This university was established in the eighth century by Pal Raj Dharampal and was famous in the international world as a center of learning for four centuries. Dharampal built many Buddha temples and monasteries here and donated them freely. Dharampal built many huge buildings for lectures. His successors continued to promote the university until the twelfth century. The monks of this monastery were generally great scholars. Due to its short duration, the fame of this monastery crossed the Himalayas. Knowledge exchange continued between Tibet and Vikramshila for four centuries. Knowledge seekers from Tibet used to come to study by sitting at the feet of Indian scholars.
According to Dr. Altekar, "No one can remain silent without praising the level of erudition that Vikramshila Vidyapeeth maintained throughout its life."
Tibetan evidence shows that the Buddha of Vikramshila, Gyanpad, Vairochana, Rakshit, Jetari Ratnakar Shanti, Gyanshrimitra, Ratnavraj, Abhayankar Gupta, Tathagata Rakshit, and dozens of other scholars had written texts in Sanskrit and translated them into Tibetan. Deepkar Shri was prominent among the best scholars of Vikramshila. This same Upadhyay was famous by the name Atish in the eleventh century. Went there at the invitation of King Chan Chub of Tibet. Your cooperation in the reform of Buddhism in Tibet was commendable. According to Tibetan tradition, he composed two hundred original and translated books.
When such a large gathering of renowned scholars had gathered in Vikramshila, the number of students must have been high. In the twelfth century, there were 3000 monks in the monastery here. This learning center had a very rich and huge library. The general management regulators of this university were Mahasthavirs. There was a council to handle various tasks and responsibilities of upasvadva and pravrajya donation, staff inspection and appointment, distribution of food and shelter, and other works of Vihar, to whose various members this work was given. The monk teachers lived a life of great simplicity. A teacher did not get more than what was spent on four monks.
The management of the Vidyapith was arranged or deposited among six scholars, whose head was Mahasthavir himself. The job of these Dwar-Pandits was to test the aptitude of the students entering the Vihar. During the reign of King Kanak, there were the following Dwar Pandits in the Vihar - Eastern Dwar - Acharya Ratnakar Shanti. Western Gate- Vanishwarkirti of Kashi. Northern gate – Naropa and southern gate – Prajnakaramati. Ratnavraj of Kashmir at the first middle gate and Gyan Shri Mitra of Gaur at the second middle gate. In this university, mainly grammar, justice, philosophy, and rituals were taught. Thus, the curriculum here was not as comprehensive or liberal as that of Nalanda.