Manipur University was established on 5th June, 1980 under the Manipur University Act. 1980 (Manipur Act 8 of 1980), as a teaching cum-affiliating university at Imphal with territorial jurisdiction over the whole of the state of manipur and it was converted into a central university w.e.f. 13/10/2005.

The Manipur University Act No 54 of 2005 received the assent of the President on 28/12/2005.

Located at Canchipur, Imphal, the capital city of Manipur. The university campus is spread over an area of 287 acres in the historic canchipur which is the site of the old palace of Manipur "The Langthabal Konung" (Palace), Which was established by Maharaja Ghambhir Singh in 1827 AD just after the libration of manipur from burmese occupation. Maharaja Gambhir Singh took his last breath at Canchipur. Canchipur is also the Birth Place of Dr Lamabam Kamal, a renowned poet of Manipur.

The seed of the university was sown in 1972 with the establishment of the JNU Centre of Post Graduate Studies with 10 disciplines. It merged into Manipur University,a state university, in June 1980. It became a Central University on October 13, 2005 by an Act of Parliament. The University has 86 affiliated colleges and one constituent college.

The main objectives of the university are to disseminate and advance knowledge by providing instructional and research facilities, to make provisions for integrated courses in humanitites, natural and physical sciences, social sciences, forestry and other allied disciplines in the educational programmes; to take appropriate measures for promoting innovations in teaching-learning process, inter-disciplinary studies and research; to educate and train manpower for the development of the country in general and North Eastern Region in particular, to pay special attention to the improvement of the social and economic conditions and welfare of the people of the state, and also to enhance their intellectual, academis and cultural development.