Sikkim University is a central university established under an Act of Parliament of India. It is in Gangtok. The campus is expected to be built at Yangang in South Sikkim district, about 56 kilometres (35 mi) from Gangtok. Its first chancellor was M. S. Swaminathan; Mahendra P. Lama was the first vice chancellor.In 2008 the university started from four departments — Social System and Anthropology; Peace and Conflict Studies and Management; International Relations/Politics; and Microbiology. The university offers traditional courses in humanities, physical and life sciences, and forestry along with non-traditional courses that are unique and related to the state including subjects like ethnic history, mountain studies, border studies, and hill music and culture.All the colleges in the state of Sikkim are affiliated to this university.The university has the following schools, departments and centers of studies:School of Social SciencesSchool of Life SciencesSchool of Physical Sciences School of Languages and Literature School of Human Sciences