MANUU is a Central University with an all-India jurisdiction. It was established in 1998 by an Act of Parliament to promote and develop the Urdu language, to impart vocational and technical education, to provide wider access to people desirous of pursuing higher education in Urdu medium through regular and distance modes of education with a focus on Women Education - while adhering to the National Agenda of Access, Equity and Quality.

According to MANUU Act, 1996, the President of India is the Visitor of the University. The Visitor appoints the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor. The Chancellor is the Head of the University and the Vice-Chancellor, Principal Executive and Academic Officer.

The governing bodies of the University are the Court, the Executive Council, the Academic Council, School Boards, Boards of Studies of the Departments, Finance Committee and other such authorities as declared by the Statutes of the University.

MANUU was accredited with 'A' Grade by the NAAC in two consecutive cycles in the year 2016 and 2009. National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) also ranked the University in a band of 101 - 150 for two years (2017 & 2018).

MANUU is also the only Indian Language University to find a place in the top 25 Central Universities, ranked at 20th position, in a survey published by Outlook Magazine in its July 2019 issue. University has secured 76% in Audit transparency performed by CIC (Central Information Commission) and ISTM (Institute of Secretariat Training and Management) of the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Govt.of India.

MANUU is located at Gachibowli in Hyderabad, Telangana State. It is spread over an area of 200 acres. Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has presented Heritage Award 2017 to MANUU for its commendable efforts to save the rocks.

MANUU's Headquarters, over the years has created nearly 100,000 Sq. Meter of built up space housing nine Academic Blocks, two Research Centers, three Administrative Buildings, two Training Centers, two Guest houses, six Hostels and three Sports and Recreation Complexes besides a bank; a post office; a canteen; and 93 faculty and staff quarters.

Presently MANUU offers 75 regular programs through 24 Departments, seven Schools, 10 Constituent Colleges, five Polytechnics, four Industrial Training Institutes and three Model Schools . The University holds a unique feature and distinction of offering courses and programs from elementary to higher levels of education.

MANUU while recognizing its mandate to reach the unreached has been offering 15 distance mode programs approved by UGC-DEB including B.Ed. under the Directorate of Distance Education (DDE). At present there are nine Regional Centres, five Sub-Regional Centres and 132 Learner Support Centres in 11 different states.

The University has taken considerable intervention measures to improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in general and of women in particular through providing Weightage in Qualifying Marks, Relaxation in Age, Waiver of First Semester Tuition Fee and 33% Reservation provision.

MANUU has introduced the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) for all programs offered at UG and PG levels for all forms of education (General, Professional, Technical and Vocational).

MANUU has also introduced the display system of answer scripts to the students after evaluation and before declaration of results for all the regular courses. MANUU has become the first Central University in the country to introduce this system. The move was widely appreciated by different stake holders.

The university has a Satellite Campus in Lucknow and a Campus at Srinagar (Kashmir). There are Colleges of Teacher Education in Bhopal, Darbhanga, Srinagar, Aurangabad, Sambhal, Asansol, Nuh (Mewat) and Bidar. They are guided through the School of Education and Training. The University runs five Polytechnic colleges, one each in Bengaluru, Darbhanga, Hyderabad, Kadapa and Cuttack; four ITIs, one each in Bengaluru, Darbhanga, Hyderabad and Kadapa; and three Urdu Model Schools, one each in Darbhanga, Hyderabad and Nuh.