Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh is a higher education institution located in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Overview
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is a public central university located in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. The university was established in 1920 under the Aligarh Muslim University Act, evolving from the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College founded in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. It is one of the largest residential universities in India with a campus spread over 467.6 hectares and a student strength exceeding 30,000.
The university is accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council with an A+ Grade and a score of 3.35 on a four-point scale. AMU is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework. The institution offers over 300 courses across traditional and modern branches of education through its 13 faculties, 95 departments, and 5 institutions.
AMU is open to all irrespective of caste, creed, religion, or gender. The university draws students from all corners of the world, especially Africa, West Asia, and Southeast Asia, with reserved places for students from SAARC and Commonwealth countries. The campus includes notable heritage buildings such as Sir Syed Hall, Strachey Hall, and the Maulana Azad Library.
History
Aligarh Muslim University grew out of the work of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, a great Muslim reformer and statesman, who in the aftermath of the Indian War of Independence of 1857 felt it important for Muslims to gain education and become involved in public life and government services in India. The British decision to replace Persian with English in 1842 for government employment and as the language of courts caused deep anxiety among Muslims of the subcontinent. Sir Syed saw a need for Muslims to acquire proficiency in English and Western sciences if the community were to maintain its social and political clout, particularly in Northern India.
Sir Syed began to prepare the foundation for the formation of a Muslim university by starting schools at Moradabad in 1858 and Ghazipur in 1863. The Scientific Society was established in Aligarh in 1864 to translate Western works into Indian languages as a prelude to prepare the community to accept Western education and to inculcate scientific temperament among Muslims. The periodical Tehzibul Akhlaq was published in 1870.
In 1875, Sir Syed founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh, patterned after Oxford and Cambridge universities. His objective was to build a college in tune with the British education system but without compromising its Islamic values. Sir Syed's son, Syed Mahmood, who studied at Cambridge, prepared a proposal for an independent university to the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College Fund Committee upon his return from England in 1872. This proposal was adopted and subsequently modified.
The college was originally affiliated with the University of Calcutta and was transferred to Allahabad University in 1885. Near the turn of the century, the college began publishing its own magazine, The Aligarian, and established a law school. A school for girls was established in 1907. By 1920, the college was transformed into Aligarh Muslim University. The first chancellor of the university was Sultan Shah Jahan Begum.
Programs
Aligarh Muslim University offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes across a wide range of disciplines through its faculties and institutions.
Undergraduate Programmes
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
- Bachelor of Science (Honours)
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Technology
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
- Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)
- Bachelor of Architecture
- Bachelor of Agricultural Science
Postgraduate Programmes
- Master of Arts in various subjects
- Master of Science in various subjects
- Master of Commerce
- Master of Technology
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Laws (LL.M.)
- Master of Education (M.Ed.)
- Master of Medicine (MD)
- Master of Surgery (MS)
- Master of Dental Surgery (MDS)
- Master of Pharmacy
- Master of Agricultural Science
Doctoral Programmes
- Doctor of Philosophy in various disciplines
- Doctor of Literature
- Doctor of Science
The university offers more than 300 courses in traditional and modern branches of education. Prominent divisions include Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Dr. Ziauddin Dental College, and the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. The university also operates a Centre for Distance and Online Education to widen the reach of education to all strata of society.
Facilities
Aligarh Muslim University provides comprehensive academic, residential, and support facilities across its 467.6-hectare campus in Aligarh.
Campus The university campus has a variety of architectural influences ranging from Islamic architecture to contemporary. The main university gate is called Bab-e-Syed, and a new gate called Centenary Gate was built in 2020 to celebrate the centenary year of the university. The campus includes heritage buildings such as Strachey Hall, Mushtaq Manzil, Asman Manzil, Nizam Museum, Lytton Library, Victoria Gate, and Jama Masjid.
Library The Maulana Azad Library is one of the largest university libraries in Asia. The library has extensive collections of books, journals, and digital resources.
Hostel and Accommodation AMU is a residential university with 19 halls of residence comprising 13 for boys and 6 for girls, with 80 hostels. Each hall maintains a dining hall, common room with indoor games facilities, reading room, library, sports clubs, and a literary and cultural society. Sir Syed Hall is the oldest hall and houses many heritage buildings.
Sports and Recreation The university has sports facilities including a horse riding school with a club comprising more than 18 horses, football field, basketball courts, tennis courts, swimming pools, skating rinks, and a cricket ground. The campus also maintains Willingdon Pavilion and a synthetic hockey ground.
Medical Facilities The Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College operates a hospital on campus that provides healthcare services. The university also has a medical colony for faculty housing.
Cultural Facilities The campus includes the Moinuddin Ahmad Art Gallery, Kennedy Auditorium, Musa Dakri Museum, Cultural Education Centre, and Siddons Debating Union Hall.
Admissions
Admissions to Aligarh Muslim University are conducted through national-level entrance examinations and the university's own admission processes.
Undergraduate Admissions Admission to undergraduate programmes is through various entrance tests including the AMU Entrance Examination and national-level tests such as the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). For professional courses like MBBS, admission is through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). For B.Tech programmes, admission is through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main. The university also accepts scores from the National Testing Agency (NTA) for various programmes.
Postgraduate Admissions Admission to postgraduate programmes is through the AMU Postgraduate Entrance Test and other national-level examinations including the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), Common Admission Test (CAT), and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate courses (NEET PG).
Doctoral Admissions Admission to Doctor of Philosophy programmes is through the Research Entrance Test conducted by the university, followed by an interview. The Office of the Controller of Examinations manages the counselling schedule for foreign nationals for admission to Ph.D. programmes.
Application Process Candidates must register for the respective entrance examinations through the official portals. For AMU-specific tests, candidates must apply through the university's admission portal. The university publishes admission notifications and prospectus on its official website. Ragging is banned on the university campus and is a punishable offence as per the AMU Student's Conduct and Discipline Rule, 1985.
Affiliations
- Affiliation
Aligarh Muslim University is a central university established under the Aligarh Muslim University Act, 1920.
- Regulatory Bodies and Approvals
Ministry of Education, Government of India: Governing body. University Grants Commission: Recognized. National Assessment and Accreditation Council: Accredited.
- Accreditation
National Assessment and Accreditation Council: Accredited with A+ Grade and a score of 3.35 on a four-point scale.
- Governance Structure
Visitor: President of India. Vice-Chancellor: Prof. Naima Khatoon, the first woman to hold the post in the university's history. Registrar: Mohammad Imran (IPS). Training & Placement Officer (General): Contact through ctpo.amu@amu.ac.in.
- Campus Location
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh – 202002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Contact Information
Vice-Chancellor Phone: +91-571-2700994, 2702167. Vice-Chancellor Email: vcamu@amu.ac.in. Training & Placement Email: ctpo.amu@amu.ac.in. Training & Placement Phone: +91 75999 95476, +91 8445588964. Website: www.amu.ac.in.
Alumni
Aligarh Muslim University has a distinguished legacy of producing leaders who have contributed significantly to politics, literature, science, sports, and public service in India and abroad.
Documented Alumni:
- Dr. Zakir Husain served as the President of India and former Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University.
- Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was a Bharat Ratna awardee and freedom fighter.
- Mohammad Hamid Ansari served as the Vice President of India.
- Mohammad Amin Didi served as the President of Maldives.
- Naseeruddin Shah is a noted film personality.
- Javed Akhtar is a noted cine writer and lyricist.
- Mansoor Ali served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
- Abdullah Sheikh Mohammad served as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Mosina Kidwai served as a former Union Minister.
- Sahab Singh Verma served as the Chief Minister of Delhi.
- Professor Irfan Habib is a noted historian.
- Shaharyar is a noted poet.
- Zafar Iqbal is a hockey player.
- Dr. Obaid Siddiqui was a Padma Vibhushan awardee.
- Prof. Tariq Mansoor served as the Vice Chancellor of AMU.
Alumni Engagement:
The institution maintains connections with its alumni who serve as ambassadors of the university's legacy of academic excellence and public service. Alumni of the university are popularly known as Aligarians.
References
- Official Website of Aligarh Muslim University
- Ministry of Education - Central Universities
- Notable Alumni - Department of Economics, AMU
- Alumni - AMU
- About Aligarh Muslim University
- Aligarh Muslim University - Vice Chancellor Contact
- Training & Placement Office (General), AMU - LinkedIn
- University Compendium - Aligarh Muslim University