Frequently Asked Questions

Stride is India's first AI-native business school. We offer a 3-year UG Management Program in AI and Data Science designed for students who want to use AI to analyse, decide, and ship real work, not just study theory about it. The program is designed from scratch for the post-AI world, where every business professional needs AI fluency as their operating system.

Yes. Stride is a full-time, on-campus undergraduate program. There is no correspondence, online, or distance-learning option. You'll be on campus 5–6 days a week, working on projects, attending sessions, and collaborating with your cohort.

You will receive a BBA degree: a fully recognised undergraduate qualification from a university-affiliated, AICTE-approved campus. The program you complete is the UG Management Program in AI and Data Science.

Yes. The program runs in partnership with AICTE-approved campuses affiliated with recognised state universities. Your degree is valid for all purposes: higher education (MBA, MS, CA), government jobs, and competitive exams.

Absolutely. Your BBA degree is recognised by all Indian universities and institutions. You can appear for CAT, GMAT, GRE, or any other entrance exam.

Stride is led by Piyush Nangru (Founder) and Anmol Jain (Founding Director). Piyush spent 7+ years in higher education, co-founded Vedam, and helped build a network that has trained 20,000+ students across multiple campuses in India. Anmol spent nearly a decade leading Product and AI at a leading higher education company, where he embedded AI into how business teams worked and saw firsthand how it transformed their output. Together, they designed Stride from scratch, not as an iteration of an existing program, but as a rebuild for the post-AI world. Full bios are on the About page.

Stride is a brand of SET Education Technology Pvt. Ltd., backed by institutional investors who have funded some of India's most prominent companies. WestBridge Capital (Freshworks, CRED, Meesho), Prime Venture Partners (Niyo, Darwinbox), Alteria Capital (Lenskart, Nykaa), and SAAMA are among the investors in SET Education's parent company, which has over 7 years of experience in higher education and 20,000+ students trained across multiple campuses.

Any student who has passed or is appearing for Class 12th from a recognised board (CBSE, ICSE, State Boards, NIOS) is eligible to apply. There is no stream restriction: Commerce, Science, and Humanities students are all welcome.

We look for curiosity, initiative, and the ability to think, not just marks. While there's no hard cutoff to apply, our selection process (S-BAT + Personal Interview) is designed to identify students with genuine problem-solving ability and interest in working with AI.

Yes. You can apply and complete the entire admission process while your results are pending. If selected, your admission will be confirmed once your Class 12th results are declared and the final marksheet is submitted.

No. This is a business program, not a computer science degree. You don't need to know how to code. What we teach is AI fluency for business: using AI tools to analyse, decide, and deliver. If you've ever used ChatGPT, Canva, or played around with AI out of curiosity, you already have the right starting instinct.

Yes. Many of our applicants are students who've appeared for competitive entrance exams. Your S-BAT performance and Personal Interview are what determine your admission at Stride. Other exam results are not required. You can apply regardless of how those exams went.

Yes, you can apply. However, you would need to join from Year 1 at Stride. Credits from your current program may not be transferable. If you feel the program you're in isn't the right fit, we encourage you to apply and go through the process.

The process has five steps: (1) Register: complete the online application at strideschool.ai/apply. (2) S-BAT: take the Stride Business & AI Test, our entrance assessment. (3) Personal Interview: a 20-25 minute video conversation with our founding team. (4) Counselling: a session with your parents and our team to discuss the program and answer questions. (5) Admission: receive your offer and confirm your seat.

S-BAT stands for Stride Business & AI Test. It is a 90-minute test with 50 questions across three sections: Section A: Verbal & Logical Reasoning (15 questions), Section B: Quantitative Aptitude (15 questions), and Section C: AI & Business Thinking (20 questions). Total marks: 200. The test evaluates how you think, not what you've memorised.

The next S-BAT is scheduled for 18th May 2026. Registration closes on 17th May 2026 at 11:59 PM IST.

Yes, the S-BAT is conducted online. You can take it from home using a laptop or desktop with a working webcam and stable internet connection. The test is proctored. You cannot take it on a phone or tablet.

There's no textbook for this. Section C tests your curiosity about AI and business, not technical knowledge. If you follow what's happening in the world of AI, how businesses are using it, what tools exist, what's changing, you'll do well. Think of it as a test of awareness and judgement, not rote preparation.

Shortlisted candidates advance to the Personal Interview stage. The PI is a 20–25 minute video conversation. Not a stress test, but a real conversation. We want to understand what excites you, what you've tried on your own, and how you think about problems.

Online, via video call. You can attend from home or anywhere with a stable connection. It runs 20–25 minutes. Come ready to talk about yourself, your interests, and what you want from the next three years.

You learn business: finance, marketing, strategy, operations, data, communication. The same fundamentals every strong business professional needs. The difference is how you learn them. At Stride, AI isn't a separate subject. It's embedded in everything. You analyse a P&L with AI. You size a market with AI. You create a campaign, run a strategy session, evaluate a business — all with AI as your operating system. By graduation, what takes a traditional BBA graduate three days takes you thirty minutes. And every semester, you ship real projects, not presentations, not case studies, but working tools and systems that live online, that anyone can click and see. You graduate with 25+ of them.

No. This is a business degree with deep AI fluency, not a B.Tech or computer science program. You'll learn to use AI tools the way a business professional should: to analyse data, automate workflows, create dashboards, and make better decisions. You'll be comfortable with tools like Excel, SQL, and AI platforms, but the goal is business impact, not writing code for a living.

Every semester, you ship working projects, not presentations, not case studies. In Year 1, you might create a pricing tool for a local business. In Year 2, a market analysis dashboard for a startup. By Year 3, you're running a full client engagement or launching your own venture. Each project has a live link your parents can click and see. This portfolio becomes your biggest career asset.

You'll complete 14 industry certifications across three years, from Google, IBM, Microsoft, HubSpot, Semrush, and more. These are real, industry-recognised credentials, not internal certificates. Exam days are built into the semester schedule, and all certification costs are included in your program fee.

Yes. Every student receives an Apple MacBook as part of the program. It is included in your fees. You don't pay extra for it. It's a professional tool, not a perk. You'll use it every single day across every subject.

Year 1 - Discover: Master AI tools, learn business fundamentals, and ship your first projects. You go from zero to fluent.

Year 2 - Execute: Deep-dive into industry verticals, finance, marketing, and strategy. Ship projects for real external clients. Generate real revenue.

Year 3 - Emerge: Specialise, deploy AI systems for real businesses, complete paid internships, and graduate placement-ready with a portfolio that speaks for itself.

Yes. The AI tools listed in each semester reflect current industry standards: what professionals are actually using today. We update them as the AI landscape evolves, not on a fixed schedule. The core skills, business thinking, data analysis, and problem-solving, remain constant regardless of which AI tools are in use. Tools change; the ability to learn and apply new ones is what we're really building.

Yes. Paid internships are a part of the program. By Year 3, you'll have a strong enough portfolio and professional presence that internship opportunities follow naturally. The program is designed so that your work, not just your resume, opens doors.

Stride's faculty is a mix of industry practitioners and experienced academics. AI skills and applied practice are taught by professionals who actively work in tech, analytics, consulting, and startups. The university curriculum is taught by qualified academics who ensure you meet all degree requirements. No subject is taught by someone who hasn't done it in the real world.

Stride has two campuses: HiTech Group of Institutions, Ghaziabad in Delhi-NCR, and Rathinam School of Business, Bangalore. Both are fully equipped campus facilities with classrooms, labs, libraries, and common areas.

Yes. Both campuses have hostel facilities available for students who need accommodation. Hostel fees are separate from tuition fees. Details on hostel charges and facilities will be shared during the counselling stage.

Yes, intentionally. We run a high-quality program with a low student-to-faculty ratio, not a mass-enrollment operation. The batch is small enough that your faculty and founding team know you by name.

Yes. You indicate your campus preference during the application process. The curriculum and program quality are identical across both campuses. The choice is about which city works better for you and your family.

The total program fee is ₹10,00,000 (10 lakhs), paid across three years: Registration ₹30,000 + Year 1 ₹3,70,000 + Year 2 ₹3,00,000 + Year 3 ₹3,00,000. This includes your Apple MacBook, access to all AI tools and platforms, and the full curriculum. Hostel and mess charges are separate.

Yes. Stride offers merit-based scholarships that can significantly reduce the effective fee. Scholarships are awarded based on your S-BAT score, interview performance, and academic record. Details are shared during counselling. Scholarships apply to tuition fees only, not hostel or mess charges.

Yes. We partner with leading education loan and EMI providers to make the fees manageable. Once you're selected, our team will walk you through all available financing options and help you find the plan that works best for your family.

Everything you need: tuition for all 6 semesters, an Apple MacBook, access to premium AI tools and platforms, university examination fees, and all learning materials. The only additional costs are hostel, mess (if applicable), and personal expenses.

The combination of AI fluency, business thinking, and a portfolio of shipped projects prepares you for roles that companies are actively struggling to fill: people who can analyse data, use AI tools to make decisions, and deliver outcomes from Day 1. The market for this skill set is growing faster than any traditional business role. What matters isn't a title on a placement list. It's that you graduate with proof of what you can do.

SET Education's parent company has placed candidates in companies like Razorpay, Meesho, LatentView Analytics, Fractal, Zepto, and other high-growth startups and analytics firms. The roles Stride graduates are prepared for, like analyst, strategy, and founder's office, are among the fastest-growing in India's tech and startup ecosystem.

Fair question. We'd ask you to evaluate three things: (1) The skills we teach, data analysis, AI tools, business thinking, project delivery, are independently verifiable as high-demand skills. Look up any job board. (2) You graduate with a portfolio of 25+ live projects that any employer can click and review. That portfolio is yours regardless of what we do. (3) SET Education's parent company has over 7 years and 20,000+ students of track record in higher education, backed by institutional investors. Come to a counselling session, ask hard questions, and decide for yourself.

A traditional BBA graduate has a degree and maybe an internship. A Stride graduate has a degree, 25+ shipped projects, a live portfolio, AI fluency across business functions, and the ability to walk into a company and contribute from Day 1. The identity isn't "I have a BBA." It's "I build decision systems for businesses."

Yes. But placement support at Stride doesn't mean a placement cell that sends your resume in bulk. It means three years of creating a portfolio, developing a public professional presence, and working with real businesses. By the time you graduate, companies already know what you can do. We'll actively connect students with opportunities, but the strongest placement lever is the work you'll have shipped.

Yes. We encourage campus visits. Get in touch with our team at +91-9277-30-30-30 to schedule a visit at either the Ghaziabad or Bangalore campus.

Call us at +91-9277-30-30-30 or email connect@strideschool.ai. Every inquiry gets a direct, human response. No call centres, no automated replies.