St. Joseph's University is a private aided, Jesuit, higher educational institution run by the Karnataka Province of the Society of Jesus in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. It is one of the oldest educational institution in the state of Karnataka with a history of years. It has been conferred with the award College of Excellence by the University Grants Commission (India). The institution was awarded a rating of A++ (3.79/4), in the 4th cycle of re-accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2017. It offers graduate, post-graduate and research education. St. Joseph's University has around 300 teaching and non-teaching staff and more than 5500 students. The university is located at Langford Road near Richmond Circle, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. History In the year 1854, St. Joseph's was set up by Missions étrangères de Paris (MEP) because of the need to provide education for the small Catholic community comprising about 1000 Europeans and 5000 Indians. Initially the missionaries started St. Joseph's institution as St. Joseph's European High School. In the year 1882, St Joseph's College was started and was affiliated to the University of Madras as a Second Grade College. In 1926 the University of Madras granted the Institution the status of a First Grade College. On 1 June 1937, the management of the college was transferred to the Society of Jesus. From 1882 to 1937 the college was under the Missions étrangères de Paris. At the time the college consisted of one building, constructed in 1925, accommodating 350 students. In 1949, following reorganisation of the state of Karnataka, the college was affiliated to Mysore University. In 1967, the college was granted permanent affiliation to Bangalore University. 1972 saw the commerce sections and evening college separated from the main college. In 1982, University Grants Commission recognised the college under 2(f) status of UGC ACT 1956 giving it authority to grant degrees. Further in 1985, University Grants Commission recognised the college under 12(B) of the UGC ACT 1956. In 1986, it became the first affiliated college in Karnataka to offer postgraduate courses. In 1988, it became the first college in Karnataka to get a research center. The college is also one of the early ones to go for NAAC accreditation in 1998 and got a four-star (70–75%). In 2001 the college moved from the Residency Road campus to new premises in the erstwhile Hostel Campus at the intersection of Langford Road and