Kathmandu University (KU) (Nepali: काठमाण्डौ विश्वविद्यालय) is an autonomous university in Nepal. It is the third oldest university in Nepal, located in Dhulikhel of Kavrepalanchok District, about 30 km (19 mi) east of Kathmandu. It was established in 1991 with the motto "Quality Education for Leadership." KU operates through its seven schools, and campuses in Dhulikhel, Lalitpur and Panchkhal. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate courses in a variety of fields.

The precursor to the university, Kathmandu Valley Campus (a private campus under the affiliation of Tribhuvan University) was established in 1985, which provided courses in the Intermediate of Science (ISc) level. The proposal to establish the university was discussed in the Parliament later, and it was approved through an Act on 11 December 1991.^{[citation needed]}

When established in November 1991 as a non-profit, autonomous, public university by an act KU became the first privately managed public institution of higher learning in Nepal. The predecessor of the university was the Kathmandu Valley Campus founded in 1985. The campus started as a private campus affiliated to Tribhuvan University and offered courses in science at the intermediate level (I. SC).

Kathmandu University started its academic program in 1992 with an Intermediate in Science program. In 1994, the university launched Bachelor programs in Pharmacy, Biology, and Engineering (electrical and electronics, computer, and mechanical). Later, Environmental Engineering and Sciences were included in its academic program. School of management launched its undergraduate program on Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in 1997 and Bachelor of Business Information Systems (BBIS) in 1999 respectively. M.Phil. and Ph.D. programs were started in 1997. The university also started a Law program, under the School of Law in December 2013.

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Kathmandu University provides education through seven schools:

KU has proposed two new schools in Panchkhal Municipality under which Agriculture program and Artificial Program has been started temporarily in Panchkhal whereas KU-KUNJ to be made very soon.

The School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS) and the School of Engineering (KUSOE) have highest number of students. The School of Medical Science was formerly known as KUMS, but in 2006 its name was changed to KUSMS, with the view that the school not only trains medical graduates and postgraduates but also runs paramedical disciplines. The School of Science, School of Engineering and one department of School of Management (Department of Management Informatics and Communication DoMIC) are present in the university premises, unlike other schools that have affiliated colleges around the nation. School of Engineering currently runs undergraduate and graduate-level courses mostly in Electrical and Electronics, Mechanical, Computer, Civil and Geomatics Engineering. It has also recently launched Chemical Engineering and Bachelor of Architecture. School of Management runs undergraduate and graduate level courses like Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Business Information Systems, Master of Business Administration, Executive MBA, MPPM and many more.