Jamia Millia Islamia, a Public Central University; established in 1920, originally at Aligarh in United Provinces which in 1925 initially moved to Karol Bagh, Delhi and later built up in Jamia Nagar. In 1988, it became the Central University by an Act of Parliament and since then it is expanding in different directions achieving the new dimensions.

The University is the result of the tireless efforts of its founders i.e. Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmud Hasan, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari, Jenab Abdul Majeed Khwaja and Dr. Zakir Husain. It symbolizes the unflinching and resolute commitment of these great visionaries in bringing about socio-economic transformation of common masses in general and Muslims in particular, through the vehicle of education. The distinct identity of Jamia Millia Islamia has been eloquently explicated by Dr. Zakir Husain Sahib.

Jamia Millia Islamia is basically originated as the movement of a struggle for education and cultural renaissance against the colonial regime and evolves a national culture for common Indian. Its foundation is to promote patriotism and national integration among Indians, who will be proud to take part in the future progress of India, which will play its part in the comity of nations for peace and development and to prepare the children of masses in general and Muslims in particular, to be the masters of the future in different subjects/disciplines of their choice.

The mission of the founding fathers of this great institution should not only serve as a beacon light for all the stakeholders, but should also inspire all in making this university as one of the premier institutions of higher learning in the world. It should attain distinction in providing cutting edge learning experience, internationally benchmarked education, intellectual freedom and critical research opportunities in frontier areas of contemporary concern.

Today, Jamia Millia Islamia is accredited A++ grade Central University by NAAC during the 2nd cycle in December 2021. The university is an ensemble of a multi- layered educational system which covers all aspects of schooling, under-graduate and post-graduate education.

The university recognizes that teaching and research are complementary activities that can advance its long-term interest. It has Sciences, Life Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Education, Humanities & Languages, Architecture & Ekistics, Fine Arts, Law, Dentistry and Management Studies Faculties. Also, it has a well-known AJK Mass Communication Research Centre. Jamia has over thirty research Centres that have given it an edge in terms of critical research in various areas. Some of these are Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution; Academy of International Studies; Centre for Culture, Media and Governance; Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies; Centre for Nano Science and Nanotechnology; FTK Centre for Information Technology; Dr. K.R. Narayanan Centre for Dalit & Minority Studies; Centre for West Asian Studies; Centre for Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Sciences; Centre for Theoretical Physics, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences and Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies.

The university conducts entrance tests for admission to Undergraduate, Postgraduate, M.Phil. and Ph.D. as well as Diploma and Certificate Programs. Jamia Millia Islamia continues to cater to the interests of students from all communities, but also aims to meet the particular needs of the disadvantaged sections of the Muslim society. True to the legacy of its founders, it continues to support measures for affirmative action and foster the goals of building a secular and modern system of integrated education. Thus, Jamia is constantly learning from its history to negotiate the new and emerging challenges facing a nation in the 21st century.