Bangalore University was established in 1886. It is a part of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and nears the status of "Potential for Excellence" which is reserved for the top 10 universities in India.

History of Bangalore University
Initially it was opened as the Central College, Bengaluru in 1886, by the British Government to award University degrees. It was renamed as the Bangalore University from Central College, Bangalore by the UGC on July 10, 1964 by the government under the then State of Mysore.

The university now operates from two campuses - the Central College Campus and the Jnana Bharathi Campus. The Central College, Bangalore and the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering were subsumed into this university. With the promulgation of the Karnataka State Universities Ordinance of 1975 the university lost its federal character and became a state-affiliated university.

The Bangalore University gave birth to universities like Visvesvaraya Technological University, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences.

The University produces the largest number of Ph.Ds in India and therefore it has acquired a good reputation among foreign universities. Nobel Laureates

Courses offered at Bangalore University
* Some of the Post Graduate Courses offered are:
* MA - Political Science
* M.Sc - Apparel Technology
* M.Sc - Geology Department of Geology
* M.Sc - Applied Genetics
* M.Sc - Applied Geology
* M.Sc - Life Sciences
* M.Sc - Biochemistry
* M.Sc - Botany
* M.Sc - Molecular Biology
* MA - Performing Arts in Music
* MA - Performing Arts in Dance
* MA - Economics
* MA - Sanskrit
* MA - Social Work
* MPEd - Master of Physical Education
* P.G Diploma - Ambedkar Studies
* P.G Diploma - International Business
* P.G Diploma - Bhasha Vignana
* Certificate Course - Dalit Movement
* Certificate Course - Yoga Studies

Some of the under graduate courses offered are:B.A., B.Sc, B.Com, BBA, BSLPA, BCA.

Notable Alumni of Bangalore University
Notable alumni of this university include: C. V. Raman, Leonid Hurwicz, E P Metcalfe, P. C. Mahalanobis , C. N. S. Iyengar, H. Narasimhaiah, C. Rajagopalachari, Hospet Sumitra, Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, Manouchehr Mottaki, CNR Rao, Sajjan Jindal, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Uthappa.