N Satvika set herself on fire inside her room, inspector K Ramesh of Miyapur police station said.
The deceased apparently did not want to stay at the hostel, police said.
"She was good at studies and her attendance in the class was also good," Ramesh said.
It was not clear what liquid material she used to immolate herself and traces of the liquid found near the body had been sent to forensic science library. Probe is on.