Tribhuvan University (TU) [त्रिभुवन विश्वविध्यालय] is a public university located in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal. Established in 1959, TU is the oldest of the five universities in Nepal. A huge number of students, approximately 290,833 from all over Nepal and abroad, makes it the biggest university in Nepal and 19th biggest in the world. The university provides undergraduate and graduate education. Currently, more than 2,400 courses are offered, of which 300 are for intermediate-level courses (equivalent to Higher Secondary School), 1,079 are for undergraduate and 1,000 are for postgraduate programs. The university has 65 integral colleges and more than 200 affiliated colleges throughout the country. Since it is government financed, it is less expensive than other private universities. Tribhuvan University also hosts four think tanks. Tribhuvan University was named after Late King Tribhuvan. Established in 1959, it is the oldest university in Nepal. During its 48 years, the state-owned university has expanded its programs.