The new initiative of the Government of Orissa is to make the education in the state’s colleges more accessible as well as affordable to economically backward students and those form the rural sections. They aim in providing good job opportunities for these students through higher education.

In the recent years in Orissa a lot of new institutions have been set up to impart good quality education to the students coming from all over India. These universities and institutions in the state offer various courses in the field of medicine, engineering, arts, science and commerce, pharmacy, etc. A number of students are enrolled in these colleges and institutions every year.

These higher educational institutions and universities offer various course for the students at undergraduate, postgraduate and at doctoral levels. Students can choose their courses according to their area of interest and career targets.

Courses offered at Universities in Orissa

Candidates studying in any discipline at the higher secondary level can apply for the diverse undergraduate programmes in these universities and colleges. However admission to these courses may be based on the entrance examinations organized by the concerned universities. Some universities also provide distance learning and correspondence programmes apart from the regular courses. Some universities like Berhampur University offer this type of education.

The qualified undergraduate students can also apply for various postgraduate courses. Some of the postgraduate programmes offered in the universities in Orissa are P. G. Diploma - Rural Biotechnology, P. G. Diploma - Biodiversity and Bioresource Management and P. G. Diploma - Mushroom Technology. M.A in Mass Communication is another PG course for those students interested in the field of media.

Types of Universities in Orissa

There are diverse types of universities in the state which offer specializations in particular stream of studies like agricultural science, information technology, management and so many. Some of those universities that offer higher education in specialized disciplines are Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Biju Patnaik University of Technology and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology.

Besides this government recognized universities, there are some deemed universities also in the state. One of such leading deemed universities is National Institute of Technology, Rourkela. The list of universities in Orissa is mentioned here

• Berhampur University, Ganjam Berhampur
• Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Rourkela
• Fakir Mohan University, Vyas Vihar Balasore
• North Orissa University, Shri Ram Chandra Vihar Takatpur, Baripada, Mayurbhanj
• Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar
• Sambalpur University, Jyoti Vihar, Sambalpur
• Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya, Srivihar, Puri
• Utkal University of Culture, Sardar Patel Hall Complex Unit 2, Bhabaneswar
• Utkal University, Vani Vihar Bhubaneswar

Deemed Universities

• Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneshwar
• National Institute of Technology, Rourkela

With the tremendous improvement in the education provided by Universities like Utkal University, Kalinga Institute of Technology and National Institute of Technology (Rourkela), the State holds a good name in the field of higher education, nationally as well as internationally.