Vidyasagar University is named after Pandit Iswar Chandra Bandyopadhyay, known as Vidyasagar, The educationist and social worker of Bengal. The university was established on September 29, 1981, in the Midnapore district of West Bengal. The university is government-approved and got the UGC approval on March 1, 1990. The mission of the university is to provide an answer to the need for religion and ethics with mainstream education.  

Today a total of 39 Colleges including 3 engineering colleges are affiliated with Vidyasagar University. The university also agreed to affiliate with a medical college which will start soon at Midnapore town. With the Centre of Distance and Online Education- Vidyasagar University, students can access postgraduate degrees in multiple specializations with flexibility and convenience and achieve the degree at an affordable price. Completing the post-graduation degree qualifies candidates to take NET, GATE, etc. 

The master's program offered by the Vidyasagar Distance University is M. Com./M. A. in Bengali, English, History, Political Science and Sanskrit  M. Sc. in Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, Botany, Geography (M.A./M.Sc.) and Applied Mathematics and M. Sc. in Environmental Science. As these degrees are in distance mode, students as well as working professionals can pursue this degree while completing other professional obligations. The faculties for the distance education program of Vidyasagar University are highly qualified.

The study material is provided by the university in full or in parts in the form of modules. The university sends the hard copy of study material by post or hand over directly to students at the time of admission or during PCP( Personal Contact Programme). The networking opportunities to interact with faculties and batchmates are provided by the university through the Personal Contact Programme- organized after a major part of the syllabus is covered. The program was conducted for 10 days in one phase or twice for 5 days.