In a historic milestone for Indian education, William Carey, a British Christian missionary, established India’s first modern missionary college — Serampore College — in 1818 at Serampore, Bengal. This pioneering institution became a beacon of liberal, inclusive, and modern higher education in the early 19th century.
Founded by Carey along with fellow missionaries Joshua Marshman and William Ward, the college aimed to provide instruction in Western sciences, humanities, and Christian theology, welcoming students of all castes, religions, and backgrounds — a progressive move in colonial India.
In 1827, Serampore College received a Royal Charter from the Danish King Frederick VI, giving it the authority to confer degrees, making it the first institution in India with university status — decades before the establishment of the University of Calcutta.
Serampore College’s founding marked the beginning of structured modern higher education in India, blending missionary values with academic rigor and social reform. It remains active today under the Senate of Serampore College (University).
