The University of Mysore operates the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA Mysore), a renowned institution in the areas of architecture and urban planning. Admission to these programmes at SPA Mysore is highly competitive to ensure that only the fittest candidates are selected. The institute has recognition by the Council of Architecture and thus has all standards in education.

For the prestigious Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch) course, SPA Mysore admits students on the premise of merit. This entails a selection process that relies most evidently on the performance in the qualifying examination as well as the National Aptitude Test in Architecture (that is, NATA).