Gautam Buddha University, established by the Uttar Pradesh Act (9) of 2002, commenced its first academic session at its 511 acres lush green campus at Greater Noida in August 2008. The University is fully funded by the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) and the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) the undertakings of the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The University envisions to become a world class centre for excellence in education with a special focus to serve the under privileged and economically challenged sections of the society. The University is modeled as a fully residential educational campus in line with the best institutions of higher learning across the globe. The uniqueness of its reputation is acknowledged through the format, content and pedagogy of its programmes and their relevance to the society. The University is recognized by the University Grants Commission under UGC Act and is a member of the Association of Indian Universities.

In order to promote value-based education, research and training, the University has established eight schools, which are: School of Management, School of Vocational Studies & Applied Sciences, School of Buddhist Studies & Civilization, School of Information & Communication Technology, School of Biotechnology, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, School of Law, Justice & Governance, and School of Engineering.