University of Mysore,located at Mysore is the oldest University of Karnataka.It also one of the few oldest Univesities of India.The University set up in the year 1916 by the then King of Mysore Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV.The dewan of the King Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya played pivotal role for the development of the University.The education system of the university was modelled after the University Oxford ,Cambridge, Wisconsin and Chicago.The educatioal experts of the king Dr C. R. Reddy and Thomas Denham visited various universities of the world to acquire knowledge about the educational system.In 1956 the University was given autonomy by the Mysore University Act.

The University three campuses at Mysore, Hassan and Mandya.The main campus of Mysore contains 39 departments and 12 training and research.In this campus 65 Post Graduate courses and 21 Post Graduate diploma courses are conducted.The University caters the educational needs of Mysore, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar districts The medical colleges and engineering colleges of these district are not the jurisdiction of the University.There are 143 affiliated colleges to the University.

The University has five constituent colleges -Maharaja`s College, Yuvaraja`s College, University Evening College, University College of Fine Arts for women,and University College of Physical Education.Several Under Graduate and Post Graduate courses in Arts, Science, Commerce, Management, Fine Arts, and Physical Education are conducted in these colleges.The University started some integrated programmes in Physics, Chemistry and Molecular Biology few years ago.To meet the demand of the present day the University has also started courses in Information and Communication Technology, Development Studies, Women`s Studies and job oriented courses in CIST. The university is also offering 19 value added courses in collaboration with University Grant Commission As part of constant modernization a National Centre for History of Science, Information Technology Division ,Centre for International Programms, Satellite campus of IISc, School of Life Sciences, Entrepreneurial Park in Science and Technology and Patent awareness cell were set up recently.

In the field of research work the University also made its mark.The University has proper research infrastructure including shophisticated labiratories,research scholarship and funds.To extend the horizon of research work 48 national level were selected by the University.For funding the research the Universit has tieups with several government sources and agencies like AICTE, DST, DAM Hampi, DST, Advant India Ltd, DANIDA ,EEC, ICAR, ICMR, DAT, CSIR UGC, Canadian International Development Agency, ICSSR, and Ford Foundation.To improve the standard of the research the University authority established National Facility for Drosophila Genetic Stocks - in Zoology, Seed Pathology lab - in Applied Botany, Electron Probe Micro Analyzer in Geology, Oriental Research Institute , National Single Crystal Diffractometer Facility in Physics, National Centre for History of Science and Digitized Library.The main library of the University has a huge collection of books in different subjects.

The University provides skilled person and consultancy mostly from Applied Botany, Sericulture, Micromet Data Generation, Product Analysis and Quality Control, Geology, Biochemistry, Food Science And Nutrition, Psychology and Software Development in various industris like DUPONT, ISRO, BARC, NCL ect.The University was given five star status by National Assessment and Accreditation Council.