10 Oldest Universities in India

India is famous for many things, its culture, diversity and whatnot. Did you know that India is also home to many of the oldest in the world? These universities were established as early as the 1820s and are a significant part of India’s rich cultural heritage. So, give you more insight into it, here is a list of the oldest universities in India.

List of Oldest Universities in India

Senate of Serampore College (University)

Established in the year 1818, Senate of Serampore college is the oldest university in India which was given the status of a University in 1829. It was founded by Christian missionaries, William Carey, Joshua Marshman (1768-1837) and William Ward with an aim to educate the youth in the field of Christianity and Science. Till now this University has retained the essence with which it was established and continues to educate youth in subjects related to theology. The University offers a number of graduate, masters and PhD level courses in fields like psychotherapy , theology, missiology, Christian Studies, Bible translation and worship & music. 

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

With its aim “to attain global level of excellence in education and to create a sustainable and equitable society through innovative research in science and technology”, IIT Roorkee was established in the year 1847, making it one of the oldest universities in India. Indian Institute of Technology as the name suggests is an institution which offers technological education in varying fields. It is known as a trend setter in the fields of engineering, science and technology. The Institute offers Bachelor’s Degree in 10 Engineering disciplines and Architecture and Postgraduate Degree in 55 Engineering disciplines. 

University of Calcutta

The University of Calcutta founded in 1857 is one of the oldest universities in India. It was founded under the suggestion of the Court of Directors of the East India Company. The university was first established following the curriculum of the University of London and with time changes were in its constitutional framework. The University of Calcutta has departments in varying fields including agriculture, arts, law, commerce, social welfare, business management, technology and engineering. 

University of Mumbai

The University of Mumbai was established in the year 1857 with “The Fruit of Learning is Character and Righteous Conduct” as its motto. The university with its two campuses Thane Sub campus and Kalyan Sub campus with 711 affiliated colleges is one of the biggest Universities of Mumbai. The University offers a number of graduate and undergraduate courses and provides research opportunities in every field including science, commerce, arts, engineering, management and law. 

University of Madras

The University of Madras is also one of the oldest universities in India, established in the year 1857. With its motto of “Learning Promotes Natural Talent” it aims to create an environment of skills and proficiency throughout India. The University of Madras is spread across its six campuses in Chepauk, Marina, Guindy, Taramani, Maduravoyal and Chetpet. The University is majorly acclaimed for its national centres for advanced research in nanotechnology, photonics and neurotoxicity. It offers around 230 courses covering diverse fields like social sciences, humanities, science  management and medicine. 

Aligarh Muslim University

Aligarh Muslim University was first established in the year 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College and it acquired its present name in 1920. In the year, 2011 Aligarh Muslim University spread to other Indian states when it established it’s MBA and integrated Law centres in Kerala and West Bengal. It offers around 300 degrees offering courses in a wide range of technical, vocational and interdisciplinary subjects. 

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Panjab University

Panjab University was first established in Lahore in 1882 but after the partition, it was shifted to the Indian region of Chandigarh. It is one of the oldest universities in India and is a significant part of India’s cultural heritage because of the way it was impacted during the partition. With its motto “Lead us into the Light from Darkness”, the University has tried to spread education across India. The University is spread over the eight districts of Punjab state and has 78 working departments offering courses in both technical and arts-related fields. 

University of Allahabad

Established in the year 1887, University of Allahabad is one of the oldest universities in India. The University of Allahabad was once famous as the “Oxford of the East” and its motto is “As Many Branches So Many Trees”. The University has 5 facilities dealing with the fields of Science, management, arts, law and commerce. Being a Public University, it attracts students not only from all the Indian states but across the world and is known for the kind of environment that the University provides its students. 

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Banaras Hindu University

Banaras Hindu University, established in 1916 was earlier known as Central Hindu College, co-founded by the Maharaja of Darbhanga Rameshwar Singh, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Sunder Lal and Annie Besant. It’s one of the biggest residential universities in India with its motto “Knowledge imparts immortality”. It is spread across 140 departments, 6 campuses and 14 faculties specialising in a number of diverse fields including arts, commerce, agriculture, management and sciences. 

University of Mysore

The University of Mysore is one of the oldest universities in India, established in the year 1916 under the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The motto of the college is taken from the Bhagavad Gita and is translated as “Nothing compares with knowledge”.  It was the first University to be awarded a five-star position by the NAAC in 2000. The undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered by the university are related to Commerce management and IT fields focussing on providing both theoretical and practical skills to its students. 

So, these are the 10 oldest universities in India. They are not only popular in India but known throughout the world because of its heritage and Academic Excellence. If you need any career-related advice or guidance, feel free to get in touch with Leverage Edu experts.