The Mass Communication Research Centre was established in 1982 by Anwar Jamal Kidwai, then vice-chancellor (later chancellor) of Jamia Millia Islamia. Jamia is today known primarily for these mass communication courses according to their own site.
This faculty was established in 1985 with the departments of Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering departments. It has added the departments of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Department of Applied Science and Humanities (1996) and has six engineering departments: Applied Sciences & Humanities, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Communications, Mechanical Engineering, computer Engineering—and a University Polytechnic. These departments conduct many projects sponsored by agencies. The faculty offers regular courses and continuing programmes.
In December 1988 Jamia was accorded the status of a Central University by the parliament under the Jamia Millia Islamia Act 1988 (no. 59 of 1988).
In 2006 the Sultan of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah of Saudi Arabia paid a visit to the university and donated $30 million for construction of a library. Now, that library is known as Dr. Zakir Husain Library (Central Library).
The main central library of the University is known as Dr. Zakir Husain Library with its collection of about 400,000 artefacts — including books, microfilms, periodicals volumes, manuscripts, and rare books. Certain halls are dedicated to them. The library is open to all bona fide students of Jamia. Beside this, there are subject collection in libraries of some faculties and centres.
The Faculty of Law was ranked sixth in India by Outlook India's "Top 25 Law Colleges in 2017" and 20th in India by The Week's "Top Law Colleges 2017".
