Deemed university, or Deemed-to-be-University, is an accreditation awarded to higher educational institutions in India, conferring the status of a university. It is granted by the Department of Higher Education. To quote the MHRD, "An Institution of Higher Education, other than universities, working at a very high standard in specific area of study, can be declared by the Central Government on the advice of the UGC, as an Institution ‘Deemed-to-be-university’. Institutions that are ‘deemed-to-be-university’ enjoy academic status and privileges of a university."