Doon University is a state public university located in Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, India. Established by the Government of Uttarakhand, it functions as a multidisciplinary institution offering postgraduate and doctoral programmes alongside select undergraduate courses, with an academic emphasis on the social sciences, languages, natural sciences, management, and communication.
| Name | Doon University |
|---|---|
| Type | State public university |
| Location | Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India |
| Founder | Government of Uttarakhand |
| Affiliation | University Grants Commission (UGC) |
Doon University was conceived as part of the Government of Uttarakhand's effort to expand higher education infrastructure in the newly formed state, which was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in November 2000. Dehradun, long established as an educational centre owing to institutions such as the Forest Research Institute, the Indian Military Academy, and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, was chosen as the site for a new state university aimed at providing advanced research-oriented programmes within the state.
The university was set up under a state legislative Act and is administered by a Board of Governors and an Academic Council, with the Vice-Chancellor serving as the principal academic and executive officer.
The campus is situated in the Kedarpur area on the outskirts of Dehradun and houses academic schools, hostels, a central library, and administrative buildings. The setting in the Doon Valley, at the foothills of the Himalayas, provides a natural environment for academic and research activity.
The university is organised into specialised schools rather than traditional departments. These include programmes in:
Programmes are offered at the master's and doctoral levels, with selected integrated and undergraduate courses. Admissions are largely conducted through an entrance examination administered by the university.
As one of the principal state universities of Uttarakhand, Doon University plays a role in regional capacity building in higher education and research. Its language programmes are notable in the region, providing formal training in several major foreign languages, while its schools of environment and social sciences engage with issues relevant to the Himalayan region, including ecology, mountain economies, and rural development.