'Star College Scheme is a unique programme sponsored by DBT to strengthen the academic and physical infrastructure for achieving excellence in teaching and training at Undergraduate level across the country. This programme also aims to enhance the quality of the learning and teaching process to stimulate original thinking through ‘hands–on’ exposure to experimental work and participation in diverse academic and research activities.'

'Star College Scheme is a unique programme sponsored by DBT to strengthen the academic and physical infrastructure for achieving excellence in teaching and training at Undergraduate level across the country. This programme also aims to enhance the quality of the learning and teaching process to stimulate original thinking through ‘hands–on’ exposure to experimental work and participation in diverse academic and research activities.' Sophia College was selected under the Star College Scheme of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India in the year 2015. The support obtained from this programme has helped in

• - Laboratory skill enhancement of the Undergraduate Science students
• - Academic enrichment of students and staff
• - Improved social interaction and environmental awareness
• - Innovative research activities
• - Communication skill development

This scheme greatly helped students of all undergraduate classes to develop their capacity building and skill enhancement through research projects, outreach activities etc. Faculty development programmes organized and attended by the staff members facilitated learning and application of various teaching pedagogies in their teaching.

The programme gives/lays a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary and collaborative activities. This has encouraged the departments under the scheme to come together and organize diverse training programmes and workshops etc. Seminars on various latest scientific topics are organized to help students and staff to be abreast with the current developments in science.

The UG student research work under the unique ‘Excellence in Science programme’ of the college, has received a boost with funding that was made available from the DBT . Students under this program were also able to present their research work at university level and state level in ‘Avishkar’ and other national and international conferences. Students' research work was also published in well – known/ popular national journals.

An in-house science newsletter, Spectrum, is published in collaboration with the Department of Life Sciences and Biochemistry, St. Xavier’s College. A new journal SCRIBE was also launched on 28th February, 2020, to mark the National Science Day.

After successful completion of 'Star College Scheme' Sophia College has been awarded the ‘Star Status’ grant in the year 2020.

The beneficiary departments have made extensive plans to augment the Star College programme especially to

• - Strengthen the existing outreach programmes/activities
• - Create resource material for E learning

The Star College scheme has been granted to four Science Departments viz Chemistry, Life Science, Microbiology and Composite department Comprising Biochemistry, Physics and Zoology.