Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University is a fully residential institution. It is recognized by All India Council and is commonly referred to as SMVD University or SMVDU. It is approved by University Grants Commission under Section (UGC) 2(F) and Section 12(B) of UGC Act of 1956.The technical programs of the University are recognized by AICTE (All India Council of Technical Education) while Architecture program is recognized by Council of Architecture.

History of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University was established as Statutory University under the Act of Jammu and Kashmir Legislature in 1999, which defines it as Technical and fully residential University. It started functioning as an academic unit in August 2004, when it was inaugurated on 19th August 2004, at the hands of the then Honourable President of India, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam. He also delivered the first lecture to the students of the University.

Location of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University is located at a distance of 45 kilometres from Jammu Airport and 14 kilometres from of the holy town of Katra. The university is situated on a plateau, on three sides in the foothills of the Trikuta Range where the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is situated.

Administration of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University
Governor of Jammu and Kashmir is the nominal Chancellor of the university and the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The Executive Council of the University, with Vice-Chancellor is its head and is the supreme body of the university. The Academic Council is the highest academic body and makes proposals to the Executive Council on academic matters. The university also has a Finance Committee and the Building and Works Committee. The Planning Board helps the Vice-Chancellor in predicting the growth of the university.

Facilities of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University
The 474-acre Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University campus is divided into different blocks such as the Academic Block, Administrative Block, Central Library, Hostels and Residential Areas. The different schools of study consist of well equipped lecture and seminar halls, conference rooms, departmental lab and computer lab with all the modern facilities. The public transport facilities are accessible in the form of min-bus which plies on the Domel-Katra road.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has opened its exchange within the university campus thus providing landline and mobile connections on priority to the university residents. Its medical Aid Centre is providing services to all the employees and students of the University. There are banking and automated teller machine (ATM) facilities, postal department and so on. Its architecture marvel art auditorium “Matrika” is state-of-art.

Academics of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University
The university follows the credit-based programme structure which requires students to earn sufficient credits for degree. The University has adopted an UGC pattern of study with choice-based credit system and continuous evaluation based on Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 10-point scale. Industrial pr Corporate Training is also mandatory part of curriculum. Students are encouraged to work on industry sponsored projects. Each school has a Board of Studies. There are four colleges or faculties, with a dean heading each one of them. Each college consists of Schools of Study, analogous to departments in a university, headed by a Director.

College of Management: It includes the following departments:

•School of Business
•Department of Economics

College of Engineering: It includes the following departments:

•School of Architecture and Landscape Design
•School of Computer Science Engineering
•School of Mechanical Engineering
•School of Industrial Biotechnology
•School of Electronics and Communication Engineering

College of Philosophy Culture and Languages: It includes the following departments:

•Department of Philosophy and Culture
•Department of Languages and Literature

College of Sciences: It includes the following departments:

•School of Mathematics
•School of Physics
•School of Biotechnology

The University has entered into collaboration with Institutions of eminence in India and abroad to enhance faculty-student exchange and co-operate in Research activities. The university has recently started hosting the British Council Higher Education Centre for convenience of students.