University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (UASD) was established on October 1, 1986 to cater to the needs of farming community of northern Karnataka. The University has tri-fold functions of Teaching, Research and Extension in the field of agriculture and allied sciences. In its 30 years of dedicated service the University has earned the reputation of being a Farmers University.

v    Making provision for imparting education in different branches of the study, particularly Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing & Co-operation, Forestry, Fisheries, Agricultural Engineering, Community Science, Food Technology and allied sciences.

v    Furthering, the advancement of learning and conducting research, particularly in agriculture and other allied sciences

v    Undertaking the extension education of such sciences and technologies specially for the rural people of the state

v    Such other purposes as the State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, specify from time to time

v    Promoting partnership and linkages with national and international educational, industries, research and other institutions. With its dedicated services in the field of agriculture and allied fields, the University has been adjudged as the Best Agricultural University in the country and conferred with the Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award for the year 2000 and 2015, ICAR JRF FELLOWSHIP for 2015 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. Further, the University has also been conferred with Mahindra Samridhi Krishi Shiksha Samman National Award in 2013. UAS, Dharwad is also an ISO 9001:2008 certified institution.

The University has 5 Colleges, 7 Diploma Colleges, 30 Research Stations, 6 Extension Education Units, 6 Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC). The University has its jurisdiction over 7 districts namely Bagalkot, Belgaum, Bijapur, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, and Uttar Kannada in northern Karnataka. Greater diversity exists in soil types, climate, topography cropping and farming situations. The jurisdiction includes dry-farming to heavy rainfall and irrigated area. Important crops of the region include sorghum, cotton, rice, pulses, chilli, sugarcane, groundnut, sunflower, wheat, safflower etc. The region is also known for many horticultural crops. Considerable progress has been registered in the field of education, research and extension from this University.

The University offers UG courses in four campuses, PG courses at three campuses and Diploma (Agri.) at six campuses.In main campus at Dharwad B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, B.Sc. (Hons) Agricultural Marketing and Cooperation, B.Sc. (Hons.) Community Science and B.Tech. (Food Tech.) programmes as well as Master programme in 19 disciplines and Doctoral programme in 16 disciplines; at Vijayapur campus, B.Sc. (Hons)Agriculture and M.Sc. (Agri.) in Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Agricultural Entomology, Genetics and Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology disciplines; at Sirsi campus, B.Sc. (Hons) Forestry , M.Sc. (Forestry) in five disciplines and Ph D in one discipline and B.Sc. (Hons) Agriculture at Hanumanamatti campus are offered. Two years Diploma (Agri.) course is offered at Dharwad, Vijayapur, Hanumanamatti, Jamakhandi, Nipani, Kumta and Konnur.