Upgrad online
Mumbai Maharashtra
Digital Learning and Upskilling Platform UpGrad (abbreviated for UpGrad) is one of India's top digital upskilling and learning platforms with specialisation in offering industry-specific certificates, diplomas, degrees, and executive programs in collaboration with the world's top universities.
UpGrad stands out by focusing on bridging the industrial-academic gap through the provision of intensive syllabus development, 1:1 mentoring, real-time projects, peer networking, and career advisory services. With its innovative online platform, students from everywhere in India (and globally) can access quality education anywhere, anytime
UpGrad is not merely another old-fashioned online academy—it is an educational ecosystem that includes university partnerships, industry collaborations, and student support infrastructure.
The platform offers degree, diploma, and certification programs in domains such as Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, MBA/Management, Marketing, Software & Technology, Law, Education, and more.
The uniqueness of UpGrad lies in its emphasis on learning in the real world with live projects, mentorship, hackathons, case studies, and capstone projects that mimic industry issues. You're not passively watching pre-recorded lectures as a learner—you're engaged with faculty, mentors, peer cohorts, and even industry experts through webinars and live Q&A. UpGrad also has career support services like resume building, interview coaching, and matching with recruiters when you finish the course.
As upGrad is not an official university, it won't be included in university ranking lists. However, what is essential to prospective students is:
Ranking of Partner Universities: The majority of upGrad courses have partner universities that do appear in QS, THE, or country-specific rankings. You need to list these ranking credentials along with each partner in your course listings.
Program Outcome / Placement Ranking & Metrics: Since you can't present upGrad in a conventional university ranking, you have to focus on program-level outcome metrics: % placements, salary growth, and number of hiring partners. For example, some reports indicate that upGrad's MBA programs attain a ~85% placement rate.
External Press & Growth Recognition: For example, upGrad's expansion in Asia and strategic changes reflect market confidence. Reuters recently reported that upGrad is adding to its Asia/Middle East presence as U.S. universities are facing the constraints of visas and cost pressures.
UpGrad’s catalogue of top courses reflects current demand in industry and emerging domains. Below is a representative list (with approximate durations/features) drawn from UpGrad’s offerings.
Domain / Discipline | Flagship Course(s) | Format / Duration | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
Data Science / AI / ML | Master’s Degree in Data Science & AI, Executive PG Programs | 6–24 months | Live projects, capstone, mentorship |
MBA / Management | MBA (various partner universities) | 12–24 months | Industry case studies, placement support |
Software & Tech | Full‑Stack Dev, Cloud & DevOps | 6–12 months | Hands-on labs, coding assignments |
Marketing / Digital Marketing | Advanced Certificate, Executive Programs | 6–12 months | Campaign projects, simulation tools |
Law / Education | LLMs, M.Ed, Ed.D | Varies | University-affiliated degrees, legal/pedagogic focus |
Despite upGrad being a platform in lieu of one university, it has received several awards, both as an EdTech leader and via the success of its partner programs. Some relevant awards and recognitions are:
Ranked the top higher EdTech platform in South Asia on its About page (self-aggrandisement)
Included in industry lists and media reports (Economic Times, Forbes) as a top EdTech/upskilling platform
Leadership and founder-level awards: Ronnie Screwvala has been named one of Asia's 25 Most Powerful People by Fortune magazine
Company-level partnership awards and in-house partner recognition (especially through its GSP / partner interface)
Institutional media reportage of scaling, growth, investment, and technological adoption (e.g. Microsoft collaboration)
To provide a credible timeline, you would mention the Establishment Year of upGrad to be 2015. The founders initiated the platform and officially launched their programs during this year. Having "Founded: 2015" prominently displayed on your GetYourCollege.in website does a couple of things:
UpGrad online courses recognition can be looked at from two angles: institutional (partner university) recognition and industry/employer recognition. Partner University Recognition, many programs under upGrad are delivered in collaboration with known, accredited institutions, and such recognition carries over to the students. For example, a degree that is awarded via a UK or Australian partner—or an Indian university recognised by the UGC or AICTE—is internationally or domestically accredited. If you post recognition on your site, list partner universities and declare their accreditation, global ranking, and recognition status. Industry & Employer Recognition upGrad also claims widespread recognition in the mainstream corporate world, through its 1400+ hiring partners network (as per its About page), strong alumni placement rates, and business press reputation. UpGrad's expansion into Asia/the Middle East also reinforces that employers view its credentials as trustworthy.
Financial assistance is a key concern for students. UpGrad online courses provide several types of scholarships, fee concessions, and payment facilities to enable their courses to be accessible. Some of the well-known scholarship / financial facilities are:
Merit-based Scholarships & Early Bird Discounts — providing discounts for deserving candidates based on marks or early enrollment
Need-based Waivers — limited waivers considering the economic background
Partnership Scholarships — subsidised seats or special scholarships in partnering universities for underrepresented applicants
EMI / Instalment Plans — instalment payments of program fees in instalments over months by the candidates
Corporate Sponsorship / Employer Reimbursement — partial or complete sponsorship by the employer for working professionals to join
Additionally, upGrad often runs scholarship drives and festive promotions. On their Free Courses webpage, they also emphasise free certificate courses, which serve as a testament of trust and credibility for students to initiate their learning process.
Admission requirements for upGrad online courses differ based on the level of the program, discipline, and partner university. This is how it breaks down:
Certificate & Executive Short Programs
Usually need a Bachelor's or equivalent degree
Exceptions are acceptable for professionals with relevant strong experience in certain programs
Merit-based (work experience, academics) often
The least amount of screening or interview in most situations
Postgraduate Diplomas / Advanced Programs
Bachelor's in a relevant or related field
Minimum academic mark (e.g. 50% or equivalent)
Work experience is needed for certain programs (mostly management or executive streams)
May entail a video interview or screening
For international collaboration, English proficiency test scores may be required
Full Online Degrees / Master's
Strong undergraduate foundation in the related area
Work experience is typically preferred or required (especially for MBA / Executive programs)
English test scores (if the program is international)
Screening rounds/interview in some cases
UpGrad also typically requests standard documents, including transcripts, degree certificates, identity proof, resume, and photo.
One of the greatest advantages of upGrad online degrees is the list of hiring companies that hire its alumni. According to its About page, upGrad has 1400+ hiring partners.
While the precise lists may differ, typical recruiters include tech firms, consulting firms, analytics startups, finance firms, product teams, and corporates in common industries. For promotions and alumni stories, you would find companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Accenture, Deloitte, etc.
Unlike many e-learning platforms that issue only platform certificates, upGrad’s top-tier courses are co-branded with partner universities that have academic recognition. That means learners receive real university credentials.
Courses are designed in consultation with industry experts, so you learn not only theory but domain tools, frameworks, and real projects. This ensures your portfolio is job-ready.
upGrad supports asynchronous video lectures, weekend sessions, and modular content—allowing a working person to balance work and study.
The presence of Rekrut, mentorship, placement drives, and alumni networks gives upGrad an edge over many MOOCs or generic certificate providers.
Having built a scalable tech backbone (e.g. Microsoft integrations) and with millions of learners globally, upGrad is more than a startup — it's a mature platform capable of supporting high-volume online education.
With presence in news, industry coverage, founder reputation, and expansion into international markets (e.g., Asia/Middle East), upGrad’s brand gives confidence to learners investing in online education.
With merit-based scholarships, EMI plans, and financial flexibility built in, upGrad lowers the barrier to entry.
You should include on your site a side-by-side comparison: upGrad vs typical MOOCs vs conventional university distance programs. Then, conclude why upGrad is a smart choice for learners who seek both flexibility and legitimacy. Also, link internally to reinforce your site’s internal structure.
Feature | upGrad online courses | MOOCs / Generic Platforms | Traditional University Distance / On-campus |
|---|---|---|---|
Degree / Credential | University-affiliated degrees & certifications | Platform certificates | Full degrees/ diplomas |
Industry Alignment | High (projects, mentors) | Variable | Moderate to high (depends on institution) |
Flexibility | Very high (modular, part-time) | Very high | Moderate based on course scheduling |
Placement Support | Strong via upGrad Rekrut + mentorship | Usually limited | Depends on the institution’s career services |
Recognition | University + platform brand | Platform brand only | Institutional brand |
Cost / Financing | Scholarships, EMI | Mostly lower cost or subscriptions | Usually high fees, limited financing |
Tech Infrastructure | Built for scale, security | Varies | It may not always be optimised for online |