The University of Allahabad is the fourth modern University established in India on 23 September 1887. It has a sound academic tradition and several extraordinary achievements to its credit. It began as an affiliating and examining body for graduate and post-graduate degrees with a classical orientation in different branches of learning and the responsibility for secondary education as well. However by 1904, the University established its own teaching departments and instituted doctoral research programmes. In 1921, it was re-organised as a unitary teaching and residential University> Further, over the next few years its affiliated Colleges were transferred to Agra University and the task of conducting secondary-level examinations was relocated.

In 1951, the University (while maintaining its fundamental unitary character) recognised certain local institutions as Associated Colleges authorised to teach undergraduate courses under the Faculties of Arts, Commerce, Science, and Law. During the four decades after its re-organisation, the University earned national and international recognition as a premier institution.

The University has had the privilege of having on its rolls a host of distinguished politicians and statesmen including, one President and two Vice-Presidents of the country, two former Prime Ministers, several Union and State ministers, at least four Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, besides a large number of senior bureaucrats. The list of eminent educationists, scientists, historians, literateurs, economists, and philosophers produced by the University is much too long a list to be reproduced but speaks highly of the University's standards in education.

In view of these prestigious achievements by the Institution, as well as its position among the universities of Uttar Pradesh, the State Government accorded it formal recognition in July 1992 as a ‘Premier Institution’ (Vishesh Agrani Sanstha).

In 1987, the University completed one hundred years of establishment. It was during the centenary celebrations of the University that the demand for "Central status" to the University was made unanimously by the students, faculty, and employees. After a sustained campaign and several hiccups, the Government of India finally acceded to the public demand. In December 2004, a Bill was introduced in Parliament proposing to recognise the University of Allahabad as an ‘Institution of National Importance’ to restore the Central character of the University. Both Houses of the Parliament duly passed "The University of Allahabad Act, 2005" in May 2005.

On 23rd June 2005, His Excellency the President of India gave his assent to the said bill and the University was finally declared an 'Institution of National Importance' once again. The Government of India issued the gazette notification for the same on July 11, 2005, and the University started functioning as a Central University on July 14, 2005 making it a red-letter day in its 118 years old history.

The University of Allahabad Act, 2005 has provided for the following to be deemed as the Constituent Colleges of the University--

1. Five Faculties (Arts, Commerce, Law, Medicine, and Science),

2. Three University institutes (namely the Institute of Inter-Disciplinary Studies, the Institute of Professional Studies, and the National Centre of Experimental Mineralogy and Petrology), one University Centre (The Centre of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences),

3. One University college (The Motilal Nehru Medical College and Swarup Rani Nehru Hospital, Allahabad),

4. Three Constituent Institutes (The Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute, Allahabad, the Harish Chandra Research Institute of Mathematics and Mathematical Physics, Allahabad and the Kamla Nehru Post-graduate Medical Institute, Allahabad),and

5. Eleven local institutions.