University of Calcutta, state-controlled institution of higher learning founded by the British inIndia in 1857. Modeled on theUniversity of London,Calcutta was originally a purelyaffiliatinguniversity that offered no actual instruction but was the examining and degree-granting authority for colleges scattered over most of northern India. Since 1904 it has gradually added teaching to its supervisory functions. By the mid-1970s Calcutta was one of the largest universities in the world, with 13 colleges under its direct control and more than 150affiliated colleges, as well as 16 postgraduate faculties. The faculties of ancient Indian history andculture and of applied mathematics and the institute of radiophysics and electronics are the state-designated centres of advanced study in those fields. The language of instruction is English.