Osmania University#Departments

File:Hydari_ViceChancellor_InaugurationArtsCollege-OsmaniaUni_1937.jpeg, c. 1937.|alt=]]

File:Osmania University under construction 1939.jpg

File:Hyderabad_City_IB1142.jpg at the University College of Arts, c. 1939–1945.]]

File:Dr._Vijayam,_professor_at_Osmania_University,_Hyderabad,_India,_1973_(16444420594).jpg addresses students with the arts college in the background, c. 1973.]]

In 1917, Sir Akbar Hydari, in a memorandum to the Education Minister, emphasised the need to establish a university in Hyderabad with Urdu as the medium of instruction, "as it is the language of the widest currency in the state".{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/ou-architect-was-nizams-emissary-before-merger/articleshow/58323078.cms|title=OU architect was Nizam's emissary before merger|date=23 April 2017|first=Syed|last=Akbar|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=6 October 2019|archive-date=5 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105153309/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/ou-architect-was-nizams-emissary-before-merger/articleshow/58323078.cms|url-status=live}} On 26 April 1917, the Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan issued a firman to establish the Osmania University.{{Cite news |date=2019-01-28 |title=How the Osmania University came about |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/how-the-osmania-university-came-about/article26112585.ece |access-date=2023-06-11 |issn=0971-751X}}

The university began functioning in 1918 in a building adjacent to the Nizam College at Basheerbagh.{{Cite news |date=2017-02-22 |title=Osmania University first varsity in India to introduce Urdu medium |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/osmania-university-first-varsity-in-india-to-introduce-urdu-medium/articleshow/57283475.cms |access-date=2023-06-11 |issn=0971-8257}} Arts and theology were the only two faculties offered, and the first batch consisted of 225 students and 25 faculty members.{{Cite web |last=Mohan |first=Saadhya |date=2022-05-06 |title=In Limelight for Denying Entry to Rahul, Osmania University Has a Rich History |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/education/on-the-docket-for-denying-entry-for-rahul-osmania-university-has-a-rich-history-controversy-telangana |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}

The government invited Patrick Geddes and Edwin Jasper to set up a permanent campus of the university.{{Cite news |date=2017-04-08 |title=Arts College building, a hand-me-down architectural gem |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/arts-college-building-a-hand-me-down-architectural-gem/article17895207.ece |access-date=2023-06-11 |issn=0971-751X}} Geddes surveyed prospective locations and presented his report in 1923. Jasper drew up the building plans and the Nizam laid the foundation stone for the campus on 5 July 1934. After Jasper left Hyderabad, the state architect Zain Yar Jung supervised the construction of the campus.{{Cite news |date=2012-10-08 |title=Arts College: a historic masterpiece |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/education/college-and-university/Arts-College-a-historic-masterpiece/article12550064.ece |access-date=2023-06-11 |issn=0971-751X}}

After independence and the accession of Hyderabad State in 1948, the university fell under the purview of the state government. After the election of the first state government, the central government announced plans to convert Osmania University into a central university with Hindi as the medium of instructions. However, this led to protests and with pressure from the Mulki agitation, the plan was dropped.{{Cite news |date=2017-03-18 |title=When Nehru dropped Hindi bombshell & Osmania University erupted |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/when-nehru-dropped-hindi-bombshell-osmania-university-erupted/articleshow/57699058.cms |access-date=2023-06-11 |issn=0971-8257}} Eventually, English replaced Urdu as the medium of instruction, and the Nizam's crown was also removed from the university seal.

The original seal featured the Nizam's crown as the crest, along with the phrase Noorun Ala Noor. It also contained the hadith, "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate".{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/220117/dispute-over-logo-at-hyderabads-osmania-university.html|title=Dispute over logo at Hyderabad's Osmania University|date=22 January 2017|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-date=9 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009153020/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/220117/dispute-over-logo-at-hyderabads-osmania-university.html|url-status=live}}

The present emblem contains inscriptions in Telugu and Sanskrit. The new logo has the Urdu letter Ain in between.File:OsmaniaUniv PostalStamp.jpg

File:OsmaniaUnivArtsCollege.JPG in Cairo, Egypt.{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/14/stories/2011021462500400.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519180448/http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/14/stories/2011021462500400.htm| url-status=dead| archive-date=19 May 2011| title=A slice of Egypt in Hyderabad| date=14 February 2011| access-date=12 December 2011| work=The Hindu| location=Chennai, India}}|alt=]]

The Main campus is a chief intellectual centre in Hyderabad, and its alumni and faculty members include many distinguished individuals, including former Prime Minister of India P. V. Narasimha Rao. Admission to Main campus departments of Genetics, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Engineering, Management, and Law is highly competitive.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328162710/http://pmindia.nic.in/pm_rao.htm |title=P. V. Narasimha Rao – A Profile |work=Indian PM's official website |archive-date=28 March 2009 |url-status=dead|url=http://pmindia.nic.in/pm_rao.htm }} The state government has appointed Prof S.Ramachandram as vice chancellor of the university. The university is accredited by the NAAC with an 'A⁺' Grade and conferred with the status of 'University with Potential for Excellence' by the UGC, New Delhi.{{cite news |url=http://www.osmania.ac.in/Pressnote-OU6thRanking.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610003727/http://www.osmania.ac.in/Pressnote-OU6thRanking.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 June 2012 |title=Osmania University ranked 6th among top ten universities |access-date=21 August 2012 }}

The University Colleges are located in begumpet university. There are ten such colleges: the University College of Arts and Social Sciences, University College of Commerce & Business Management, University College of Technology, University College of Engineering, University College of Law, University College of Science, Institute of Advance Study in Education, and PG College of Physical Education. The university offers courses in Humanities, Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Law, Engineering, Medicine, Technology, Commerce and Business Management, Information Technology and Oriental Languages. In 2001, Osmania was awarded five-star status by the National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC) of the University Grants Commission, part of the Government of India.{{cite news |author=Team indiaresultszone.com |url=http://indiaresultszone.com/ranking.html |title=Ranking of University | India |publisher=Indiaresultszone.com |date=25 November 2007 |access-date=21 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605010942/http://indiaresultszone.com/ranking.html |archive-date=5 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}

The university has a campus of nearly 1600 acres (6 km²) with 300,000 students (counting all the campuses, constituent affiliated colleges and district centres) making it one of the largest higher education systems in India. Nearly 5000 faculty and staff are employed at Osmania.{{cite web|title=About Osmania University|url=http://www.osmania.ac.in/new/index-more.htm|publisher=Osmania University|access-date=3 October 2013|archive-date=4 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004232758/http://www.osmania.ac.in/new/index-more.htm|url-status=live}} It attracts students from across the nation as well as from other countries.{{cite news |author=Aarti Dhar |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3640561.ece |title=News / National : Still a small global campus |work=The Hindu |date=15 July 2012 |access-date=21 August 2012 |location=Chennai, India |archive-date=17 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817144406/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3640561.ece |url-status=live }}

File:Engineering college at Osmania University.jpg was one of the top 15 engineering schools in the country in 2012{{cite news |url=http://ghrdc.org/pdfs/overall_results11.pdf |title=Overall Ranking of Top Engineering Colleges |access-date=21 August 2012 |archive-date=31 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531045035/http://ghrdc.org/pdfs/overall_results11.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite news |author=Special Correspondent |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article3672257.ece |title=Cities / Hyderabad : Osmania University computer science students placed high |work=The Hindu |date=23 July 2012 |access-date=21 August 2012 |location=Chennai, India |archive-date=29 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829014706/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article3672257.ece |url-status=live }}]]

Osmania University is a confederation of university colleges, constituent colleges, and affiliated colleges. The constituent colleges of the university include:{{cite web |title=Osmania University Constituent Colleges |url=https://www.osmania.ac.in/academics-consticolleges.php |website=osmania.ac.in |access-date=29 June 2019 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226212741/http://www.osmania.ac.in/academics-consticolleges.php |url-status=live }}

• Nizam College
• Post Graduate College of Law, Basheerbhagh
• University College for Women, Koti
• University College of Science, Saifabad
• University Post Graduate College, Secunderabad
• University College of Arts and Social Sciences, Osmania University (estd. 1918).
• University College of Engineering, Osmania University (estd. 1929)

• Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, Hyderabad
• Indian Council of Social Science Research, Hyderabad
• National Institute of Nutrition
• Government City College, Hyderabad
• Centre For Plant Molecular Biology
• Centre For Indian Ocean Studies
• Japal-Rangapur Observatory
• Research and Training Unit in Navigational Electronics
• Regional Centre For Urban and Environmental Studies
• Centre For Stem Cell Science, Hyderabad
• Anwar Ul Uloom College, Hyderabad
• PGRR center for distance education

The affiliated engineering colleges of the university are mostly scattered throughout the GHMC area and offer various undergraduate and post-graduate engineering courses.{{cite web|title=Affiliated Colleges List Under Osmania University|url=http://www.osmania.ac.in/ALLCOLLEGES2010.htm|publisher=Osmaina University|access-date=1 October 2013|archive-date=15 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915034811/http://www.osmania.ac.in/ALLCOLLEGES2010.htm|url-status=live}}

The affiliated engineering colleges include (in no particular order):

• Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology
• Vasavi College of Engineering
• Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology
• Deccan College of Engineering and Technology
• Maturi Venkata Subba Rao Engineering College
• Matrusri Engineering College
• Methodist College of Engineering and Technology
• Stanley College of Engineering and Technology for Women
• Islamia Engineering College
• Neil Gogte Institute of Technology
• Keshav Memorial Engineering College
• Gokaraju Lailavati Engineering College for Women

File:Main_Entrance_CBIT.png is affiliated to the Osmania University]]

File:OsmaniaUniv LawCollege.jpg

Osmania is a non-profit university which is funded and managed by the government. Admissions into the Bachelor of Engineering, Masters and Doctoral programs in main campus is on a merit basis, evaluated by national entrance examinations (EAMCET, GATE, BCFSBTGMES-N&D, TSLAWCET, O.U. PhD Entrance Exam, DOST etc.) for each of the courses offered.

{{Further|Osmania University Common Entrance Test}}

File:OsmaniaUniv Library.jpg

The University Library is the main library of the university and it was founded in 1918 along with the university. It has close to 500,000 books and more than 6000 manuscripts, which includes rare palm leave manuscripts. It also has various journals, government documents, etc. The main library coordinates a library system, which connects the libraries in the entire campus and other constituent college libraries.{{cite web|title=University Library|url=http://www.osmania.ac.in/new/studentsup-Library.htm|publisher=Osmania University|access-date=3 October 2013|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005013051/http://www.osmania.ac.in/new/studentsup-Library.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/180519/osmania-university-renames-library-after-dr-b-r-ambedkar.html|title=Osmania University renames library after Dr B R Ambedkar|last=Parasa|first=Rajeswari|date=18 May 2019|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=14 September 2019|archive-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606084440/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/180519/osmania-university-renames-library-after-dr-b-r-ambedkar.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/pil-against-changing-name-of-osmania-varsity-library/article27527857.ece|title=PIL against changing name of Osmania varsity library|last=Ramu|first=Marri|date=6 June 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=14 September 2019|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=22 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822181556/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/pil-against-changing-name-of-osmania-varsity-library/article27527857.ece|url-status=live}}

{{Infobox India university ranking

| type = University

| QS_W_2023 =1201-1400

| QS_A_2023 = 401–450

| THE_W_2023 = 1201–1500

| THES_A_2022 = 301–350

| THES_E_2022 = 301–350

| NIRF_U_2024 = 43

| NIRF_O_2024 = 70

}}

Osmania University has ranked 1201–1400 in the world and 401–450 among universities in Asia category by the QS World University Rankings of 2023. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked it 1201–1500 globally in the 2023 ranking 301–350 in Asia in 2022 and 301–350 among Emerging Economies University Rankings 2021.

In India, the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranked Osmania University 43rd among Indian universities and 70th overall in 2024.

The research activities are funded by various autonomous agencies of the government of India. Foreign students are also admitted to the university via UFRO (University Foreign Relations Office) that allots admissions with minimum criteria. Indian students living overseas Non-resident Indian are also admitted through UFRO that are usually ineligible to get admissions via the entrance exams quota.

{{main|List of Osmania University people}}

Notable alumni of Osmania University include 9th Prime Minister of India P. V. Narasimha Rao, Jaipal Reddy, cabinet minister, 16th and last Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh with Telangana Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy, CEO Adobe systems Shantanu Narayen and senior advocate Subodh Markandeya.

Other alumni include spiritual guide and founder of [https://www.srmd.org Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur], Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji,{{cite web |title=Gurudev Rakesh Bhai |url=https://spiritualsciencemuseum.org/Home/Master/223/Gurudev-Rakesh-Bai |website=Spiritual Science Museum |publisher=Puremindz |access-date=21 July 2022 |archive-date=16 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316233815/http://spiritualsciencemuseum.org/Home/Master/223/Gurudev-Rakesh-Bai |url-status=live }} pro chancellor of khaja bandanawaz university Syed Muhammad Ali Al Hussaini, former Indian Cricket team captain Mohammed Azharuddin, cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle, novelist Venkatesh Kulkarni, author and poet Sneha Narayanan, PDSU founder George Reddy, former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, former governor of the Reserve Bank of India Yaga Venugopal Reddy, chemist Garikapati Narahari Sastry, Metallurgist and former Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University Patcha Ramachandra Rao and physicist Raziuddin Siddiqui. Rakesh Sharma, cosmonaut and the first Indian to travel in space, was a graduate of Osmania.{{cite news|title=Nizam College fete from tomorrow|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/19/stories/2008021958240200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304010048/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/19/stories/2008021958240200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2008|access-date=1 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=19 February 2008}} Karan Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer, Member of the House of Lords, and the seventh Chancellor of the University of Birmingham earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Osmania in 1981.{{cite web|title=Lord Bilimoria appointed as Chancellor of the University of Birmingham|url=http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2014/05/lord-bilimoria.aspx|publisher=Birmingham University|access-date=17 December 2014}} Rafi Ahmed, a well-known virologist and immunologist graduated from Osmania University in 1968.

Notable former faculty members of the university include Bhadriraju Krishnamurti, Dravidianist and linguist, and founder of linguistics department at the university, physicist Suri Bhagavantam, and linguist Masud Husain Khan.{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Portal|Hyderabad}}

• {{Official website|http://www.osmania.ac.in/}}
• [https://www.educrib.com/india/university/osmania-university/colleges Colleges under Osmania University]

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Category:Heritage structures in Hyderabad, India

Category:Education in the princely states of India

Category:Establishments in Hyderabad State

Category:1918 establishments in India

Category:Universities and colleges established in 1918

Category:State universities in Telangana