 2026 (tentative) |
NEET UG Exam Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| NEET UG 2026 Registration Start | February 8, 2026 |
| NEET UG 2026 Registration End | March 8, 2026 |
| NEET UG 2026 Admit Card | April 30, 2026 (tentative) |
| NEET UG 2026 Exam Date | May 3, 2026 |
| NEET UG 2026 Answer Key | June 6, 2026 (tentative) |
The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates must have passed Class XII (10+2) from a recognised Central/State Board with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics or Physics, Chemistry, and Biology with excellent performance.
- Computer Science students with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are also eligible.
- All UG applicants should not have completed 19 years of age as on August 1, 2026.
- A minimum of 60% aggregate in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics/Biology in Class XII is required.
Admission Process
- Visit the SASTRA admissions portal at www.sastra.edu and submit the online application form starting March 27, 2026.
- Enter NEET UG 2026 scores and Class XII marks in the application form.
- Combined merit score is calculated: (0.25 x NEET Score) + (0.75 x Normalised Class XII Aggregate).
- Students who have not appeared for NEET will be ranked based on Class XII marks alone (75% weightage).
- Applicants are called for counselling based on the combined merit score / SASTRA Rank.
- Complete the online fee payment and enrolment process as per the instructions in the admission letter.
- The entire process - application, admission, fee payment, and enrolment - is 100% online.
SASTRA B.Optom Scholarships 2026
SASTRA University offers merit-based scholarships to deserving students across all programmes. The university follows a transparent, merit-only admission and scholarship policy with no capitation fees. Scholarships are primarily in the form of tuition fee concessions awarded based on academic performance. Government scholarships are also available for eligible students.
Scholarship Details
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Dean's Merit List Scholarship | Top 2% of students in each semester based on CGPA | Tuition fee concession (two-fifth or one-fifth of semester fee) |
| Merit-Based Tuition Fee Concession | Based on Class XII / qualifying exam performance at the time of admission | Partial tuition fee waiver (amount varies by merit rank) |
| AICTE Yashasvi Scholarship Scheme | SC/ST/OBC/EWS students meeting AICTE criteria | As per AICTE norms (renewable annually) |
| Central / State Government Scholarships | As per eligibility (SC/ST/OBC/Minority/EWS) | As per respective government scheme norms |
- Dean's Merit List scholarships are awarded after each semester based on CGPA performance.
- Merit-based fee concessions at the time of admission are based on Class XII aggregate scores.
- Students must apply separately for government scholarships through the respective portals (NSP, state scholarship portals, etc.).
- Scholarship amounts and conditions are subject to change; students are advised to verify current details from the official SASTRA admissions office.
SASTRA B.Optom FAQs
Ques. Is the B.Optom at SASTRA conducted entirely at the Thanjavur campus?
Ans. No. The first two years of the programme are conducted at SASTRA's Thanjavur campus, while the third and fourth years (including the internship) are conducted at the Elite School of Optometry and Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai. Students need to arrange their own accommodation in Chennai for the last two years.
Ques. Is NEET mandatory for admission to the B.Optom programme at SASTRA?
Ans. NEET is not mandatory but is given 25% weightage in the combined merit score. Students who have not appeared for NEET are still eligible and will be ranked based on their Class XII marks alone (75% weightage). However, having a good NEET score improves your chances of admission.
Ques. What is the scope of B.Optom after graduation from SASTRA?
Ans. Graduates can work as optometrists in hospitals, eye clinics, optical retail chains (like Titan Eye+, Lenskart, etc.), and research institutions. They can also pursue M.Optom for specialisation, or appear for licensing exams to practice independently. The growing demand for eye care professionals in India makes this a promising career.
Ques. What is the clinical exposure like in this programme?
Ans. Students get extensive clinical training at Sankara Nethralaya, one of India's premier eye hospitals, during Years 3 and 4. As part of clinical rotations, students are posted at all branches of Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai, providing exposure to a wide range of eye conditions and patient volumes.
Ques. What is the difference between B.Optom at SASTRA and a regular B.Optom at other colleges?
Ans. The key differentiator is the collaboration with Elite School of Optometry (ESO) and Sankara Nethralaya. ESO has 39+ years of experience in optometry education and is associated with one of India's top eye hospitals. This gives SASTRA B.Optom students a significant advantage in terms of clinical training quality and industry recognition.
Ques. Can I pursue M.Optom after completing B.Optom from SASTRA?
Ans. Yes. SASTRA also offers an M.Optom programme in collaboration with the Elite School of Optometry. Candidates with 60% or more in B.Optom or an equivalent optometry programme are eligible to apply. Admission is based on an entrance examination and interview conducted at the Elite School of Optometry, Chennai.