Nestled in the picturesque Coastal Town of Dakshina Kannada, Ujire has evolved from a quiet village into a thriving educational and spiritual hub, serving as a cornerstone of the Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Educational (SDME) Society’s mission. Located just around 8 kilometers from Dharmasthala, Ujire has become intrinsically linked with the philanthropic and educational legacy of Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade and the Heggade family, who envisioned transforming rural youth through accessible, quality education.
The town represents the intersection of tradition and modernity, where ancient values of learning and community service coexist with contemporary academic facilities. Today, Ujire stands as a hotspot for rural educational excellence, hosting a diverse ecosystem of institutions, from primary schools through postgraduate centers
The story of SDM College, Ujire, is one of bold vision meeting rural necessity. Established in 1966 by Late Shri D. Ratnavarma Heggade, the college was conceived as a transformative solution to the educational limitations facing rural youth in coastal Karnataka. At a time when higher education seemed accessible only to those willing to migrate to distant cities, Shri Ratnavarma Heggade’s decision to establish a degree college in the remote village of Ujire was met with considerable skepticism. Despite prevalent doubts about changing rural mindsets, securing qualified faculty, and maintaining university-standard infrastructure, he continued. Initially housed within Siddhavana Gurukula and affiliated to Mysore University, the college relocated to its current campus in 1971.
Under the continued guidance of Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, current Dharmadhikari of Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala SDM College, Ujire, has flourished into one of the region’s most respected institutions. The college attained academic autonomy in 2008 and is recognized as a research center for both Mangalore University and Kannada University, Hampi. Accredited with an A++ Grade by NAAC in its fourth cycle, the campus, nestled at the foothills of the Western Ghats, provides a serene yet intellectually stimulating environment where more than 3,000 students pursue higher education across diverse disciplines. The college also maintains a strong infrastructure with research laboratories, sports facilities, arboretum, multimedia centers, studio facilities, robust internet connectivity, WiFi access, and recreational amenities.
AT A GLANCE
- NAAC A++ Accreditation with recognized Research Center status for Mangalore University and Kannada University, Hampi.
- Recognized as ‘College with Potential for Excellence’ by UGC.
- Exceptional sports achievements including 73 National medals and 6 Ekalavya Awards from Government of Karnataka.
- World Record holder for shortest drama “Mahakaala” (17 seconds) recognized by Golden Book of World Records.
- 4 National level, 26 State level awards received by the NSS Units.
- NIRF Rank 200-300 band and top rankings from different surveys.
- Government-recognized Arboretum as a Center for Bio Diversity Conservation.
- Free Hostel facility for sports students.
PROGRAMS OFFERED
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
• B.A.
• B.Sc.
• B.Com.
• B.C.A.
• B.B.A
• B.Voc. in Digital Media & Film Making
• B.Voc. in Retail & Supply Chain Management
• B.Voc. in Software & App. Development
POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS
• M.A. in English
• M.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication
• M.Sc. in Psychology
• M.Sc. in Chemistry
• M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry
• M.Sc. in Biotechnology
• M.Sc. in Physics
• M.Sc. in Statistics
• M.Com.
• M.Com. (IBM)
• M.S.W.
DOCTORAL PROGRAMS
• Ph.D. (through affiliated universities)
