Andhra University, Visakhapatnam

Andhra University (AU), established in 1926 at Waltair, Visakhapatnam, is one of India's oldest and most reputed universities. A unitary and affiliating university under the Government of Andhra Pradesh, it holds NAAC A accreditation and features in the NIRF top 75 universities. Andhra University serves as the parent institution for over 200 affiliated colleges spread across northern Andhra Pradesh, providing education to over 3 lakh students. The university campus — a sprawling 720 acres on Waltair Uplands overlooking the Bay of Bengal — is one of the most scenic university campuses in India. Andhra University offers over 300 programmes across Engineering (Andhra University College of Engineering is one of AP's oldest engineering colleges, est. 1935), Science, Arts, Law, Management, Fine Arts, and Distance Education through its 52 departments. The university is known for its research strength in coastal engineering, marine biology, Telugu literature, law, and social sciences. Notable alumni include Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, IAS officers, Supreme Court judges, and scientists at DRDO and ISRO. The university runs the AU College of Engineering (AUCE), College of Law, Fine Arts College, and an active research programme funded by DST, DBT, and CSIR. The annual AU Cultural meets and engineering symposia are major events in north Andhra's academic calendar.