Higher education in West Bengal


The Indian state of West Bengal is the site of India's first modern university. Thirty-three universities are listed in the state by the University Grants Commission.
In West Bengal the medium of instruction in colleges and universities is usually Bengali or English. Diploma, certificate courses, advanced diploma program, postgraduate courses and doctoral programs are offered. Research programs offered by the universities are conducted with the aid of specialised institutes.

History

Early years

Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal has played a pioneering role in the development of the modern education system in India. Western models of education came to India through this city. Many of the first schools and colleges were established by the missionaries and reformists. Sir William Jones (philologist) established the Asiatic Society in 1784 for promoting oriental studies. People like Ram Mohan Roy, David Hare, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Ashutosh Mukherjee and William Carey played a leading role in the setting up of modern schools and colleges in the city. The Fort William College was established in 1800. The Hindu College was established in 1817, renamed the Presidency College in 1855.
William Carey established the Serampore College in the city of Serampore in 1818. It went on to become India's first modern university in 1827 when it was incorporated by a Royal Charter as a Danish University. The Sanskrit College was established in 1824. Reverend Alexander Duff of the Church of Scotland established the General Assembly's Institution in 1830 and later the Free Church Institution in 1844, which were later merged to form what is now known as the Scottish Church College, Calcutta. These institutions played a significant role in what came to be known as the Young Bengal Movement and the Bengal Renaissance. La Martiniere Calcutta was established in 1836.
The oldest medical school in Asia, the Calcutta Medical College was set up in 1835. In 1857, the University of Calcutta was established as the first full-fledged multi-disciplinary university in south Asia. It was modelled on the lines of the University of London. Today it is amongst the largest multidisciplinary universities of India and offers some of the widest number of academic disciplines for study.
John Bethune established a school for Indian girls in 1850 at a time when women's education was frowned upon in the society. The Bethune College for girls was set up by him in 1879.
In 1856 technical and engineering education came with the establishment of a civil engineering college / department. This setup went through various reorganisations to finally become the Bengal [Engineering College] in 1921. The Jesuit administered St Xavier's College was established in 1860. Bengal Engineering and Science University is the second oldest engineering institutes in the country and it was started in the year 1864. They offer the following programs such as B.E, M.E, MCA, MBA, MSC, B. Arch. and Ph.D. programs. Apart from this they also provide part-time courses in the evening for the professionals.
The nation's first homoeopathy college was established in the city in 1880. In 1883 Kadambini Ganguly and Chandramukhi Basu became the first women graduates from the University of Calcutta. In the process, they became the first female graduates of the British Empire. Kadambini went on to become the first female physician trained in the Western system of medicine in South Asia.

20th century

In 1906, the partition of Bengal led to widespread nationalistic and anti-British feelings. This led to the setting up of the National Council of Education, Bengal. The Science College was established in 1917. The first blind school came into being in 1925.
After independence, Calcutta continued to be in the forefront of the educational scene. The Government College of Art & Craft was established in 1951. The National Council of Education became the Jadavpur University in 1955. The Rabindra Bharati University was established in 1962. This university offers courses in the fine and performing arts. The Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management was set up in 1953 as the country's first management institute and is also the first in the country to offer an MBA degree of a university. The first, Indian [Institute of Technology Kharagpur|Indian Institute of Technology] was set up at Kharagpur about from Calcutta. In 1960 the Regional Engineering college at Durgapur was set up. It is amongst the top NITs in India and also among the oldest. Indian [Institute of Management Calcutta], the first among the Indian Institutes of Management, was set up in 1961 at Joka. It was the first national institute for post-graduate studies and research in management sciences. It was established with the help of the MIT Sloan School of Management and the Ford Foundation.

Institutes with national or special status

Institutes and universities with particular special status or funding arrangements include: Institutes of Eminence, Institutes of National Importance ; central universities, Government Funded Technical Institutes ; and the deemed universities. Types with specialist functions include research institutes and universities with national recognition for their field of education.
InstitutionLocationStatus EstablishedSpecialisationSources
Public Health">Public university">Public HealthKolkataResearch institute1932Hygiene and Public Health
S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic SciencesKolkataResearch institute1986Basic and Applied Sciences
Saha Institute of Nuclear PhysicsKolkataResearch institute1949Basic and Applied Sciences
Bose InstituteKolkataResearch institute1917Basic and Applied Sciences
Variable Energy Cyclotron CentreKolkataResearch institute1977Basic and Applied Sciences
Indian Institute of Chemical BiologyKolkataResearch institute1935Basic and Applied Sciences
Indian Centre for Space PhysicsKolkataResearch institute1999Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space science
Central Glass and Ceramic Research InstituteKolkataResearch institute1950Basic and Applied Sciences
Central Inland Fisheries Research InstituteBarrackporeResearch institute1959Fishery science
Central Mechanical Engineering Research InstituteDurgapurResearch institute1958Robotics, Mechatronics, Cybernetics, Manufacturing
Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied FibersBarrackporeResearch institute1953Jute and Allied Fibers
Central Sericultural Research and Training InstituteBerhamporeResearch institute1943Sericultural Research
National Institute of Biomedical GenomicsKalyaniResearch institute2009Basic and Applied Sciences
National Institute for Research in Bacterial InfectionsKolkataResearch institute1962Medical research
National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering and TechnologyKolkataResearch institute1938Jute and Allied Fibres
West Bengal National University of Juridical SciencesKolkataNational Law University1999Law

Universities, state and private

Universities in India may be public or private. Other than the central universities – of which there is one in West Bengal – public universities are funded by the state government. Non-government universities are privately funded. Public state universities are listed in the first table shown below, with private universities in a separate second table below that.
UniversityLocationTypeEstablishedSpecialisationSources
Aliah UniversityKolkataState2008Arts, Sciences, Engineering, Management, Islamic Studies
Alipurduar UniversityAlipurduarState2020Arts, Sciences, Commerce
Baba Saheb Ambedkar Education UniversityKolkataState2015Teachers Training, B.Ed. M.Ed
Bankura UniversityBankuraState2014Arts, Sciences, Law
Bidhan Chandra Krishi ViswavidyalayaNadiaState1974Agriculture, Horticulture and Agricultural Engineering
Biswa Bangla BiswabidyalayBolpurState2020Arts, Sciences
University of BurdwanPurba BardhamanState1960Arts, Sciences, Commerce, Engineering and Law
University of CalcuttaKolkataState1857Arts, Sciences, Commerce, Engineering and Law
Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma UniversityCooch BeharState2012Arts, Sciences
Dakshin Dinajpur UniversityDakshin DinajpurState2021Arts, Sciences
Darjeeling Hills UniversityDarjeelingState2021Arts, Sciences
Diamond Harbour Women's UniversityDiamond HarbourState2013Humanities and Basic Sciences
University of Gour BangaMaldaState2008Arts, Sciences, and Commerce
Harichand Guruchand UniversityNorth 24 ParganasState2019Arts, Sciences, and Management
Hindi UniversityHowrahState2019Languages
Jadavpur UniversityJadavpur1955Engineering, Technology, Science, Arts and Commerce
University of KalyaniKalyaniState1960Arts, Sciences, Commerce and Law
Kanyashree UniversityKrishnanagarState2020Arts, Sciences, and Commerce
Kazi Nazrul UniversityAsansolState2012Arts, Sciences, Engineering, Law and Commerce
Mahatma Gandhi University, West BengalMahishadalState2020Arts, Sciences
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of TechnologyKolkataState2000Engineering, Management, Architecture
Murshidabad UniversityMurshidabadState2020Arts, Sciences
Netaji Subhas Open UniversityKolkataState and distance education1998Arts, Sciences, and Commerce
University of North BengalSiliguriState1962Arts, Sciences, Commerce, and Law
Presidency UniversityKolkataState1817Arts and Sciences
Rabindra Bharati UniversityKolkataState1962Arts, Fine Arts, and Performing Arts
Raiganj UniversityRaiganjState2015Humanities, Science
Rani Rashmoni Green UniversityTarakeswarState2020Science, Environmental Science
Sadhu Ramchand Murmu University of JhargramJhargramState2020Arts, Science
Senate of Serampore College (University)SeramporeState1818Theology
Sidho Kanho Birsha UniversityPuruliaState2010Arts and Sciences
The Sanskrit College and UniversityKolkataState2015English, Sanskrit, Linguistics, Philosophy, Pali, Languages, AIWH
Uttar Banga Krishi VishwavidyalayaCooch BeharState2001Agriculture, Horticulture
Vidyasagar UniversityMidnaporeState1981Arts, Sciences, Commerce and Law
West Bengal State UniversityBarasatState2008Arts, Sciences, Commerce and Law
West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery SciencesKolkataState1995Veterinary & Animal Sciences
West Bengal University of Health SciencesKolkataState2003Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences

UniversityLocationTypeEst.SpecialisationSources
Adamas UniversityBarasatPrivate2014Sciences, Management, Humanities, Engineering & Technology
Amity University, KolkataNew TownGlobal Private2015Sciences, Management, Humanities, Engineering & Technology
Brainware UniversityKolkataPrivate2015Engineering & Technology, Agriculture, Sciences, Management, Law, Pharmacy, Nursing, Humanities, Psychology
International Management Institute KolkataKolkataAutonomous Management Institute2011Management
JIS UniversityAgarparaPrivate2014Science, Engineering & Technology, Pharmacy, Management, Law
The Neotia UniversitySarishaPrivate2015Sciences, Management, Agriculture, Humanities, Engineering & Technology
Seacom Skills UniversitySantiniketan Private2014Sciences, Engineering & Technology
Sister Nivedita UniversityNew TownPrivate2017Science, Engineering & Technology, Management, Social Science & Women Studies
St. Xavier's University, KolkataKolkataPrivate2017Management, Commerce, Humanities, Law, Mass Communication
Swami Vivekananda University, BarrackporeBarrackporePrivate2020Science, Engineering & Technology, Management, Social Science & Women Studies
Techno India UniversityKolkataPrivate2012Sciences, Management, Engineering & Technology
University of Engineering & Management (UEM), KolkataNew TownPrivate2015Engineering, Technology & Management

Medical and dental colleges

Medical

There are several types of medical colleges in West Bengal with funding from different sources. Of the thirty-three listed below, nine are privately funded, and twenty-three are state government-funded. One is centrally-funded and -administered by the Indian Ministry of Labour and Employment through the autonomous Employees' State Insurance Corporation. The West Bengal University of Health Sciences is the affiliating university with jurisdiction for medical colleges in the state.
NameEst.CityUniversityTypeIntake placesRef.
All India [Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalyani]2019KalyaniAutonomousCentrally funded125
Bankura Sammilani Medical College1956BankuraWBUHSState
Barasat Government Medical College and Hospital2022BarasatWBUHSState
Burdwan Medical College1969BardhamanWBUHSState
Calcutta National Medical College1948KolkataWBUHSState
College Of Medicine & JNM Hospital2009KalyaniWBUHSState
College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital2010KolkataWBUHSState
Deben Mahata Government Medical College and Hospital2020PuruliaWBUHSState
Diamond Harbour Government Medical College and Hospital2019Diamond HarbourWBUHSState
Dr B C Roy Institute of Medical Sciences & Research2018KharagpurIIT KharagpurCentrally funded
Dr. B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Paediatric Sciences2010KolkataWBUHSStateOnly PG courses
East West Institute of Medical Sciences and Research2024BurdwanWBUHSPrivate50
ESIC Medical College, Kolkata2013JokaWBUHSCentrally funded125
Gouri Devi Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital2016DurgapurWBUHSPrivate150
ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences and Research2011HaldiaWBUHSPrivate150
IPGMER and SSKM Hospital1707KolkataWBUHSState
IQ City Medical College2013DurgapurWBUHSPrivate200
Jagannath Gupta Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital2016Budge Budge, KolkataWBUHSPrivate200
Jakir Hossain Medical College and Research Institute2024Jangipur, MurshidabadWBUHSPrivate50
Jalpaiguri Government Medical College and Hospital2022JalpaiguriWBUHSState
Jhargram Government Medical College and Hospital2021JhargramWBUHSState
JIS School of Medical Science and Research2023HowrahJIS UniversityPrivate150
JMN Medical College2022ChakdahaWBUHSPrivate150
KPC Medical College and Hospital2006Jadavpur, KolkataWBUHSPrivate150
Krishnanagar Institute of Medical Science2024Krishnanagar, NadiaWBUHSPrivate100
Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Medical College and Hospital2018CoochbeharWBUHSState
Malda Medical College and Hospital2011MaldaWBUHSState
Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata1835KolkataWBUHSState
Midnapore Medical College and Hospital2004MidnaporeWBUHSState
Murshidabad Medical College2012BerhamporeWBUHSState
Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital1873KolkataWBUHSState
North Bengal Medical College1968SiliguriWBUHSState
PKG Medical College and Hospital2025RajarhatWBUHSPrivate
Prafulla Chandra Sen Government Medical College and Hospital2022ArambaghWBUHSState
R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital1886KolkataWBUHSState
Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital2018RaiganjWBUHSState
Raniganj Medical College and Hospital2025RaniganjWBUHSPrivate
Santiniketan Medical College2021SantiniketanWBUHSPrivate150
Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Government Medical College and Hospital2022UluberiaWBUHSState
Shri Ramkrishna Institute of Medical Sciences and Sanaka Hospital2015DurgapurWBUHSPrivate200
Tamralipto Government Medical College and Hospital2022TamlukWBUHSState

Dental

AYUSH institutions

AYUSH institutions provide training in alternative medicine and traditional health care systems of South Asia. These systems are governed in India by the ministry of Ayush.

Homeopathic

InstitutionLocationSupportEstablishedAffiliationRef.
Bengal Homoeopathic Medical College and HospitalAsansolPrivate1980WBUHS
Birbhum Vivekananda Homoeopathic Medical College & HospitalSainthiaPrivate1972WBUHS
Burdwan Homoeopathic Medical College & HospitalBurdwanPrivate1978WBUHS
Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College & HospitalKolkataState1881WBUHS
D.N. De Homoeopathic Medical College & HospitalKolkataState1927WBUHS
Kharagpur Homoeopathic Medical College and HospitalKharagpurPrivate1971WBUHS
Mahesh Bhattacharya Homoeopathic Medical College and HospitalHowrahState1967WBUHS
Metropolitan Homoeopathic Medical College & HospitalSodepurPrivate1972WBUHS
Midnapore Homoeopathic Medical College and HospitalPaschim MedinipurState1945WBUHS
National Institute of HomoeopathyBidhannagarCentral Funded1975WBUHS
Netai Charan Chakravarty Homoeopathic Medical College & HospitalHowrahPrivate1983WBUHS
Pratap Chandra Memorial Homoeopathic Hospital & CollegeKolkataState1923WBUHS

Ayurvedic

Government Funded:
Privately Funded:
  • Rajib Gandhi Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital.
  • Raghunath Ayurved Mahavidyalaya and Hospital.

Unani

Sowa-Rigpa

  • Chagpori Tibetan Medical Institute

Allied Health Sciences Institutions

Engineering universities and colleges

NameEst.CityAffiliationTypeDegrees Offered
Ref.
IIT Kharagpur1951KharagpurMinistry of Education, Government of IndiaPublicB.Tech., M.Tech., Ph.D.
NIT Durgapur1960DurgapurMinistry of Education, Government of IndiaPublicB.Tech., M.Tech., Ph.D.
Indian [Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur|IIEST Shibpur]1856HowrahMinistry of Education, Government of IndiaPublicB.Tech., M.Tech., Ph.D.
ISI Kolkata1931KolkataMoSPI, Government of IndiaPublicM.Tech., Ph.D.
IIIT Kalyani2014KalyaniMinistry of Education, Government of India, Government of West Bengal, Coal IndiaSemi-PublicB.Tech., M.Tech., Ph.D.
Jadavpur University1955KolkataGovernment of West BengalPublicB.E., M.E., Ph.D.
UCSTA Calcutta1914KolkataCalcutta University,
Government of West Bengal
PublicB.Tech., M.Tech.
University Institute of Technology, [Burdwan University|UIT Burdwan]1999BurdwanBurdwan University,
Government of West Bengal
PublicB.E., M.E.
Kalyani University1960KalyaniGovernment of West BengalPublicB.Tech., M.Tech.
Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya1974MohanpurGovernment of West BengalPublicB.Tech., M.Tech., Ph.D.
Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya2001PundibariGovernment of West BengalPublicB.Tech.
West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences1995MohanpurGovernment of West BengalPublicB.Tech., M.Tech., Ph.D.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology2001HaringhataGovernment of West BengalPublicB.Tech., M.Tech., Ph.D.
Kazi Nazrul University2012AsansolGovernment of West BengalPublicB.Tech.
Aliah University2008KolkataGovernment of West BengalPublicB.Tech., M.Tech., Ph.D.
Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering & Technology2010MaldaGFTISemi-PublicB.Tech.
Adamas University2014BarasatAICTEPrivateB.Tech., M.Tech., Ph.D.
University of Engineering & Management, Kolkata2015KolkataAICTEPrivateB.Tech., M.Tech., Ph.D.
JIS University2014AgarparaAICTEPrivateB.Tech., M.Tech., Ph.D.
Seacom Skills University2014BolpurAICTEPrivateB.Tech., M.Tech.
Sister Nivedita University2017KolkataAICTEPrivateB.Tech., M.Tech., Ph.D.
Swami Vivekananda University, Barrackpore2020BarrackporeAICTEPrivateB.Tech., M.Tech.
Techno India University2012Salt Lake Sector-VAICTEPrivateB.Tech., M.Tech., Ph.D.

NameEstablishedLocationTypeRef
Alipurduar Government Engineering and Management College2023AlipurduarState
Cooch Behar Government Engineering College2016Cooch BeharState
Government College of Engineering and Leather Technology1919Salt Lake City, KolkataState
Government College of Engineering & Textile Technology1927Berhampore, MurshidabadState
Government College of Engineering and Ceramic Technology1941KolkataState
Government College of Engineering & Textile Technology1908Serampore, Hooghly districtState
Jalpaiguri Government Engineering College1961JalpaiguriState
Kalyani Government Engineering College1995Kalyani, NadiaState
Ramkrishna Mahato Government Engineering College2016Joypur, PuruliaState

NameEstablishedLocationTypeRef
Darjeeling Hill Institute of Technology and Management2025Takdah, DarjeelingPPP Mode

Institution
Abacus Institute of Engineering & Management, Mogra in the district of Hooghly-
Academy of Technology, Adisaptagram, in the district of Hooghly-
Asansol Engineering College, Asansol, Paschim Bardhaman-
B. P. Poddar Institute of Management & Technology, Kolkata-
Bankura Unnayini Institute of Engineering, Bankura-
Bengal College of Engineering & Technology, Durgapur, Paschim Bardhaman-
Bengal Institute of Technology & Management, Santiniketan, Birbhum-
Bengal Institute of Technology, Dhapa, Kolkata-
Birbhum Institute of Engineering and Technology, Suri, Birbhum-
Budge Budge Institute of Technology, Budge Budge-
Calcutta Institute of Engineering and Management, Tollygunj, Kolkata-
Calcutta Institute of Technology, Uluberia, Howrah-
Camellia Institute of Engineering and Technology, Burdwan-
Camellia Institute of Technology and Management, Bainchi, in the district of Hooghly-
Camellia Institute of Technology, Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas-
Camellia School of Engineering & Technology, Barasat, North 24 Parganas-
College of Engineering and Management, Kolaghat, Purba Medinipur-
Dr. B. C. Roy Engineering College, Durgapur, Paschim Bardhaman-
Dr. Sudhir Chandra Sur Institute of Technology and Sports Complex, Dum Dum, North 24 Parganas-
Dream Institute of Technology, Thakurpukur, Kolkata-
Dumkal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dumkal, Murshidabad-
Durgapur Institute of Advanced Technology and Management, Durgapur, Paschim Bardhaman-
Elitte College of Engineering, Sodepur, North 24 Parganas-
Future Institute of Engineering and Management, Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas-
Future Institute of Technology, Garia, South 24 Parganas-
Gargi Memorial Institute of Technology, Baruipur, South 24 Parganas-
Global Institute of Management and Technology, Krishnanagar, Nadia-
Greater Kolkata College of Engineering and Management, Baruipur, South 24 Parganas-
Guru Nanak Institute of Technology, Panihati, North 24 Parganas-
Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia, Purba Medinipur-
Hemnalini Memorial College of Engineering, Haringhata, Nadia district-
Heritage Institute of Technology, Kolkata-
Hooghly Engineering and Technology College, Hooghly in Hooghly district-
Ideal Institute of Engineering, Kalyani, Nadia-
IMPS College of Engineering and Technology, Malda-
Institute of Engineering and Management, Salt Lake, Kolkata-
Institute of Science and Technology, Paschim Medinipur-
JIS College of Engineering, Kalyani, Nadia-
JLD Engineering and Management College, Baruipur, South 24 Parganas-
Kanad Institute of Engineering and Management, Mankar, Purba Bardhaman-
Mallabhum Institute of Technology, Bishnupur, Bankura-
MCKV Institute of Technology, Liluah, Howrah-
Meghnad Saha Institute of Technology, Kolkata-
Modern Institute of Engineering and Technology, Bandel, Hooghly-
Murshidabad College of Engineering and Technology, Murshidabad-
Narula Institute of Technology, Agarpara, North 24 Parganas-
Neotia Institute of Technology Management and Science, Diamond Harbour Road, Amira, South 24 Parganas-
Netaji Subhash Engineering College, Garia, South 24 Parganas-
NSHM Knowledge Campus, Durgapur and Kolkata-
Om Dayal Group of Institutions, Uluberia, Howrah-
Pailan College of Management and Technology, Joka, South 24 Parganas-
RCC Institute of Information Technology, Kolkata-
Regent Education and Research Foundation, Barasat, North 24 Parganas-
Sanaka Education Trusts Group of Institutions, Durgapur, Paschim Bardhaman-
Seacom Engineering College, Sankrail, Howrah-
Siliguri Institute of Technology, Siliguri, Darjeeling-
St. Mary's Technical Campus, Barasat, North 24 Parganas-
St. Thomas College of Engineering and Technology, Khidirpur, Kolkata-
Supreme Knowledge Foundation Group of Institutions, Mankundu, Hooghly district-
Swami Vivekananda Institute of Science and Technology, Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas-
Surendra Institute of Engineering and Management, Siliguri, Darjeeling-
Techno Engineering College, Banipur, North 24 Parganas-
Techno International, Batanagar, South 24 Parganas-
Techno International, Rajarhat, North 24 Parganas-
Techno Main, Sector V, Salt Lake, North 24 Parganas-

Government degree colleges

Government general degree colleges are public educational institutes set up and administered under the University Grants Commission. State or union governments manage them, but the colleges are affiliated to a university for their course structure.

General colleges affiliated with universities

With Burdwan University

With University of Calcutta

With University of Kalyani

With Kazi Nazrul University

With Bankura University

With Vidyasagar University

With West Bengal State University

List of colleges by districts

Alipurduar

Bankura

Birbhum

Cooch Behar

In Cooch Behar:

Dakshin Dinajpur

Darjeeling

Within Darjeeling:

Hooghly

Howrah

In Howrah:

Jalpaiguri

In Jalpaiguri:

Jhargram

Kalimpong

Kolkata

Malda

Murshidabad

Nadia district

Located in Nadia district:

North 24 Parganas

Located within North 24 Parganas:

Paschim Bardhaman

Pashim Medinipur

Purba Bardhaman

Purba Medinipur

Purulia

South 24 Parganas

Uttar Dinajpur