The South Asian University is an International University sponsored by the eight Member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The eight countries are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The vision of a world-class South Asian University to be collectively established by SAARC was first outlined by the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh at the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka in 2005.

“The people of our subcontinent are at the cutting edge of scientific and technological research and in the front ranks of the knowledge society across the world. Wherever an enabling environment and world-class facilities are made available to our talented people, they excel. Let this become a forum where our academicians, scholars, researchers and gifted students can work together in the service of human advancement" Complete Speech

The formal Agreement to establish the University was signed on 4 April 2007.  Thereafter, experts and officials of the eight countries prepared the governance structure, academic plan and business development model of the University.

First academic session of the university started in August 2010 with two post-graduate academic programmes, one each in Economics and Computer Sciences. Four additional post-graduate academic programmes in Law, Sociology, International Relations and Biotechnology are expected to commence from July 2011. Additional programmes will be added in due course.