SAARC University

The South Asian University is an International University sponsored by the eight Member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The eight countries are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.


The vision of a world-class South Asian University to be collectively established by SAARC was first outlined by the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh at the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka in 2005.


The main campus in New Delhi will be hosting nearly 5,000 students and an international faculty. It will also have campuses in all other seven SAARC countries—Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

The formal Agreement to establish the University was signed on 4 April 2007.  Thereafter, experts and officials of the eight countries prepared the governance structure, academic plan and business development model of the University.

First academic session of the university started in August 2010 with two post-graduate academic programmes, one each in Economics and Computer Sciences.

Four additional post-graduate academic programmes in Law, Sociology, International Relations and Biotechnology are expected to commence from July 2011. Additional programmes will be added in due course.

Objectives of SAU

The mandate of the South Asian University, as set out in the Agreement of the SAARC Member States under which the University has been set up envisages that the University should: enhance learning in the South Asian community  that promotes an understanding of  each other’s perspectives and strengthen regional consciousness; provide liberal and humane education to the brightest and the most dedicated students of South Asia so that a new class of quality leadership is nurtured; and enhance capacity of the South Asian nations in science, technology and other areas of higher learning vital for improving their quality of life. These three elements, i.e. building a culture of understanding and regional consciousness; nurturing a new class of liberal, bright and quality leadership and building the capacity of the region in science, technology and other disciplines considered vital for improving the quality of life of the people, therefore, form the core objectives of the South Asian University.