Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University is administered under the state legislature of the government of Uttar Pradesh. It has more than 350 affiliated colleges spread over 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the largest universities of Asia catering to urban and rural students.

History of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University
The Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University was established in 1966 as Kanpur University when Agra University split into Agra and Kanpur universities. Mayawati, as chief minister had changed the name from Kanpur University to the current name, after the Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Kolhapur between 1884 and 1922, Shahu IV of Kolhapur, also known as Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj.

It was established by an Act of the Uttar Pradesh State Legislature in 1966 as a teaching cum affiliating University. The main purpose for establishing the University was to reduce the burden of the Agra University since all the colleges at Kanpur were affiliated to the Agra University.

There are one hundred and seventy colleges affiliated to the University spread over fifteen districts. The University offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in various disciplines like Art, Science, Commerce, Law, Engineering and Medicine. The residential section of the campus comprises of the faculties of Life Sciences, Business Management, Education and English.

Ever since its inception the University aims to provide quality education excellent research and modern amenities in the campus. For catering to the needs of the region, the University has also established an Institute of Engineering and Technology in the campus, which offers courses in four branches of engineering namely, Chemical, Computer Science and Information, Mechanical Engineering in the first instance. The other institutes in the campus are the Institute of Bio Science and Technology, Institute of Business Management, Institute of Journalism and Mass Communication, Institute of life science, Institute of Pharmacy and Institute of Para medical science.

Departments and institutes of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University
* Deen Dayal Shodh Sansthan
* Department of Adult and Continuing Education and Extension
* Department of Education
* Department of English
* Department of Fine Arts and Painting
* Department of Library and Information Science
* Department of Master of Social Work (MSW)
* Department of Music
* Department of Physical Education
* Institute of Business Management
* Institute of Journalism and Mass Communication
* Institute of Life Sciences
* Institute of Pharmacy
* University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kanpur University
* University Institute of Para Medical Science