The faculty of law was established in 1945. Several programmes in emerging areas that bear direct relationship to national growth and betterment of the society were pioneered, well ahead of all other Universities. Thus, when the nation was seriously contemplating rigorous exploration of oil, the University initiated a course in Geo-Physics to supply manpower to the exploration activity. Similar is a case with courses in Nuclear Physics, Meteorology and Oceanography, Applied Physics and Pharmacy. Engineering courses were started in 1955. The Arts College saw rapid expansion in the sixties with the introduction of courses like Anthropology, Sociology, Management, Cooperation and Applied Economics. Despite financial crunch, the University has been ever accustomed to live with newer courses like Biochemistry, Human Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Aquaculture, Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, Remote Sensing and Computer Science were added. Similarly courses like Library Science, Social Work, Adult and Continuing Education, Fine Arts, Special Education, Human Resource Management, Music, Yoga, Journalism, Criminal Justice, and Women?s Studies were also started in the University Colleges. All the Vice-Chancellors right from Dr.A.L.Narayana, who immediately succeeded Dr.V.S.Krishna, to Prof. Y.C.Simhadri, who assumed charge on 3rd April, 2002, contributed richly to the overall development of the University.

When the University began functioning in 1926, it had only a handful of teachers, and six students in the first year and 17 students in the second year. The number of students rose to 200 by 1936, 600 in 1946 and 2800 in 1966. Due to heavy demand for higher education the University established P.G. Centres at Guntur in 1967 which later became Nagarjuna University in 1976. The University presently maintains two other Campuses one at Kakinada and another at Srikakulam. The University is planning to open two more campuses shortly at Vizianagaram and Tadepalligudem. The student strength of the University is at present around 9000, being trained in about 160 courses offered by 67 Departments employing around 1000 highly qualified faculty. Due to heavy expansion, the need arose to reorganize the University Colleges into three units namely College of Arts, Commerce and Law, College of Science and Technology and College of Engineering in 1966. The College of Law was further carved out of the Colleges of Arts, Commerce and Law during 1989. The academic administration is thus controlled by the four Colleges of the University.

The Universities teachers now operate about 150 research projects. Several of the Departments were identified by UGC for support under SAP and COSIST programmes and a couple of them for assistance under FIST programme by DST. The University supports 14 centres carrying out advanced research or identified programmes. The linkage between industry and University is strengthened by the University Development Cell, which offers consultancy to the clients. The University has built up over the years a strong industry University interaction, resulting in 5 MOUs for teaching and 4 MOUs for research. The University enjoys patronage of several Institutions and philanthropists who have awarded about half-a-dozen chairs and 378 endowments for awarding medals and prizes at the convocation for meritorious students, and 15 endowments for delivering endowments lectures.

The other facilities on the Campus includes film society, a prayer hall , Dean of Student Welfare, University employment and guidance bureau, placement cell, faculty club and health centre are also functioning to facilitate the fulfillment of the obligations of the University. The University has also developed hostel facilities for both boys and girls with modern kitchens, well furnished and spacious dinning halls, etc. At present about 3000 boys and 1000 girls have hostel accommodation. The University constructed about 400 quarters in the campus for the residential purpose of both Teaching and Non-teaching Staff.

A School of Correspondence course was started in 1972 to enable the employees and others who could not get admissions in colleges to pursue higher studies. At present the university is offering almost all courses in Arts, Science and Engineering, Management etc. at both Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels. At present about eighty five thousand students are on rolls in various courses through distance mode.

The University is providing academic leadership to about 370 affiliated colleges located in the five districts of Andhra Pradesh namely Srikakulam, Visakhapanam, Vijayanagaram, East Godavari and West Godavari offering both Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses in various branches.

The Alumni of Andhra University are occupying prestigious most designations in academic and administrative positions in various organizations at national and international level. Students from various countries are pursuing their studies in various courses both at UG and PG level in the University. A senior Professor was appointed as an advisor to look after all the issues relating to foreign students.

Prof Y.C. Simhadri the present Vice-Chancellor introduced several reforms with a view to streamline the administration and achieved academic excellence. Academic and administrative calendars are prepared well in advance before starting the academic year and strictly implemented. As a result the admissions, conduct of examinations and publication of results are on time. Infrastructural facilities were further improved through Campus networking, by providing internet facility and also by creation of additional accommodation for the academic departments. The Library is now open round the clock through out the year for the benefit of students, scholars and teachers. Beautification activities are undertaken on large scale. As a result Andhra University Campus has emerged as one of the best campuses which creates congenial atmosphere for teaching and research.