University of Kashmir is a state university at Hazratbal, Srinagar, tracing its origins to the University of Jammu and Kashmir, founded in 1948. In 1969, under the Kashmir and Jammu Universities Act, it was bifurcated into two separate universities, University of Kashmir at Srinagar and University of Jammu at Jammu. It holds NAAC A++ accreditation and is a state, not central, university, a distinction worth noting since the separate Central University of Kashmir in Ganderbal, established 2009 under a different, central Act of Parliament, is sometimes confused with it.
The university's main campus spans Hazratbal, Naseem Bagh, and Mirza Bagh in Srinagar, bordered by Dal Lake and Nigeen Lake. It also runs four satellite campuses: South Campus at Anantnag (established 2008), North Campus at Baramulla (operational from 2009), Kupwara Campus, and the Institute of Technology at Zakura, extending its reach well beyond Srinagar city.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established | 1948 (as University of Jammu and Kashmir); separate university from 1969 |
| Type | State university (Kashmir and Jammu Universities Act, 1969) |
| NAAC | A++ |
| NIRF 2025 University | Rank 34 (score 57.13) |
| NIRF 2025 Overall | Rank 59 (score 54.31) |
| NIRF 2025 State Public University | Rank 8 (score 65.17) |
| Main campus | Hazratbal, Naseem Bagh, Mirza Bagh, Srinagar |
| Satellite campuses | South Campus (Anantnag), North Campus (Baramulla), Kupwara Campus, Institute of Technology (Zakura) |
| PG admission | Kashmir University Entrance Test (KUET) |
| Website | kashmiruniversity.net / uok.edu.in |
Postgraduate admission runs primarily through the university's own entrance test, KUET (Kashmir University Entrance Test), covering 2-year and 1-year Masters programmes plus the 3-year LLB, across subjects spanning sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Selection for most programmes is based on entrance-test performance: a 60-mark test for 2-year programmes, and a combined 80-mark test (60 common + 20 additional) for 1-year Masters offered under NEP-2020 to four-year undergraduate degree holders. A positive score on the entrance test is required for consideration.
Some programmes use national-level entrance scores instead of KUET: M.Sc Biotechnology admits via GAT-B score; MBA programmes primarily via CMAT score (with a Non-CMAT entrance test where seats remain vacant); M.Tech programmes primarily via GATE score (with a Non-GATE entrance test where seats remain vacant); and B.Tech at the Institute of Technology, Zakura, via JEE.
Social Work and Mass Communication and Journalism use a two-paper process on the same day: a 60-mark MCQ paper followed by a 60-mark descriptive paper evaluated only for the top four times the intake by MCQ merit, with final selection on combined marks.
| Route | Programmes | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| KUET (university's own test) | Most 2-year and 1-year Masters, LLB | Entrance-test score (60 or 80 marks) |
| GAT-B | M.Sc Biotechnology | National test score |
| CMAT / Non-CMAT | MBA and variants | National test score, or entrance test if seats remain |
| GATE / Non-GATE | M.Tech (all streams) | National test score, or entrance test if seats remain |
| JEE | B.Tech (Institute of Technology, Zakura) | National test score |
Admission is coordinated by the university's Directorate of Admissions and Competitive Examinations (DACE). For the 2026-27 cycle, the KUET-2026 online application window ran 2-30 June 2026, with an application fee of Rs 900 for one programme plus Rs 250 for each additional programme in the same application, and an eligibility cut-off date of 28 July 2026 for provisional candidates. Merit lists across programmes were issued through August 2026.
University of Kashmir ranked 34th in NIRF 2025 University category (score 57.13), 59th in NIRF 2025 Overall (score 54.31), and 8th in NIRF 2025 State Public University category (score 65.17), all confirmed directly against nirfindia.org. It holds NAAC A++ accreditation.
Per the university's own NIRF 2025 data submission (academic year 2023-24), University of Kashmir enrolled roughly 8,900 students across UG, PG, and integrated programmes, with PG enrolment (6,301 students) far exceeding UG enrolment. The university had 990 full-time PhD scholars pursuing research, with 198 full-time and 11 part-time PhDs awarded in that academic year, and reported 674 faculty members. Research centres include the Bio-informatics Centre, Centre of Biodiversity and Taxonomy, Centre of Central Asian Studies, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations, and the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of Kashmir Studies, among others.
Of the 2,889 postgraduate students who graduated in the 2023-24 cohort's minimum stipulated time, 501 were placed with a reported median salary of Rs 10,00,000, and 339 went on to higher studies; this reflects a roughly 17% placement rate among that graduating cohort, not a placement rate among all enrolled students.
The main campus at Hazratbal, Srinagar, is bordered by Dal Lake to the east and Nigeen Lake to the west, spanning the Hazratbal, Naseem Bagh, and Mirza Bagh areas. Four satellite campuses extend the university's reach: South Campus at Fatehgarh, Anantnag (established 2008, housing Computer Science, Education, English, Management Studies, Mathematics, Urdu departments plus Institutes of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences); North Campus at Delina, Baramulla (operational from 2009, housing Computer Science, Computer Science and Engineering, English, Management Studies, Teacher Education, Botany, and a 5-year integrated MBA); Kupwara Campus at Wayan (housing Physics, Energy Studies, and Arabic integrated Masters programmes); and the Institute of Technology at Zakura, near the main campus, offering B.Tech programmes.
Tracing to 1948, with nearly eight decades of academic history in the Kashmir Valley
Four satellite campuses (Anantnag, Baramulla, Kupwara, Zakura) extend access across the Valley, not just the capital
990 full-time PhD scholars pursuing research as of the most recent official NIRF submission, with 198 full-time PhDs awarded in a single recent academic year
Houses uncommon centres such as the Centre of Central Asian Studies and the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of Kashmir Studies, alongside a Centre of Biodiversity and Taxonomy suited to Himalayan ecological research
| Framework | Category | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF | State Public University | 2025 | #8 |
| NIRF | University | 2025 | #34 |
| NIRF | Overall | 2025 | #59 |
No independently verifiable, individually sourced notable alumni could be confirmed for this institution at the time of writing. This section is left out rather than populated with unconfirmed names.
8 courses offered. Fees in INR lakhs.
| Course | Specialization | Duration | Total seats | Total fee | Avg package |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) | Hons | 36 months | — | ₹0.9L | — |
| B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) | — | 36 months | — | ₹0.9L | — |
| BA (Bachelor of Arts) | — | 36 months | — | ₹0.9L | — |
| BA (Bachelor of Arts) | Honours (General) | 36 months | — | ₹0.9L | — |
| BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications) | — | 36 months | — | ₹0.9L | — |
| M.Com (Master of Commerce) | — | 24 months | — | ₹1.6L | — |
| MA (Master of Arts) | — | 36 months | — | ₹0.9L | — |
| MCA (Master of Computer Applications) | — | 24 months | — | ₹1.6L | — |
Campus size, faculty strength, hostel facilities, and academic infrastructure.
