Pondicherry University is a Central University in Pondicherry, India. Founded in 1985 by the Government of India, it is an affiliating University with a jurisdiction spread over the Union Territories (Union Territory) of Puducherry, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

It has 25,000 students in its 57 affiliated colleges in addition to 1,600 students enrolled on the main campus and another 27,000 students in the distance education mode. It is credited with being a pioneering distance-learning institution in India with innovations like Choice-based Credit System and on-line admission for postgraduate studies.