A host of seven Belgian Jesuits arrived at Calcutta in November 1859, under the leadership of Fr. H. Depelchin (Rector: 1860-1871), in the Founding Father of the second St. Xavier’s, They shifted St. Xavier’s from Chowringhee to the Sans Souci Theatre in January 1860, which is now the honest home of learned professors and zealous students.

As a Jesuit Higher Educational Institution, it aims to form men and women for others, with fundamental human and spiritual values. The tiny seed has grown into a mighty tree from 83 students in 1860 to 8,614 students in December 2024. The College functions in three shifts : morning, day and evening, offering UG and PG courses in Humanities, Science, Education, Commerce and Business Administration.

In July 2014, the rural face of St. Xavier’s set up the campus at Raghabpur, South 24 Parganas – The college offers various courses in B. Com (Honours), Bengali (Honours) and BA (Genral). An Honours course in History will be offered from July 2015.

The EMRC building at the EM By pass campus is another instance of the extenstion of the college. Fr. Leeming Boys’ Hostel and Mother Teresa Hostel for Girls has been in use from July 2014.

The Crest of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata, is modeled on Jassu Crest of the University Patron, Saint Francis Xavier’s family. It has been adapted to local surroundings, suggestive of a native flavour of a University in India. The escutcheon in white and blue contains a tiger and a palm tree, overlooked by a silver crescent moon, which symbolizes the palacio of Xavier. The charge on the Dexter, IHS, bespeaks a University of the Society of Jesus (Iesus Hominum Salvator – Jesus, Savior of Human Family). The checky argent and sable in the base recall the spirit of the Xaverian family. A garter bearing the words “St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata”, encircles the escutcheon and it is surmounted by a Cross emanating holy rays. A scroll passes underneath inscribed with the words Nihil Ultra (Nothing Beyond), the motto of the University. The Crest signifies dignity, courage, quiet gleam and the call of the beyond – the quest persists towards higher endeavour.

• St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata is a Jesuit University.
• St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata is a UGC recognised University & included in the UGC list maintained as per section 2(f) of UGC Act 1956.
• St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Act, 2016 was unanimously passed in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on December 15, 2016.
• As per the notification of Government of West Bengal, the provision of St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Act, 2016 came into force from the 8th Day of February 2017.