Aligarh Muslim University is one of the most popular universities in the Indian subcontinent that is located in Aligarh in the state of Uttar Pradesh. This is regarded as one of the very first institutions, which were set up during the British colonial rule with the purpose of higher learning. It was initially known as Anglo-Oriental Islamic College and the founder of this university was a great Muslim social reformer Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. It was he who felt it was important for the Muslims to gain modern education. The popularity of the university also lies in the fact that several prominent Muslim leaders and Urdu writers have graduated from here. The university played a pioneering role in the Indian Independence and Pakistan Movement. It is one of the universities in India that earned the epithet Oxford of the East in its past

History of Aligarh Muslim University
In the year 1875 Sir Syed Ahmed Khan set up the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College and patterned it after the Cambridge and Oxford Universities without compromising on the Islamic values. Originally the college was affiliated to the Calcutta University and later on was transferred to the Allahabad University in the year 1885. By the year 1920 the college was transformed into a university and was named as the Muslim University.

Faculties of Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University is a residential academic institution and offers as many as 300 courses in the traditional and modern branches of education. The University currently has twelve faculties including Arts, Commerce, Agricultural Sciences, Law, Engineering and Technology, Management Studies and Research, Life Sciences, Science, Medicine, Theology, Social Science and Unani Medicine. Near the turn of the century the university began publishing its own magazine and also established a law school. The facilities provided to the residential students include accommodation, guesthouses, health services, computer centre, hobbies workshop and library. The departments of study amount to eight. It also draws students from other countries like West Asia, Africa and South East Asia. Some seats are also reserved for the SAARC and Commonwealth countries. This university also hosts one of India`s premieres Engineering College called Dr. Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology.

The university maintains interdepartmental research centres such as:
* Interdisciplinary Unit of Biotechnology
* Centre of Excellence in Material Science/Nanotechnology
* Centre for Comparative Study of Indian Languages and Culture
* Centre of West Asian Studies
* Centre of Woman Studies
* Centre of Nehru Studies

Schools affiliated to Aligarh Muslim University
* Abdullah Girls High School
* Abdullah Nursery School
* A.B.K. Union High School (boys)
* A.B.K. Union High School (girls)
* City High School (boys)
* City High School (Qazi Pada) (girls)
* S.T.S. High School (Minto Circle) (boys)
* Senior Secondary School (boys)
* Senior Secondary School (girls)
* Ahmadi School for the Visually Challenged

Colleges affiliated to Aligarh Muslim University
* Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology
* Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College
* Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College
* Abdullah Women`s College
* UGC Academic Staff College
* Sir Ziauddin Dental College
* University Boys` Polytechnic
* University Women`s Polytechnic