Established In: January 1857Main Campus: Ashutosh Shiksha Prangan, College Street
Streams: Arts & Humanities, Science, and Commerce
Highlights: Recognized as Centre of Excellence by UGC (the University Grants Commission) and accredited with ‘Five Star’ status by NAAC (in 2001).
Calcutta University is one of the most prestigious and oldest universities in India. The University was founded on January 24, 1857, on the suggestions of Court of Directors of the East India Company, to the Governor General of India in council. It was initially formed as the replica of the University of London, however gradual changes were introduced and the syllabus and the pattern was revised in accordance with the set up of India. The present central campus of the university is in College Street and named Ashutosh Shiksha Prangan. Its other campuses are in Rajabazar , Ballygunge, Alipore, Hazra and South Sinthi.
The brilliance, prestige and premium quality of education have been the three mottos of the University of Calcutta, since its inception. This fact can be amply testified by the recognization of the University as Centre of Excellence by UGC (the University Grants Commission) and accreditation of ‘Five Star’ status by NAAC (in 2001). The exhaustive list of the alumni of Kolkata University include scholars like Noble laureate Amartya Sen, the great Indian freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose, scholars like Radhakrishnan, CV Raman, and JC Bose and many other eminent national and international political figures.
There are umpteen courses in Calcutta University, in all the three streams - Arts & Humanities, Science, and Commerce, at the graduate, post graduate and research levels. Professional courses, like Journalism, IT, Applied Economics & Information Practices, Foreign Language Courses, Linguistics and Business Administration, are also offered by the University. The present strength of Kolkata University is over one lakh students, including the graduate and post-graduate students. Admissions are subject to the University's jurisdiction and granted on the basis of either marks or entrance exam, depending upon the rule prevalent in case of the prescribed curriculum.
