The University of Kalyani was set up in the post independence period. It was established on November 1, 1960. Sprawling over an area of 400 acres of land thirty colleges are affiliated to the University which are scattered in the districts of Nadia, Murshidabad and parts of North 24 Parganas.

The University has six faculties organized into twenty-five departments. They are Faculty of Science, Faculty of Arts and Commerce, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Engineering Technology and Management, Faculty of Law and Faculty of Music and Fine Arts. Since some time several engineering colleges were also affiliated to the University.