Sri Venkateswara University, commonly referred to as S. V. University or SVU, is a public state university located in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Established in 1954, the university derives its name from Lord Venkateswara, the presiding deity of the Tirumala temple located in the city. It is one of the older universities in the state and forms part of a notable cluster of higher education institutions in Tirupati.
| Name | Sri Venkateswara University |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | S. V. University, SVU |
| Type | Public state university |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Founder | Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu (then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh) |
| Founder Vice-Chancellor | Siram Govindarajulu Naidu |
| Location | Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Named after | Lord Venkateswara |
| Campus land | Leased from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams |
The university was founded in 1954 during the tenure of Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Siram Govindarajulu Naidu served as the founder vice-chancellor, guiding the institution in its formative years. The naming of the university after Lord Venkateswara reflects the religious and cultural significance of Tirupati, the city in which it is situated.
The campus of Sri Venkateswara University spreads over a large area on the western side of Tirupati. The land on which the university is built was leased by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the body that administers the Tirumala temple and its associated institutions.
The university sits within a wider academic precinct in Tirupati that includes several other specialised universities and institutes, namely:
As one of the principal state universities of Andhra Pradesh, Sri Venkateswara University has played a long-standing role in higher education in the Rayalaseema region. Its location in Tirupati, alongside multiple other universities, makes the city a prominent centre for learning in southern Andhra Pradesh, covering general, women's, veterinary, Vedic, medical and Sanskrit studies.