Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) is a state public university located in Katra, in the Reasi district of the Jammu and Kashmir union territory, India. The university is situated near the base of the Trikuta Hills, in proximity to the Vaishno Devi shrine, and is administered under the patronage of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
| Name | Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | SMVDU |
| Type | State public university |
| Location | Katra, Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Affiliation | University Grants Commission (UGC) |
| Patron body | Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board |
The university was established by the Jammu and Kashmir state legislature through a dedicated Act, with the objective of providing higher education in engineering, sciences, management, and humanities in the region around the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage site. It functions as a fully residential university and follows a semester-based credit system.
The campus lies within the Trikuta hills landscape, a short distance from Katra town, which serves as the principal base for pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, which manages the shrine, plays a central role in the governance and funding of the university.
SMVDU offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes organised through schools and departments covering disciplines such as:
Admission to undergraduate engineering programmes is generally based on national-level entrance examinations, while postgraduate and doctoral admissions follow programme-specific eligibility tests and interviews.
The residential campus accommodates academic blocks, laboratories, a central library, hostels for male and female students, faculty housing, sports facilities, and student amenities. Its hill setting and integrated residential model are distinguishing features among universities in Jammu and Kashmir.
SMVDU is one of the principal technical and general higher-education institutions in the Jammu region. By locating advanced engineering and management education close to a major pilgrimage town, the university has contributed to the educational infrastructure of Reasi district and the wider Jammu division, and has supported research activity in the region.