Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani (shortened BITS Pilani or BITS) is an Indian institute of higher education and a deemed university under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956.[12] The university has 15 academic departments, and focuses primarily on undergraduate education in engineering and the sciences and on its management programme.[CITATION NEEDED] The institute was established in its present form in 1964. During this period, the institute's transformation from a regional engineering college to a national university was backed by G.D. Birla. BITS has established centres at Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad and Dubai. BITS conducts the all-India computerised entrance examination, BITSAT (BITS Admission Test),[13][14] Admission is merit-based, as assessed by the BITSAT examination.[15][16] The fully residential institute is privately supported.