A national university is mainly a university created or managed by a government, but which may also at the same time operate autonomously without direct control by the state.
Some national universities are associated with national cultural or political aspirations. For example, the National University of Ireland during the early days of Irish independence collected a large amount of information about the Irish language and Irish culture. In Argentina, the national universities are the result of the 1918 Argentine university reform and subsequent reforms, which were intended to provide a secular university system without direct clerical or government influence by bestowing self-government on the institutions.
List of national universities
Albania
Argentina
Australia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei
Cambodia
Canada
Chile
China
39 Universities in 985 Project
- Fudan University
- Harbin Institute of Technology
- Nanjing University
- Xi'an Jiao Tong University
- Beihang University
- Beijing Institute of Technology
- Beijing Normal University
- Central South University
- Central University for Nationalities (Minzu University of China)
- Chongqing University
- Dalian University of Technology
- East China Normal University
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology
- Hunan University
- Jilin University
- Ocean University of China
- Tianjin University
- Tongji University
- University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
- Wuhan University
- Xiamen University
- Shandong University
- Sichuan University
- South China University of Technology
- Southeast University
- Sun Yat-sen University
- Peking University
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Tsinghua University
- University of Science and Technology of China
- Zhejiang University
- China Agricultural University
- Lanzhou University
- Nankai University
- National University of Defense Technology
- Northeastern University
- Northwest A&F University
- Northwestern Polytechnical University
- Renmin University of China
Colombia
- National University of Colombia
- University of Antioquia
- University of Valle
- University of Atlántico
- Industrial University of Santander
- University of Cartagena
- University of Cauca
- University of Pamplona
- University of Caldas
- University of Quindío
- University of Tolima
- South Colombian University
- University of Nariño
- Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia
- University of Cundinamarca
- University of the Llanos
- University of the Amazon
- University of Magdalena
- University of Córdoba (Colombia)
- University of Sucre
- Popular University of Cesar
- University of La Guajira
- Technological University of Chocó
Costa Rica
Ecuador
- Amazonic State University (UEA)
- Armed Forces University – ESPE
- Agrarian Polytechnic College "Manuel Félix López" (ESPAM)
- Agrarian University of Ecuador (UAG)
- Bolívar State University (UEB)
- Central University of Ecuador)
- Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral
- Milagro State University (UNEMI)
- National Polytechnic School (Ecuador)
- National University of Chimborazo (UNACH)
- National University of Education (Ecuador)
- National University of Loja (UNL)
- Northern Technical University (UTN)
- Polytechnical State University of Carchi (UPEC)
- Polytechnical College of Chimborazo (ESPOCH)
- Regional Amazonic University "Ikiam"
- Secular University of Manabí "Eloy Alfaro" (ULEAM)
- Southern Manabí State University (UESM)
- Technical University of Ambato (UTA)
- Technical University of Babahoyo (UTB)
- Technical University of Cotopaxi (UTC)
- Technical University of Machala (UTMACH)
- Technical University of Manabí (UTM)
- University of Arts (Ecuador)
- University of Cuenca
- University of Guayaquil
- Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena
- Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo
- Yachay University
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
Guatemala
Guyana
Iceland
India
Institutes of National Importance (91 institutes)
- All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (7 functioning, 13 upcoming)
- Indian Institutes of Technology (23 functioning)
- National Institutes of Technology (31 functioning)
- Indian Institutes of Information Technology (23 functioning)
- Indian Institutes of Engineering Science and Technology (1 functioning, 2 upcoming)
- Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (7 functioning, 1 upcoming)
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (7 functioning, 4 upcoming)
- Indian Statistical Institute (Headquartered in Kolkata with 4 branches)
- School of Planning and Architecture (3 functioning)
- Indian Institutes of Management (20 functioning)
'Central Universities of India
- National Law Universities
- National Institute of Science Education and Research
- Jamia Millia Islamia
- Indira Gandhi National Open University
- Pondicherry University
- Nalanda University
- Aligarh Muslim University
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- University of Delhi
- Tezpur University
- Assam University
- North-Eastern Hill University
- Mizoram University
- Rajiv Gandhi University
- Tripura University
- Nagaland University
- Manipur University
- Central University of Rajasthan
- Central University of Kashmir
- Central University of Jammu
- Central University of Gujarat
- Central University of Haryana
Indonesia
- Airlangga University
- Andalas University
- Bandung Institute of Technology
- Brawijaya University
- Diponegoro University
- Education University of Indonesia
- Gadjah Mada University
- Hasanuddin University
- International Islamic University of Indonesia
- IPB University
- Open University of Indonesia
- Malang State University
- Padang State University
- Padjadjaran University
- Sebelas Maret University
- Semarang State University
- Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology
- Surabaya State University
- Syiah Kuala University
- University of Indonesia
- University of North Sumatra
- Yogyakarta State University
Iran
Ireland
Israel
Japan
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Malaysia
- International Islamic University Malaysia
- National Defence University of Malaysia
- National University of Malaysia
- Sultan Idris Education University
- Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia
- Universiti Malaysia Kelantan
- Universiti Malaysia Pahang
- Universiti Malaysia Perlis
- Universiti Malaysia Sabah
- Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
- Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
- Universiti Putra Malaysia
- Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
- Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin
- Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka
- Universiti Teknologi MARA
- Universiti Utara Malaysia
- University of Malaya
- University of Science, Malaysia
- University of Technology, Malaysia
Mexico
Mongolia
Myanmar
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
- Universidad Nacional de Asuncion
- Universidad Nacional de Concepción
- Universidad Nacional de Itapúa
- Universidad Nacional de Pilar
- Universidad Nacional de Villarrica
- Universidad Nacional del Este
Peru
Philippines
- University of the Philippines System, composed of eight (8) autonomous universities:
- University of the Philippines Baguio
- University of the Philippines Cebu
- University of the Philippines Diliman
- University of the Philippines Los Baños
- University of the Philippines Manila
- University of the Philippines Mindanao
- University of the Philippines Visayas
- University of the Philippines Open University
Poland
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Somalia
South Korea
Sri Lanka
- University of Colombo (Western Province)
- University of Peradeniya (Central Province)
- University of Ruhuna (Southern Province)
- University of Sri Jayewardenepura (Western Province)
- University of Kelaniya (Western Province)
- University of Moratuwa (Western Province)
- University of Jaffna (Northern Province)
- Eastern University, Sri Lanka (Eastern Province)
- South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil (Eastern Province)
- Rajarata University (North Central Province)
- Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (Sabaragamuwa Province)
- Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Kuliyapitiya and Makandura (North Western Province)
- Uva Wellassa University (Uva Province)
- University of the Visual & Performing Arts (Western Province)
- Open University of Sri Lanka(distance education)
- University of Ceylon (defunct)
- University of Sri Lanka (defunct)
Switzerland
Taiwan
Among dozens of public universities, including six research universities:
- National Central University
- National Chung Cheng University
- National Cheng Kung University
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
- National Sun Yat-sen University
- National Taiwan University
- National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
- National Taiwan Normal University
- National Tsing Hua University
Thailand
- Burapha University
- Chiang Mai University
- Chulalongkorn University
- Kasetsart University
- Khon Kaen University
- King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
- King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok
- King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi
- Prince of Songkla University
- Mahidol University
- Silpakorn University
- Thaksin University
- Thammasat University
- Ubon Ratchathani University
Ukraine
United States
- George Washington University, chartered by Congress in 1821; Washington long advocated for the establishment of a national university
- National University School of Law (1869-1954), now part of the George Washington law school
- Haskell Indian Nations University
- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
- United States Air Force Academy
- United States Coast Guard Academy
- United States Merchant Marine Academy
- United States Military Academy
- United States Naval Academy