Tamil Nadu has a history that dates back to a thousand years or more. The state’s reputation lies with the fact that one of the first three universities established by British East India is located here in Chennai – the University of Madras. Having made great strides in the field of Higher Education, Tamil Nadu is a frontline state in India imparting quality education in the field of science and technology. Hence today Tamil Nadu is righteously called as the “Oxford of the South”.

The State Government has undertaken several schemes and programmes to overcome the problem of rural illiteracy and has provided free elementary education to the masses. The state’s literacy rate has increased significantly by over 10% i.e. from 62.66% in 1991 to 73.47% in 2001 which is well above the national average.

If we consider the scenario of Higher Education in Tamil Nadu, we find that the educational activities have increased manifold here, over the last few years. Major cities including Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichi and Madurai have established themselves as a forerunner in the field of higher education. Here, you will find some of India’s best professional educational institutions to name a few are: Indian Institute of Technology-Chennai, Madras Institute of Technology, Anna University, Christian Medical College-Vellore, Annamalai University, NIT-Trichy and so on.

Tamil Nadu has performed reasonably well in terms of literacy growth during the decade 1991-2001. The state's literacy rate increased from 62.66% in 1991 to 73.47% in 2001 which is well above the national average. About 99% of the population has access to primary education.

Presently Tamil Nadu boosts of:

• 40 Universities
  
• 350 engineering colleges
  
• 1150 Arts College
  
• 2550 schools
  
• 5000 hospitals
  
• Four technical universities to which 270 engineering colleges are affiliated.

IIT Madras, NIT Tiruchi, Anna University, Madurai Kamaraj University, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Government College of Technology, Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy, PSG College of Technology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham,SRM University, Sathyabama University , Vellore Institute of Technology in Engineering; Madras Medical College, Christian Medical College, Stanley Medical College in Medicine; LIBA, Bharathidasan Institute of Management in Management studies;Madras Christian College in Arts and Science; Presidency College, Loyola College in Science; Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Agriculture; Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) are the premier institutes in the state. Also Tamil Nadu produces the highest number of engineering graduates in India (around 30,000) every year which attracts many software companies to set up their shop in south India.

The education system of Tamil Nadu is considered as one of the best in the country. It is due to the continuous efforts made by the state Government in making the education policy liberal and also by granting autonomy to various institutes of excellence.

There are certain factors that make Tamil Nadu a preferred destination for higher education. It has adequate educational institutions, efficient and committed teachers, strong education policy of the government, and infrastructural facilitates for professional education. To maintain the quality of education in the state the government has outlaid Rs 892 crore for Higher Education.

The participation of central and state-run universities in the educational movement is worth noting. The varsities have set guidelines for various purposes including quality diverse academic teaching, admission and infrastructural development.

The diversification of courses in Tamil Nadu is really outstanding. Even in the medical stream, the diversity of colleges in niche courses like Sidha, Naturopathy, Ayurveda and Yoga, Tamil Nadu colleges top the list. The courses offered by institutes are job oriented and are futuristic. One might be surprised to know this fact that in most of these professional courses, out of the total students enrolled in the country, approximately 20% are from Tamil Nadu.

Finally we can surely say that Tamil Nadu is in a rapid mode of development in the field of higher education. It has only been made possible due to the duty consciousness of the administrative and teaching faculty and their contribution to research, and innovative methods of teachings.