The roots of the University of Khartoum (U of K) go back to 1898 when Lord Kitchener
of Khartoum proposed founding a college in memory of General Gordon.The new college,
named the Gordon Memorial College, was officially opened in 1902. A secondary stratum
was added in 1905 for the purpose of training assistant engineers. In 1924, the College
developed into a vocational secondary school concentrating on teaching the following disciplines:
Sharia, Engineering, Teachers’ Training, Clerical Work, Accounting and Science.
In the same year Kitchener School of Medicine was established. The year 1936 witnessed
the beginning of higher education in the Sudan with the establishment of the School of
Law. By 1940 the College included schools of Agriculture, Arts, Law, Science, Engineering
and Veterinary Science. Each School was attached to the government department in
which the graduates would be expected to work.
In January 1945, all these schools were brought under one administration in a special
arrangement with the University of London. The College was upgraded in 1951 to become
Khartoum University College. In the same year Kitchener School of Medicine was incorporated
in the University College. The University of London set the examinations and
awarded the degrees. The outstanding students were awarded bachelor degrees from the
University of London and the rest obtained the College diplomas. The present University
of Khartoum is the result of the natural transformation of the University College of Khartoum
when the country became independent in 1956. The bill giving full University status
to the College was passed by Parliament on 24th July 1956, since then, the University
witnessed considerable expansion.