It is named after B. R. Ambedkar, social reformer and the architect of Indian Constitution.

The University of Bihar was established in 1952 through the University of Bihar Act, 1951, which split the Patna University, giving jurisdiction over all colleges situated outside the municipal limits of Patna to the newly formed university, which was still headquartered from Patna.

[2] In 1960, the Bihar State Universities (Patna, University of Bihar, Bhagalpuir and Ranchi) Act, 1960 changed the division of universities in the states giving jurisdiction over the Patna division to Patna University, and dividing the rest of the state jurisdiction between three universities, University of Bihar, with headquarters at Muzaffarpur, with jurisdiction over Tirhut division, Bhagalpur University with jurisdiction over Bhagalpur division, and Ranchi University with jurisdiction over Chotanagpur division (present day Jharkhand).

[3] The university was further bifurcated in 1962, through the Bihar University Act, 1961, creating Magadh University with jurisdiction over Magadh division,[4] in 1972 through an ordinance, creating Mithila University, which was given jurisdiction over colleges from the Darbhanga and Kosi divisions,[5] and finally in 1990, creating Jai Prakash University with jurisdiction over Saran division.

[7] Its jurisdiction extends over the six districts of Tirhut division.