Khallikote Unitary University is a state public university located in Berhampur, in the Ganjam district of Odisha, India. It was established by the Government of Odisha through the upgradation of Khallikote Autonomous College, one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in eastern India, into a unitary university.
| Type | State public university (unitary) |
|---|---|
| Location | Berhampur, Ganjam district, Odisha, India |
| Predecessor | Khallikote Autonomous College |
| Affiliation history | Previously affiliated to Berhampur University |
| Country | India |
The university traces its institutional lineage to Khallikote College, founded in the 19th century in Berhampur and named after the Khallikote estate, whose rulers patronised education in the southern Odisha region. Over time the college developed into a leading centre of arts, science and commerce education in the Ganjam region, gaining autonomous status under Berhampur University.
Recognising its academic standing and long history, the Government of Odisha converted the autonomous college into a unitary university, allowing it to offer undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes directly under its own statutes rather than through affiliation to another university.
As a unitary university, Khallikote Unitary University conducts teaching and research on a single campus without affiliated colleges. Its academic offerings span the faculties of arts, science, commerce and related disciplines that were earlier taught at Khallikote Autonomous College, with provision for expansion into newer interdisciplinary areas.
The university is situated in Berhampur, a major urban and educational centre in southern Odisha. Berhampur is also home to Berhampur University, and together the two institutions make the city an important hub for higher education in the Ganjam region.
The conversion of Khallikote into a unitary university is part of a broader policy by the Government of Odisha to strengthen long-established autonomous colleges by giving them university status. This is intended to enhance academic flexibility, encourage research, and improve student access to higher education in regions outside the state capital.