Anna University

Statue of C N Annadurai in College of Engineering, Guindy campus

The first version of Anna University formed in 1978 had a similar constitution as the current structure of Anna Technological and Research University before various governments repeatedly kept changing the varsity's structure and affiliation scope. In 2001, under the Anna University Amendment Act of 2001, the erstwhile Anna University became an affiliating university, taking under its wings all the engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu. This included six government engineering colleges, three government-aided private institutions, and 426 self-financing colleges. On 1 February 2007, as a result of a Government of Tamil Nadu decision, the university was split into six constituent universities: Anna University, Chennai, Anna University of Technology, Chennai, Anna University of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, Anna University of Technology, Coimbatore, Anna University of Technology Tirunelveli and Anna University of Technology, Madurai.[3] The institutes were formally created in 2010. On 14 September 2011, a bill was passed to merge back the universities.[4] The merger became final in August 2012.[5]

In 2011 and 2012 the constituents were merged back to a single affiliating university and the four regional universities continue to function as regional campus of the university.

And then in September 2020, the Tamil Nadu government passed a bill making the varsity's four campuses in Chennai to be constituted as a 'unitary type' institution and called 'Anna Technological and Research University' while a new affiliating type university called 'Anna University' will be constituted to manage the affairs of the constituent and affiliated colleges.

The subsequent new Acts will be called Anna University (Amendment) Act 2020 and Anna Technological and Research University Act 1978. The new Act will come into force after the state government issues a notification.

A common entrance test – the Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examination (TNPCEE) – was used as a basis for admission to professional courses in the state until 2006.[6] Starting in the academic year 2007–08, students were admitted to engineering colleges on the basis of their higher secondary marks.[7] Post graduate admission process is carried out through TANCET and GATE scores."Admission for PG in CEG".

The university offers courses in engineering and technology through its affiliated colleges and follows a dual semester system. Every year the university conducts examinations for even semester in May–June and for odd semester in November–December. The first semester students have exams in January.

The university's campus is in Chennai. The university has satellite campuses in Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Tirunelveli. The university also runs engineering colleges at Villupuram, Tindivanam, Arani and Kanchipuram in Chennai region, Erode and Bargur in Coimbatore region, Panruti, Pattukkottai, Thirukkuvalai and Ariyalur in Tiruchirapalli region, Ramanathapuram and Dindigul in Madurai region, Nagercoil and Thoothukudi in Tirunelveli region.

• M. Madan Babu FRSC, director at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• Sundaram Karivardhan, industrialist and motorsport pioneer[16]
• G. V. Loganathan, former professor, Virginia Tech
• A. G. Ramakrishnan, professor, Indian Institute of Science[17]
• Y. S. Chowdary, Minister of State, Science and Technology & Earth Sciences, Government of India
• Kalidhindi B. R. Varma, Vice Chancellor, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
• Mahesh Muthuswami, Cinematog 2012[18]
• Thirumalachari Ramasami, secretary to Government of India, Department of Science and Technology
• Ravichandran Ashwin, cricketer, SSN College of Engineering
• Balaji Mohan, film director, SSN College of Engineering
• Anaka Alankamony, squash player, SSN College of Engineering
• Sooraj Surendran, electronic engineer

• List of Colleges & Institutions affiliated to Anna University

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anna University.

• Official website