Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (SSLA), Pune is India's pioneering full-fledged liberal arts undergraduate programme (est. 2011). Admission is via the Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) followed by SSLA's Writing Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview. SSLA offers a flexible 3-year BA/B.Sc programme where students choose majors and minors across 20+ subjects spanning humanities, sciences and social sciences. The programme emphasises interdisciplinary thinking and prepares students for higher studies (MA/MBA/MFA) or knowledge-economy careers.
Exam Pattern
Mode:Online CBT (SET) + Writing Ability Test + Personal Interview
Marking Scheme:+1 for correct in SET, no negative marking; WAT and PI evaluated qualitatively
Sections
SET - English
16 Questions•16 Marks
SET - Quantitative Aptitude
16 Questions•16 Marks
SET - General Awareness
16 Questions•16 Marks
SET - Analytical & Logical Reasoning
12 Questions•12 Marks
SSLA Writing Ability Test
Essay + critical writing Questions•Holistic Marks
SSLA Personal Interview
Interest discussion Questions•Holistic Marks
Syllabus
SET - General Aptitude
English comprehension, grammar, vocabulary
Basic quantitative skills, percentages, data interpretation
Current affairs, GK
Logical reasoning, series, puzzles
WAT
Critical essay writing on current/philosophical topics
Articulation, structure, depth of thought
Eligibility Criteria
Passed Class 12 (any stream) with minimum 50% (45% reserved)
Must register for SET and select SSLA programme
Important Dates
SET registration
December 2026 (tentative - confirm on official website)
SET exam
May 2027 (tentative)
WAT + PI
May-June 2027 (tentative)
Application Process
Register on set-test.org and select SSLA Pune
Pay SET application fee
Take SET online
Shortlisted candidates attend SSLA WAT + PI at SSLA campus
Final admission based on composite score
💡 Preparation Tips
Read widely across genres - fiction, non-fiction, philosophy, current affairs
Write daily 500-word essays to prepare for WAT - structure, argument, clarity
For PI, identify your intellectual interests genuinely - SSLA values authentic curiosity
Stay up-to-date on contemporary debates: climate, AI ethics, gender, geopolitics
Be ready to discuss why a liberal arts degree over a specialised one
❓ FAQs
What is the BA/B.Sc Liberal Arts at SSLA?
A 3-year flexible undergraduate programme where students choose 1 major + 1 minor from 20+ subjects (Economics, Psychology, International Relations, Media Studies, History, English, Sociology, Anthropology, Environmental Studies, Maths, Physics, Bio, etc.). The BA or B.Sc designation depends on the major chosen.
Are placements good at SSLA?
SSLA reports 80%+ placement with consulting firms (KPMG/EY/Deloitte's strategy practices), analytics companies, media houses, NGOs/development sector, and many students pursue higher studies (Sciences Po, Ashoka, top MA programmes).