Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU), Tirunelveli established in 1970.

It was named after the famous Tamil Scholar Professor P. Sundaram Pillai, to cater to the long felt needs of the people of the three southern most districts of Tamil Nadu namely Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari.

The University has under its jurisdiction 61 affiliated colleges, 5 mano colleges and 1 constituent college, with 65,000 students on rolls.

These colleges, amongst which three are over 100 years old (St. John’s College, M.D.T. Hindu College, Sarah Tucker College, the oldest women’s college in the state), have contributed decisively to the cause of higher education of this region.

The University Grants Commission, New Delhi, an apex higher education body of the Union Government, has accorded its approval for getting financial assistance since 29 March 1994.

The University has been accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council of India with five star status.