University of Kashmir facts for kids
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| Motto | From Darkness to Light |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1948 |
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Parent institution
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Government of Jammu and Kashmir |
| Accreditation | NAAC Grade A++ |
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Academic affiliations
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| Chancellor | Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir |
| Vice-Chancellor | Nilofer Khan |
| Students | 100000+ |
| Location |
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
,
India
34°07′57″N 74°50′15″E / 34.1325°N 74.8375°E |
| Campus | Urban, 247 acres (1.00 km2), 400 |
| Language | English, Kashmiri, Urdu |
The University of Kashmir (often called Kashmir University or UoK) is a large public university in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. It was started in 1948 and is located near Dal Lake in the Hazratbal area.
This university offers many different study programs. You can study subjects like arts, business, law, science, and engineering. In June 2025, it received a high rating of "A++" from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). It was also ranked among the top universities in India by NIRF in 2024.
Contents
A Look Back: University History
The University of Kashmir began as part of the Jammu and Kashmir University in 1948. Many talented people have studied here and gone on to do great things. In 1969, this university split into two separate universities: the University of Kashmir in Srinagar and the University of Jammu in Jammu.
The University of Kashmir is mainly located in the Hazratbal area. This campus covers a large space of about 263 acres. It is the biggest university in Jammu and Kashmir based on the number of students.
The Hazratbal campus includes areas like Amar Singh Bagh and Naseem Bagh. Naseem Bagh is being developed as a heritage site. The university has also expanded to a new area called Zakura Campus. This campus has the Institute of Technology (IOT), which offers engineering courses. There are also buildings for university staff.
In 2002, there was an idea to open more study programs in colleges and build new campuses. This led to the creation of the South Campus in Anantnag in 2008 and the North Campus in Baramulla in 2009. A campus in Kupwara is also now open. Some campuses, like those in Kargil and Leh, joined the University of Ladakh after 2019.
What the University Offers Now
The University of Kashmir has 14 main Schools and over 50 academic departments. It also works with 36 colleges and 6 other recognized institutes across the state. Two of the largest departments are the School of Law and the School of Business Studies.
The School of Law is one of the oldest departments. It offers different law degrees, including a 5-year combined B.A.LL.B. The students have a "Law Society" that organizes debates and competitions.
The School of Business Studies has four departments. The Department of Management Studies is the largest. It offers different MBA programs.
Other departments and research centers offer many different courses. These courses are available at the main campus and other smaller campuses. They help meet the needs of many students.
University Campus Life
The main university campus in Hazratbal is 247 acres. To help students in far-off areas, the university has opened smaller campuses. These include Zakura Campus in Srinagar, North Campus in Baramulla, South Campus in Anantnag, and Kupwara Campus.
The University Library
The university has a main library called Allama Iqbal Library. It has over 600,000 books, including 415 rare old writings. This library helps students and researchers with their studies. When the university split in 1969, the books were shared between the University of Kashmir and the University of Jammu.
Student Hostels
The university offers places to live for its staff and students. Students can stay in hostels at the Main Campus and Zakura Campus. There are also hostels at the other smaller campuses.
The university has a policy for how students can get a place in the hostels.
Hostels for Boys
- 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)
Hostels for Girls
- 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)
Colleges Connected to the University
The University of Kashmir has 45 colleges that are "affiliated" with it. This means these colleges follow the university's rules and offer its degrees. It also has 21 "constituent" colleges, which are more directly part of the university.
Some Constituent Colleges:
- Government Medical College, Srinagar
- Government Medical College, Handwara, Kupwara
- Government Medical College, Anantnag
- Government Medical College, Baramulla
- Government Dental College, Srinagar
- Government College of Education, M.A. Road, Srinagar
- Institute of Music & Fine Arts, Srinagar
- Government College of Physical Education, Ganderbal
- S.S.M. College of Engineering, Pattan, Baramulla
- Kashmir Law College, Nowshera, Srinagar
Some Permanently Affiliated Government Colleges:
- Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar
- Government College for Women, Anantnag
- Government College for Women, Baramulla
- Government College for Women, Nawakadal Srinagar
- Government Degree College for Boys, Anantnag
- Government College for Boys, Baramulla
- Government Degree College, Bemina
- Government Degree College, Kupwara
- Government Degree College, Handwara
- Government Degree College, Sopore
- Government Degree College, Pulwama
- Government Degree College, Tral
- Government Degree College, Shopian
- Government Degree College, Ganderbal
- Government Degree College, Kulgam
- Government Degree College, Pattan
- Government Degree College, Beerwah
- Government Degree College, Uri
- Government Degree College, Bijbehara
- Government Degree College, Budgam
- Government Degree College, Bandipora
- Government Degree College for Women, Sopore
How the University is Run
The University of Kashmir has several important officers and groups that help run it.
Main Leaders
- Chancellor: This is the highest leader of the university. The Lieutenant-Governor of Jammu and Kashmir holds this position. They lead important meetings and graduation ceremonies.
- Pro-Chancellor: The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir acts as the Pro-Chancellor. They can lead meetings if the Chancellor is not there.
- Vice-Chancellor (VC): The Vice-Chancellor is the main leader for how the university is run and what is taught. They make sure everything follows the rules and manage the staff.
- Financial Advisor: This person helps manage the university's money and budget.
- Registrar: The Registrar is like the chief of administration. They handle all the university's records, money, and meetings.
- Controller of Examinations (COE): This officer is in charge of all exams. They make sure tests are fair, papers are graded, and results are announced correctly.
The university also has a University Council, which is the main group that makes big decisions and plans for the university.
Schools and Departments
The university is divided into different "Schools," which are like big groups of related subjects. Each School has several "Departments" that focus on specific subjects. For example:
- School of Applied Sciences and Technology: This school includes departments like Computer Science, Electronics, Food Science, and Pharmaceutical Science.
- School of Arts, Language and Literature: Here you can find departments for Arabic, English, Hindi, Kashmiri, Persian, Urdu, and Music and Fine Arts.
- School of Biological Sciences: This school has departments like Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Botany, and Zoology, focusing on life sciences.
- School of Business Studies: This school includes departments for Commerce, Management Studies, Economics, and Tourism.
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences: This school covers subjects like Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, and Geography.
- School of Education and Behavioural Sciences: This school has departments for Education and Psychology.
- School of Engineering: This school includes the Institute of Technology, which offers engineering courses.
- School of Law: This school has the Department of Law.
- School of Open Learning: This school helps with distance learning and skill development.
- School of Social Sciences: This school includes departments for History, Political Science, Sociology, and Media Education.
The university also has many Research Centers where special studies and projects are carried out.
What You Can Study
The University of Kashmir offers over 100 different study programs. These include undergraduate degrees (like Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Technology), postgraduate degrees (like Master of Arts or Master of Business Administration), and doctoral degrees (for advanced research).
Scholarships to Help Students
The university offers different kinds of scholarships to help students pay for their education.
Merit Scholarships
These scholarships are given to the top students who perform very well in their entrance exams or in their previous year's studies. They help cover costs for up to 12 months.
Research Scholarships
There are also scholarships for students who want to do research for their PhD or M.Phil. degrees. These scholarships provide money each month and a grant for other expenses.
Student Aid Fund
The university has a "Student Aid Fund" to help students who need financial support, especially those from families with lower incomes. The Kashmir University Alumni Association also helps students who are in need.
University Rankings
| University rankings | |
|---|---|
| General – India | |
| QS (India) (2020) | 56-60 |
The University of Kashmir is recognized internationally. In 2023, it was ranked among the top 451-500 universities in Asia by QS World University Rankings.
In India, the QS World University Rankings placed it between 56-60. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranked it 69th overall and 45th among universities in 2024.
Sports and Activities
The Directorate of Physical Education & Sports (DPE&S) was started in 1948. Its goal is to encourage sports among young people for their overall growth. The university has hosted many sports events, including water skiing, kayaking, canoeing, and dragon boating.
Students from the university have also done well in international winter sports. The university also offers adventure sports like mountaineering and trekking. Training camps are held to help students learn new sports.
The university has fields and courts for cricket, hockey, football, volleyball, handball, baseball, tennis, and basketball. It also has gyms and is building a new indoor sports hall.
Famous People Who Studied Here
Many notable people have studied at the University of Kashmir, including:
- Mian Altaf Ahmed Larvi – Member of Parliament
- Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi – Member of Parliament
- Agha Shahid Ali – Poet
- Bilal Nazki – Chief Justice
- Farooq Kathwari – Businessman
- Ghulam Nabi Azad – Politician
- Karan Singh – Politician
- Mehbooba Mufti – Politician
- Mirwaiz Umar Farooq – Politician / religious leader
- Syed Ali Shah Geelani – Politician
- Saifuddin Soz – Professor
- Sunanda Pushkar – Businesswoman
- Tarannum Riyaz – Writer
- Mohammad Yaqoob Mir – Judge
- Malik Sajad – Graphic novelist
- Irfan Mehraj – journalist and human rights activist
See also
- University of Kashmir Convocation Complex
- Central University of Kashmir
- Cluster University of Srinagar
- National Institute of Technology, Srinagar
- Foreshore Road
