The Himachal Pradesh University came into existence on 22 July 1970. It is relatively a new university and is graded ‘A’ class by the University Grants Commission (UGC) grading system.
Earlier, the Himachal Pradesh University was affiliated and a part of Punjab University, which served as a regional centre of the university.

The sprawling campus is spread in an area of more than 200 acres in a picturesque hill named Summer Hill near Shimla. Its beautiful surroundings have views of snow-covered mountains. The forest surrounding the university is rich in rhododendron, silver oak, pine and deodar trees. Its salubrious climate and congenial atmosphere is best suited for higher studies and research. The peace and calm surroundings attract a lot of students to this university both from India and abroad.

The president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai has studied in this prestigious university. He obtained his Masters degree in Political Science from the Himachal University in Shimla in the early 1980s.He visited this place in 2006 and during this visit recalling his student days in Himachal Pradesh, Mr. Karzai said: “The salubrious environs of Shimla had left a magical impression.” Highlighting the simplicity and deep virtues of the hill people, he said for a student there could not be a better-privileged atmosphere for studies. “Shimla had given me the English language, and before coming here I was a native Afghan not knowing a word of English.”

Address and contact numbers of Himachal Pradesh Shimla University

Summer Hill, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, Pin Code: 171005

Telephone Numbers:

 +91-177–2830273 , 2830434, 2830445, 2830614, 2830635, 2830678, 2830709, 2830741, 2831637, 2831727, 2831742, 2831809, 2831876, 2831998

Fax: +91-177-2830775

Official Website / Institution home page: hpuniv.nic.in

The Shimla university faculties include

1. Ayurveda
2. Commerce & Management
3. Dental Sciences
4. Education
5. Language
6. Laws
7. Life Sciences
8. Medical Sciences
9. Performing & Visual Arts
10. Physical Sciences
11. Social Sciences
12. Computer Sciences
13. Bio-Techonogy
14. Journalism & Mass Comm.

The Himachal Pradesh University Institutes include

1. Agro-Economic Research Centre
2. Centre For Environment Sciences
3. International Centre for Distance Education and Open Learning (ICDEOL)
4. Evening College
5. Institute Of Integrated Himalayan Studies
6. Institute Of Management Studies
7. Population Research Centre
8. Pre Examination Coaching
9. Institute Of Vocational Studies
10. Affiliated Colleges
11. Academic Staff Of College
12. University Library
13. College Development Council
14. Institute Of Tribal Studies 
15. Institute Of IT

Distant Education

The Himachal Pradesh University took the bold step right in the beginning for distant education and a Directorate of Correspondence Courses was set up after the establishment of the University (1971). Not only this, the University emerged as a pioneering institution in launching the programmes of distance education at the postgraduate level. In India, the H.P. University was the first University to start Master of Arts in different disciplines along with Master of Education and Master of Commerce. Now the Directorate of Correspondence Course has been re-christened as the International Centre for Distance Educational and Open Learning (ICDEOL). It is located on the Campus of the University at Summer Hill. It has its own independent complex consisting of two buildings having five stories each.

Courses at Under-Graduate Level:

B.A. Part I/II/III (Pass Course) Three-year course (Annual System)
B.Com. Part I/II/III (Pass Course) Three-year course (Annual System)
BCA Part-I/II/III Three year course (Annual System)

Courses at Post-Graduate Level:

M.Com. (Master of Commerce) Two-year course in four semesters.
M.A. in English -do-
M.A. in History. -do-
M.A in Economics -do-
M A in Political Science -do-
M.A. in Public Administration -do-
M.A. in Hindi -do-
M.A. in Sanskrit -do-
MA./M.Sc. in Mathematics -do-
M.A. in Sociology -do-
M.A. in Music -do-

M. Phil. Courses:

M.Phil. in English One Year course in two semesters.
M.Phil. in Hindi -do-
M.Phil. in History -do-
M.Phil. in Political Science -do-
M.Phil. in Economics -do-
M.Phil. in Commerce -do-
M.Phil. in Pub. Admn. -do-
M.Phil. in Sanskrit -do-

Professional Courses:

MBA (Master of Business Administration) Two-year course in four semesters
Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.) Two-year (Annual System)
Master of Education (M. Ed.) Two-year (Annual System)
BJMC One year (Annual System)
MJMC One year (Annual System)
PGDPM & LW One year two semesters.
PGDCA One year, two semesters.
APGDIT One year, two semesters.

Admissions to the various courses of study are usually held in the months of June/July, and with late fee up to time notified from time to time.