The Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur (or BESU), established in 1856 at Shibpur, Howrah, is one of the oldest engineering university in India. The university has programs for bachelor and masters degrees in engineering and applied sciences. The university also offers research degrees (Masters and Ph.D) in engineering and applied sciences. The university was ranked 10th among all engineering institutes in India by the magazine "India Today" in 2005. The university is set to become the first Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology following the Indian Cabinet's approval of the proposal for its upgrade to IIEST on 12 October 2010. The university is located on the western bank of the Hoogli River in Howrah, opposite the city of Kolkata, which is connected by transportation to all the major Indian cities as well as to some foreign ones by rail transport and air routes and also by the Golden Quadrangle Road Network. The nearest railway station is Shalimar Station, which is two kilometres from the campus. The airport is 30 kilometres from the main gate of the campus.