The University of Hyderabad (IAST: Hydarāvād visvavidyālayamu) is a top ranking public central research university located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Founded in 1974, this mostly residential campus has more than 5,000 students and 400 faculty, from several disciplines. The governor of the state of Telangana is ex-officio the chief rector of the university, while the President of India is the visitor to the university. The university was established along the lines of the Six-Point Formula of 1973. The first vice-chancellor of the university was Banaras Hindu University organic chemist Gurbaksh Singh, from 1974 to 1979. Shri B D Jatti was the first chancellor of the university. In January 2015, the University of Hyderabad received the Visitor's Award for the Best Central University in India, awarded by the President of India. The university is located in Gachibowli, on 2300-odd acres. The campus is rich in flora and fauna, home to over 734 flower plants, ten species of mammals, fifteen species of reptiles, and 220 species of birds. The university is recognized as an Institute of Eminence (IoE) by the University Grants Commission (UGC) through the UGC (Declaration of Government Institutions as Institutions of Eminence) Guidelines, 2017 for public institutions Campus The university campus is on 2300-odd acres, and has a large area under forest cover, with two perennial and three seasonal lakes, and rock formations characteristic of the Deccan. It is home to 734 plants, 10 mammals, 15 reptiles and 220 birds species (at last count). Notable animals include spotted deer, hares, peacocks, porcupines and wild boar. The campus also has a protected megalithic site. A study, which ranged over three decades (1990–2010), reported that of the plants present on campus, 315 species were used in traditional Indian medicine. 39 species of plants belonging to the group that faces the threat of extinction. These listings resulted from field studies done on campus by students and faculty members. The university has plans to preserve the area under forest cover and wetlands by creating a bio reserve. Academics Teaching and learning The university follows the semester calendar beginning in mid-July and ending in early-May. About 90% of the students are residential. The Master's programme is usually of 2 years while the MPhil and PhD programme are of 18 months and 5 years respectively. The university follows the continuous assessment pattern, with 40% marks awarded through assignments spread out through the semester and 60%