Fergusson College

Fergusson College (FC) is a degree college in western India, situated in the city of Pune. It was founded in 1885 by the Deccan Education Society and at that time it was the first privately governed college in India. Professor Vaman Shivram Apte was the first principal of the college. Social reformer, journalist, thinker and educationist Gopal Ganesh Agarkar served as the second principal of the college from August, 1892 till his death in June 1895. The college is named after Scottish born Sir James Fergusson, the Governor of Bombay, who donated a then princely sum of Rs 1,200. Since 1948, the college has been under the jurisdiction of the University of Pune.

Today Fergusson College has emerged as one of India's most prestigious education institutions, consistently ranked among the Top 10 colleges of the country. The college has two sections; The Junior Wing of the college is for students graduating from school. Courses are offered in Arts and Science streams, at the end of which students may appear for the Higher-Secondary State Certificate examination. The Senior Wing offers Bachelors Degrees in 29 disciplines and Masters Degrees in 16 disciplines, spanning electronic and computer sciences, languages, humanities and social science, life sciences and creative sciences. The college also offers doctoral and vocational programs.

Fergusson College is known for its close association with Indian Politics. Its founders were amongst the pioneers of the Indian National Congress, as well as Hindu Nationalism, and the Indian Socialist Movement. The college has produced, amongst several ministers and legislators, two Indian Prime Ministers.

The 65-acre (260,000 m2) campus of the college is located in the heart of the city. It provides athletic and cultural facilities, as well as residential facilities for more than six hundred students and faculty.