The College started its academic programme in an abandoned military camp. Late Rev. B. M. Pugh was appointed as the first Principal of the College. Initially, there were one professor and eight teachers to conduct the B.Sc (Agri) degree programme. Thirty students were enrolled in the first batch to begin with. The academic programme included the subjects of Agronomy, Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Entomology, Zoology, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Agril. Engineering, Mathematics, English and Vernacular language, Tea science, Statistics and Economics.
          The post graduate degree programme was started in the Department of Agronomy in 1962 and in Entomology, Plant Pathology and Agril. Chemistry including Soil Science in 1965. Later on, Masters degree programme was introduced in all the major disciplines. At present, fifteen departments offer M.Sc. degree programme. The Ph. D. Degree programme in the faculty was introduced in eight disciplines from 1986 onward under course credit system.
The Biswanath College of Agriculture was established at Biswanath Chariali in 1987-88. Initially an OSD was appointed to initiate the work for establishment of this college. Later the post of Associate Dean was created to head this college. To start the activities of this college, immedietly, an temporary college building, hostles and staff quarters were completed. Initially 20 students were adjusted for the B. Sc.(Agri) degree programme at this college.
A unique Department of Tea Husbandry ∓mp; Technology was instituted in 1968 under joint sponsorship of the Government of Assam and the Tea board of India. Dr. P. C. Bora was the founder Professor and Head of this new department since October 26, 1968. The department offers batchelor as well as post-graduate degree in an industry oriented professional programme. Dr. M. C. Das took over as the Principal in 1949 and served and guided the College for long 17 years until 1966. It was during the period of his stewardship that the institution gained momentum to become a full-fledged Agricultural College. During the first five years of its existence, the College was affiliated to the Gauhati University. With the establishment of Dibrugarh University, the affiliation was shifted to it, till the establishment of the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) in 1969. In the formation of AAU, the erstwhile Assam Agricultural College formed the nucleus of the budding university.
The College followed traditional system of teaching and evaluation until 1970. In 1971, the trimester system of teaching and internal evaluation in the pattern of land grant colleges of the U.S.A. was introduced. In 1977, the semester system was starated which still continues.

          Being a residential institution, accommodation facilities for the students in the form of hostels were developed. A number of hostels were constructed/renovated starting with the hostel No. 1 which was an abandoned military barrack. Construction of hostels was also financed by North eastern Council (N.E.C.). At present there are 12 hostels of which 5 for U.G boys, 2 for U.G girls, 2 each for P.G. boys and for P.G. girls and 1 for Research Associates.