Sambalpur University is located in Sambalpur, India in the Indian state of Orissa. Popularly known as Jyoti Vihar. It offers courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Governor of Orissa is the Chancellor of the university. The campus is located 15 km away from Sambalpur in Burla. On December 1966 Sambalpur University Act was passed by the Orissa Legislature for the foundation of a University in the Western piece of Orissa. This organization began from 1 January 1967. The principal Vice-Chancellor of this varsity was Prof. Parsuram Mishra. To start with, the University began working in 1967 in a leased private building in Dhanupali, Sambalpur; then in a legislature building at Ainthapali, Sambalpur. In 1973 the University was moved to the present yard named Jyoti Vihar at Burla. It is also a designated 'Manuscript Conservation Centre' (MCC) under the National Mission for Manuscripts established in 2003. The present facility of the University is spotted at Burla, 2 km far from NH 6.

The facilities of this college are in the region of Mahanadi Coal Fields Limited, VSSUT and found in the foothills of the world acclaimed Hirakud Dam. Admission to PG Diploma, MA, M Sc., M Tech, M.Phil, M.C.A, M.B.A and PhD courses are being conducted by an entrance examination. A keen number of hopefuls from different parts of the nation/abroad desire this examination. The motto of the university is “Vidyaya Vindatemrutam”.