Under the Assam Agricultural University Act of 1968, the Assam Agricultural University came into being on January 2, 1969 at Jorhat. The territorial jurisdiction of the University extends over entire Assam. The University conducts teaching, research and extension education in the field of agriculture and allied sciences. The University has several campuses but the headquarters is located at Borbheta. Borbheta is easily accessible from Guwahati. The University aims to transfer agricultural technology to the user and also disseminate information in agriculture and other allied sciences. The University offers graduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in the field of agriculture, veterinary science, home science and fisheries science.

The various departments of the University are organized under four faculties. The faculty of Agriculture consists of Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural Economics and Farm management, Agricultural Meteorology, Agricultural Statistics, Agricultural Engineering Agronomy, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Biochemistry and Agricultural Chemistry, Crop Physiology, Entomology, Extension Education, Horticulture, Nematology, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology, Soil Science and Tea Husbandry and Technology. The Faculty of Veterinary Science heads the departments of Animal Genetics & Breeding, Animal Nutrition, Animal Production and Management, Extension Education (Veterinary), Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, Veterinary Gynecology Veterinary Medicine, Public Health and Hygiene, Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary parasitology, Veterinary pathology, Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology, Veterinary Physiology, Veterinary Surgery & Radiology and Poultry Science. The Faculty of Home Science consists of the departments of Child Development & Family relations, Clothing & Textiles, Extension Education, Food & Nutrition, and Family resource management. The Faculty of Fisheries Science has the departments of Aquaculture, Fish Biology Hydrography, Fish Technology and Engineering, Fish Extension Education and the department of Fish Economics & Management. Along with this the Assam Agricultural University offers a four-year degree programme in Agriculture with specialization in Tea Husbandry and Technology.

The University has two Directorates of Research. The Directorate of Research (Agriculture) has its headquarters in Jorhat and the Directorate of Research (Veterinary) has its headquarters in Khanapara.