The objects of Maulana Azad National Urdu University are:
to promote and develop the Urdu Language,
to impart education and training in vocational and technical subjects through the medium of urdu,
to provide wider access to people desirous of pursuing programmes of higher education and training in Urdu medium through teaching on the campus as well as at a distance, and
to provide focus on women education.
In reality all these objects set apart the distinctiveness of MANUU from all the other higher educational institutions in the Country. All the programmes in MANUU are taught in Urdu including science and technology programmes of study, except language programmes. In order to achieve, maintain and assert its distinctiveness MANUU has established a Directorate of Translation and Publication (DTP) to develop study contents in Urdu. MANUU has a centre which specifically promotes culture of Urdu and knowledge in Urdu, namely Centre for Urdu Culture Studies (CUCS), MANUU also has a Centre to provide professional training to the Urdu medium school teachers, viz. Centre for Professional Development of Urdu Medium Teachers (CPDUMT). It is a teachers training centre which organizes pedagogical programs and caters to the needs of Urdu Medium Teachers having varying specializations. Since 2007, the Centre has conducted 82 such programs, witnessing more than 10,000 participants. During the pandemic, the Centre has organized about 16 online programs, including those in collaboration with organizations like NCPUL-New Delhi, Telangana Urdu Academy-Hyderabad, and other departments of MANUU.
MANUU’s website and all the contents therein are displayed in Urdu besides, English. MANUU recruits only those who possess knowledge of Urdu. It runs Urdu proficiency certificate classes for students, teachers and non-teaching staff, to enhance their knowledge of Urdu.