This is a residential cum affiliating university, with its jurisdiction spread over the erstwhile Bilaspur Revenue Division, comprising of Bilaspur, Raigarh, Sarguja, Korba, Janjgir-Champa, Jashpur and Koriya districts.

It has more than 108 affiliated colleges, which include four autonomous colleges, one college of engineering and one college of physical education for girls. The Institute of Technology, located in the university campus, offers courses in the disciplines of electronics and communication engineering, industrial and production engineering, computer science and engineering, information technology and chemical engineering. MCA and distance education programs are offered. The university has also organized a placement cell.