In 1926, Pt.Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande established a music school in Lucknow with the help and co-operation of Rai Umanath Bali and Rai Rajeshwar Bali and other music patrons and connoisseurs of Lucknow.

The institution was inaugrated by the then Governor of Awadh Sir William Marris and was named after him as 'Marris College of Music'. On March 26, 1966, the Uttar Pradesh goverment brought the college under its control and renamed it after its founder as Bhatkhande College of Hindustani Music.

At the request of the state government, the central government by a notification on Oct 24, 2000, declared the institute a university.

Students not only from India, but also from Sri Lanka, Nepal, central and east Asian countries study in the varsity on (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) ICCR scholarships.

The music study subjects are grouped into four : Vocal, Melody, Instrumental and Dance. These are spread into Classical, Semi-Classical and Light Vocal (Gayan), Swaravadya and Talavadya in Instrumental (Vadan) and Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri and Folk in Dance (Nritya) departments.