The main campus covers an area of about 55 hectares, two branch campuses 30 hectares and the new campus which is under construction 135 hectares. Its library has a collection of more than 1.75 million books and over 7000 Chinese and foreign periodicals, and it is equipped with a campus computer network. The University consists of 18 schools, 44 departments, 65 undergraduate specialties,119 master degree programs, 16 Ph.D. programs, and 1 Post-doctor's scientific research station, 4 professional master degree programs, and 2 state-level disciplines, 12 provincial-level disciplines. The University has a staff of 2399, among which 210 are professors and 490 associate professors. The student population totals 28143, in addition to 6466 adult students.

The university attaches great importance to international exchange and cooperation. Now, it has entered into agreements with 74 overseas institutions. It began to accept foreign students in 1980. It is authorized by the Ministry of Education to enroll international students who enjoy Chinese government’s scholarships. It was designated by Overseas Chinese Affairs Office under the State Council the Teaching Base for Chinese Language and Culture in 2000. Up to date, more than 700 international students from Asia, American and Europe have been admitted to study at the university.  

Anhui Province is rich in natural scenic spots and historic places of interests, such as, Mount Huangshan, listed by UNESCO as natural and cultural heritage and ancient folk houses in Xidi and Hongcun villages as cultural heritage; Mount Jiuhua, one of the four Buddhist shines; Mount Qiyun, one of the four Taoist shrines. With YangzhiRiver and HuaiheRiver across Anhui province and with a galaxy of men of letters, Anhui has been famous for its rich and colorful local culture, especially, Hui culture in Southern Anhui and Huaihe culture in Northern Anhui

在十九世紀末敬敷書院和二十世紀初創辦的安徽大學堂基礎上，安徽大學1928年創建于當時省會安慶市，她的誕生是安徽現代高等教育開啟的里程碑。1930年6月更名為省立安徽大學。1946年定名國立安徽大學。著名學者姚永樸、劉文典、王星拱、程演生、陶因、陳望道、丁緒賢、郁達夫、周予同、呂思勉、章益、周建人等均曾在安徽大學執教或主持校政。

1949年12月遷至蕪湖，與安徽學院合并，恢復校名安徽大學。1952年，全國高校院系調整，部分系科調往華東地區有關院校，同時調入一些系科，設師范、農學兩個學院，并于1954年2月分別獨立組建安徽農學院和安徽師范學院。1956年，學校遷址合肥市。

新中國成立以來，安徽大學倍受黨和國家領導人的親切關懷和省委省政府的高度重視。1958年9月16日，毛澤東同志視察安徽時，親筆為學校題寫校名。1960年2月23日，鄧小平同志親臨學校視察。1998年，江澤民、李鵬、喬石等同志親筆題詞祝賀學校建校70周年。2001年，溫家寶同志親切接見了“全國十大扶貧狀元”何家慶教授。董必武、彭真、陳毅、劉瀾濤、李嵐清、許嘉璐、回良玉等黨和國家領導人也曾先后來校視察。安徽省委第一書記曾希圣、副省長杜宜瑾同志都曾長期兼任校長

1993年，安徽省委、省政府決定重點支持安徽大學進入國家“211工程”。1996年以來學校相繼完成“九五”、“十五”“211工程”建設任務，2006年6月順利通過國家“十五”“211工程”整體項目驗收。