University of Madras

The University of Madras is one of the three oldest universities in India (along with University of Mumbai and University of Calcutta). The University of Madras, organized on the model of London University, was incorporated on 5 September 1857 by an Act of the Legislative Council of India. The university is situated in the southern city of Chennai (formerly Madras). It has 4 campuses in the city - Chepauk, Marina, Guindy and Taramani. More than 50 Departments offer a range of specialisation subjects.

In 2004, all engineering courses of the University were shifted to Anna University. The University provides affiliation to several colleges for various courses ranging from BSc to M.B.A.. The various departments of the University also conduct research in addition to teaching. There are nearly 43 external research institutes in addition to centres of excellence within the University. The university has been granted the 5 star status, the highest grade by the NAAC of University Grants Commission.

The Vice Chanellor of the Univerity is S.P Thyagarajan

Notable Personalities

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his discovery of Raman effect),Enrolled in the University of Madras in 1902

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983 for his contributions in astrophysics), Enrolled in 1925

Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India

Dr G.N. Ramachandran (biophysicst)solved the structure of collagen

Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy (Former President of India)

Palaniappan Chidambaram, Finance Minister of India

University Departments

Adult and Continuing Education,Agro Economic Research Centre,Anatomy,Analytical Chemistry,Ancient History and Archaeology,Anna Centre for Public Affairs,Anthropology,Applied Geology,Arabic, Persian and Urdu,Biochemistry,Biotechnology,Botany,Central Instrumentation and Service Department,Centre for South and South Asian Studies,Chair in Tamil Christian Literature,Christian Studies,Commerce,Computer Science,Criminology,Crystallography and Biophysics,Defence and Strategic Studies,Economic Studies - Dr.Ambedkar Centre,Econometrics,Economics,Education,Endocrinology,Energy,English,French,Genetics,Geography,Geology,Hindi,Indian History,Indian Music,Information Science,Inorganic Chemistry,Islamic Studies,Journalism and Communication,Jainology,Kannada,Legal Studies,Malayalam,Management Studies,Mathematics,Medical Biochemistry,Microbiology,Nuclear Physics,National Centre for Ultrafast Process,Organic Chemistry,Pathology,Pharmacology and Toxicology,Philosophy,Physical Chemistry,Physiology,Politics and Public Administration,Polymer Science,Psychology,Saiva Siddhantha,Sanskrit,Sociology,Statistics,Tamil Language,Tamil Literature,Telugu,Theoretical Physics,Thirukkural Research Endowment,Vaishnavism,Zoology.

The University of Madras has a historical monument - Senate House - which is one of the landmarks of the city of Chennai. The Senate House, the University's first building, inaugurated in the year 1869, is a masterpiece of Robert Fellowes Chisholm, the greatest architect of 1800's, who harmoniously blended the Indo-Saracenic style with Byzantine and European architectural features. This University of Madras is undertaking steps to renovate the Senate House due to its decay. However, shortage of funds had delayed the renovation work and the University of Madras appeals for funds. The renovation cost has been estimated to be about US$1.5 million.