University of Kashmir

University of Kashmir (UoK), informally known as Kashmir University (KU), is a public state university located in the Hazratbal neighbourhood, on the western side of Dal Lake in the city of Srinagar, in Jammu and Kashmir, India, which was established in 1948.

The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs in the fields of liberal arts, business, commerce & management studies, education, law, applied sciences & Technology, biological sciences, physical & material sciences, social sciences, medicine, dentistry, engineering, oriental learning, and music & fine arts. It was awarded Grade "A++" by the NAAC in June 2025. It was awarded rank 34 among universities in India by NIRF ranking 2025.

History

The inception of the University of Kashmir dates back to the establishment of Jammu and Kashmir University in 1948. In 1969, it was made into two full-fledged universities: University of Kashmir at Srinagar and University of Jammu at Jammu.

The University of Kashmir, since its establishment, has been focused at Hazratbal and encompasses three adjacent areas: Amar Singh Bagh, Naseem Bagh and Mirza Bagh. This campus is spread over 263 acres (1.06 km2). It is the largest university by a number of full-time students in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

A major part of Amar Singh Bagh and Naseem Bagh constitute the Hazratbal campus which is laid out on the northeastern bank of Dal Lake. Earlier, many postgraduate departments, research and other centres were housed in Naseem Bagh Campus. But the university resolved to develop Naseem Bagh into a heritage site and, thereafter, many departments were shifted to other areas of the Hazratbal campus. As of 6 July 2025 2025, Zakura Campus, which was being developed on 300 kanals of land in close proximity to Hazratbal campus to meet expansion requirements of the university, consists of the University's largest engineering academic hub i.e. Institute of Technology (IOT), which offers four-year B.Tech courses in Civil, Mechanical, Electronics and Communication, Electrical Engineering, 2 year M.Tech in E&C, Electrical and Mechanical and 4-Year B.S. through Design Your Degree, followed by other campuses which are also providing several PG/Integrated/UG Courses. Mirza Bagh or "University Town" constitutes buildings housing quarters for the university staff.

The idea of extending postgraduate programmes to colleges and establishing new campuses at Anantnag and Baramulla was conceived by the then Vice Chancellor Prof Raees Ahmad in 2002. He mobilised over 300 million for the development of the university from the prime minister's fund for the overall development of the main campus and the establishment of the new campuses. The foundation stones were laid by Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and the plans of buildings were approved. The locations of the campuses had to be changed because of likely floods. After Prof Tareen the development of campuses took a long time and became operational in 2008/2009. The new social science block, the life science block, the examination block, the humanities block, the distance education block, the media block and many other buildings were constructed in 2001 and 2004 during Prof Tareen's period out of the PMs special fund. The 200-capacity convention centre was also completed.

Present form

There are 14 schools, more than 50 academic departments, 21 centres, 36 colleges and six (privately managed) recognised institutes spread all over the state. The two largest departments in student enrolment include the School of Law and the School of Business Studies.

The School of Law, being one of the oldest academic departments, runs four full time academic programmes 3-Year LL.B (Hons.), 5-Year Integrated B.A.LL.B (Hons.), 2-Year LLM and Integrated Ph.D. The School's student body, "Law Society," actively organises debates, seminars, and moot court competitions. The School publishes a refereed research journal, Kashmir University Law Review (KULR).

The School of Business Studies consists of four academic departments, the largest one being the Department of Management Studies, which offers academic programmes like Integrated MBA, MBA-FM and MBA.

The other academic departments/research centers offer a variety of academic programmes through PG/UG/Integrated at Main and other satellite sampuses to meet the demand of the student community.

Campus

The university has 247 acres campus in Hazratbal. To make education more accessible to people living in remote areas of Kashmir Valley, the university has established satellite campuses at Zakura Campus (Zakura, Srinagar), North Campus (Delina, Baramulla), South Campus (Fatehgarh, Anantnag) and Kupwara Campus (Wayan, Kupwara).

Library

The university has a central library called Allama Iqbal Library. It is headed by the university librarian. It has a collection of over 600,000 books including 415 rare manuscripts. It was established to cater to the needs of scholars, researchers and students of the university. With the split of the university in 1969, the library was shared by the two universities (University of Kashmir and University of Jammu).

Hostels

The university provides residential facilities on a first-come-first-served basis to the teaching and non-teaching staff at Main Campus and Mirza Bagh Campus, as well as to students at the following-mentioned places. The hostels (boys'/girls') located at the Main as well as Zakura Campus, are directly supervised by the concerned Provost Office, while as those falling under the other satellite campuses are supervised and managed by the Hostel Allotment Committee of the concerned satellite campus.

In 2020, the varsity enacted a new hostel accommodation-cum-residential policy, superseding the previous 2018 policy.

Boys' hostels

• International Gani Kashmiri Hostel (Main Campus)
• Mehboob-ul-Aalam Hostel (Main Campus)
• Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri Hostel (Main Campus)
• Gani Kashmiri Hostel for Research Scholars (Zakura Campus)
• Shaikh-ul-Alam Boys (A) and (B) Hostels (Zakura Campus)
• Syed Meerak Shah Hostel (Zakura Campus)

Girls' hostels

• Habba Khatoon Hostel (Main Campus)
• Rabia Basiri Hostel (Main Campus)
• Qurat-ul-Aen Hostel (Main Campus)
• Bibi Amina Hostel (Main Campus)
• Lal Ded Hostel (Main Campus)

Affiliated colleges

The University of Kashmir has 45 affiliated and 21 constituent colleges.

• Constituent colleges
• Government Medical College, Srinagar
• Government Medical College, Handwara, Kupwara
• Government Medical College, Anantnag
• Government Medical College, Baramulla
• Government Dental College and Hospital, Srinagar
• Government College of Education, M.A. Road, Srinagar
• Institute of Music & Fine Arts, Srinagar
• Government College of Physical Education, Ganderbal
• DOEACC, Rangreth Srinagar
• Composite Regional Centre, Bemina By-pass, Srinagar
• S.S.M. College of Engineering, Pattan, Baramulla
• Kashmir Law College, Nowshera, Srinagar
• Vitasta School of Law & Humanities, Nowgam, Srinagar
• Sopore Law College, Sopore, Baramulla
• KCEF Law College, Payer Road, Pulwama
• Institute of Asian Medical Science Unani, Zakura, Srinagar
• Bibi Haleema College of Nursing and Medical Technology, Srinagar
• Kashmir Tibbia College, Hospital and Research Centre, Saida Kadal, Srinagar
• Kausar College of Computer Science, Nowshera, Srinagar
• S.E.M College of Education, Computer Science, Management Studies and Training, New Airport (IG) Road, Humhama, Budgam
• Max-Well College of Computer Science, Pulwama
• Iqbal Institute of Technology and Management, Laloo Sheshgaribagh, Hyderpora, Srinagar
• CASET College of Computer Science, Near Gole Market, Karan Nagar, Srinagar
• Master Institute of Information Technology, Pulwama
• Kashmir College of Engineering & Technology, Ranbirgarh, Srinagar
• Permanently affiliated government colleges

Organisation and administration

Core administrative officers

Section 9 of the Kashmir and Jammu Universities Act, 1969 (Act. No. XXIV of 1969) enumerates the university officers, namely the chancellor, pro-chancellor, vice‑chancellor, pro‑vice‑chancellor (if any), financial advisor, registrar, controller of examinations, joint registrar (if any), and other officers the statutes may prescribe

Chancellor: The university is headed by the lieutenant‑governor of the UT of J&K, who presides over University Council and convocations, and confirms honorary degrees.

Pro-chancellor: The chief minister, Government of J&K, acts as ex-officio pro‑chancellor. In the chancellor’s absence, he/she presides over Council/convocations. He/she holds inspection/inquiry powers into university affairs and may direct corrective actions.

Vice-chancellor (VC) The vice-chancellor is the principal executive and academic officer of the university, who is appointed by the chancellor in consultation with the pro‑chancellor from names recommended by a selection committee. Section 13 establishes the vice‑chancellor as the university’s principal executive and academic officer, chairing the Academic Council and other bodies in the absence of the chancellor and pro‑chancellor, and vested with authority to convene meetings, ensure compliance with all statutes and regulations, make necessary appointments, manage discipline, take emergency action, enforce decisions of statutory bodies, and delegate powers as prescribed.

Pro-vice-chancellor (PVC): Section 15 and related provisions confer on the pro‑vice‑chancellor such powers as may be assigned by the VC or can be prescribed in the statutes and regulations, always under the VC’s control. For a very long time, no one has been appointed as the PVC; the position has been remained vacant.

Financial advisor: Section 16 designates the Administrative Secretary, Department of Finance, Government of J&K (or his/her nominee), as the ex-officio financial advisor to the University, who supervises university finances, advises on budgetary policy, presents annual estimates and accounts, and may undertake additional duties prescribed by statutes.

Registrar (Reg) The registrar is appointed by the University Council on the recommendation of a selection committee. As a full‑time officer, the Registrar acts as the secretary to all major university bodies (Council, Syndicate, Academic Council, faculties, boards, etc.), controls ministerial and technical staff under the VC’s sanction, handles university records and property, manages financial transactions (collecting funds, disbursing payments, signing cheques), issues meeting notices, and supports the vice‑chancellor in all administrative duties. The statutes and regulations may allow further duties, and the registrar may delegate powers with VC approval. To keep it simple, the registrar is the chief of administration of the university.

Academics

University of Kashmir offers more than 100 academic programmes across more than 10 streams at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. Under undergraduate programme, the university offers three-year Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, 3-Year Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Science streams, four-year Bachelor of Technology and five-year integrated BA LLB courses in different specializations. Under postgraduate programme, the university offers two-year Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, MBA-FM, Master of Social Work, Master of Commerce, Master of Technology, Master of Pharmacy and Master of Computer Applications courses. These courses are offered by different schools of specialisations which fall under their respective departments and faculties.

Merit scholarships

Students selected for admission to various courses/programmes in the university are eligible to receive two merit scholarships which are paid to the top two merit holders. Merit scholarship in favour of previous year paid students is granted on the basis of merit in the entrance test to the course. In the final year, it is awarded on the basis of merit in the M.A/ MSc/ M.Com./ MLIS Previous/ 1st & 2nd semester examination. The scholarship is granted from the date of admission to the course up to the last date of the examination, subject to a maximum period of 12 calendar months.

Research scholarships

There are six departmental scholarships in each Department/Research Centre awarded for research leading to the award of PhD/M.Phil. degrees in addition to contingency grant payable annually for meeting miscellaneous expenses. The amount of scholarship paid to each selected scholar is Rs 10000/= per month for the period of maximum three years.

Students aid

The university has adopted a scheme called "Student Aid Fund" under which financial assistance is extended to students, particularly the meritorious ones from low-income groups. The Kashmir University Alumni Association also provides financial assistance to students with poor economic backgrounds with preference given to students who are orphans.

Rankings

Internationally, the University of Kashmir was ranked 451–500 in Asia in the QS World University Rankings for 2023.

In India, the QS World University Rankings ranked the University of Kashmir 56–60 and the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranked it 69th overall and 45th among universities in 2024.

Sports

The Directorate of Physical Education & Sports (DPE&S) was established in the university in the year 1948 with the objective of promoting sports culture among the youth for the overall development of personality. Since then, it has hosted various inter-university tournaments in various sports like water skiing, kayaking, canoeing, surfing, sailing, and dragon boating at zonal and national levels. The university students have also earned laurels to the university in International Winter Sports Championships. Adventure sports like mountaineering and trekking have also been introduced. Several training camps are also organised in the university to train the students pursuing different courses.

The university has cricket, hockey, football, volleyball, handball, baseball, tennis, and basketball courts/fields and gyms within the main campus, and is currently constructing a Multi-Purpose Indoor Hall

Currently, the Directorate is being looked after by a Coordinator - Dr. Surjeet Singh (Associate Professor), assisted by two Assistant Directors and technical staff.

Эх сурвалж: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)