In July 1854, the Court of Directors of the East India Company sent a ’despatch’ to the Governor General of India in Council suggesting the establishment of the Universities of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. In pursuance of the despatch, the University of Calcutta was founded on January 24,1857 by the incorporation of an Act of the Legislative Council.The University is now being governed by the Calcutta University Act, 1979. The Act provides for the reconstitution of the University to enable it to function more effectively in the fields of teaching, training and research in various branches of learning and courses of study and for higher ducation to meet the growing needs of the Society. The C.U. Act, 1979 has ensured democratisation of the various authorities of the University. It has given sufficient autonomy to the academic bodies of the University.The University has a number of campuses spread all over the metropolis andits suburbs.