Located in the city of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University has carved a niche for itself in the academic scenario of India. It was established by an Act of the Uttar Pradesh State Legislature in 1966 as a teaching cum affiliating University. The main purpose for establishing the University was to reduce the burden of the Agra University since all the colleges at Kanpur were affiliated to the Agra University.

There are one hundred and seventy colleges affiliated to the University spread over fifteen districts. It covers an area of 264 acres and the campus provides several amenities to the faculty and students. The University offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in various disciplines like Art, Science, Commerce, Law, Engineering and Medicine. The residential section of the campus comprises of the faculties of Life Sciences, Business Management, Education and English. The University has a computer center, and also College Development Council in the campus. There is a separate department for Adult and Continuing Education, Communication in the University.

Ever since it inception the University aims to provide quality education excellent research and modern amenities in the campus. For catering to the needs of the region, the University has also established an Institute of Engineering and Technology in the campus, which offers courses in four branches of engineering namely, Chemical, Computer Science and Information, Mechanical Engineering in the first instance. The other institutes in the campus are the Institute of Bio Science and Technology, Institute of Business Management, Institute of Journalism and Mass Communication, Institute of life science, Institute of Pharmacy and Institute of Para medical science. These are initiatives taken by the University to bring about new courses for further advancement.