The university was established in 1980. The university is accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a grade of A+. The Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management, Visakhapatnam, is also accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). The university is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). GITAM University is ISO 9001:2015 certified. In NIRF 2020, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam was ranked 71st in the university category. However, in the NIRF 2021 Ranking, the university was ranked 67th in the university category. The mission and vision of the university are to impart education of international standards and to become a globally recognised university.

The courses are offered by the university in the fields of science, computer applications, architecture, arts, and research. The offered courses are B.Sc., B.Sc. Nursing, B.C.A., B.Arch, B.A., M.Sc., M.A., M.C.A., M.Phil, and Ph.D. Admission to these courses is done according to the GITAM University admission criteria. The total number of faculty members at the university is 1366. The total number of students enrolled at Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management, Visakhapatnam, is 74672. Thus, the student-teacher ratio at the university is 55:1

There are numerous facilities available at the university. Some of the facilities provided by the university are: the boys' and girls' hostels; the library; the auditorium; the cafeteria; wi-fi; transport; medical clinic, bank, etc. GITAM University also has a placement cell, which assists in the placement of students. The placement cell conducts various activities like workshops, exhibitions, fairs, industrial visits, guest lectures, and many more. Students at the university can avail of many scholarships provided by the central government, UGC, or AICTE. GITAM University Visakhapatnam has many national and international collaborations. The university also has many clubs, committees, and societies.