•Adaptive thermal comfort field study was conducted for subjects at a high metabolic rate.•About 92% and 68% students were found comfortable during autumn and winter season, respectively.•Accepted mean airspeed for male was higher than female (AVSm = 0.29 m/s; AVSf = 0.17 m/s)•Seasonal comfort temperature varied by more than 5°C.•Subjects are found to be more sensitive towards outdoor temperature fluctuations. An adaptive thermal comfort study was carried for assessing the thermal comfort requirements of students working in naturally ventilated (NV) university workshop building in the composite climate of India over two seasons (Autumn and Winter). 1332 complete surveys, 516 and 816 from autumn and winter season, respectively were collected and analyzed. A maximum of 70% of subjects were found voting comfortable when indoor temperature varied from 28°C to 32°C. During the autumn season, the mean comfort temperature was about 5°C higher than the winter season. Also, female subjects had about 1.5°C higher comfort temperature compared to male subjects. Further, an attempt has been made to present an adaptive model for university students engaged in activity corresponding to machine work. The results were also compared with international thermal comfort standards. The results showed that students are more sensitive towards the fluctuations of outdoor conditions compared to the subjects in office and residential buildings. Moreover, subjects have shown better thermal adaptability towards prevailing mild cold climatic conditions through behavioural and clothing adjustments.