In the year 1965, the Government of Tamil Nadu Started Thanthai Periyar Government Arts & Science College in Tiruchirappalli, the central part of Tamilnadu, naming it after the great thinker and social reformer Thanthai Periyar. Half a century ago, higher education was beyond the reach of the oppressed and economically marginalized younger generation in and around Tiruchirappalli. To cater the educational requisites, Thanthai Periyar, the visionary leader of Justice Party and a well-known social reformer of Tamil Nadu, generously donated 9.65 acres of his land and Rs.3.5 lakhs, and requested the Tamil Nadu Government to start a college at Tiruchirappalli. Utilizing the philanthropic help of Thanthai Periyar, the Government of Tamil Nadu started a Government College at Race Course Road, Khaja Nagar, Tiruchirappalli during the academic year 1965-1966, and named it ‘Periyar EVR College’ in honour of the leader. The then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Honourable M. Bhakthavatchalam inaugurated the college on 24.08.1965.

Now, our college campus is expanded to 52.62 acres endowed with adequate classrooms and infrastructural facilities. Nearly ninety percent students of this college belong to the oppressed and economically marginalized sections, who hail from rural and urban background. Many of them are first generation learners. Periyar E.V.R. College performs the role of uplifting the poor students by providing them holistic higher education and mould them as reputable individuals with responsibilities towards their families, society and ultimately the nation. Due to the selfless services and credibility of the academia, the college attained autonomous status during 1998-1999. Now we offer 15 Under Graduate and 16 Post Graduate programmes. Thirteen of our departments have been recognized as potential Research Centers by the Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli. Special Shift System (SSS) was introduced in the year 2006 by the State Government Policy of Education with the available infrastructure.

To provide higher education to the socially and economically weaker sections and to empower them to live with dignity and honour.
To impart knowledge and skills through higher education.
To make the students aware of their social responsibilities.
To develop the students’ individual personality to meet global challenges.
To enhance employability competence of the students
To achieve the communal harmony and national integration
Blending with the vision and mission of the college, all the staff and students strive to do their best to bring the college into a ‘College of Excellence’.


To help the students for developing their all round personality and make the students conscious of their social responsibility. The aim is to bring the college as an Institution of Excellence in Education and Research

By empowering young minds with leadership qualities
By enabling them to live a contented life
By fulfilling their social responsibilities
By encouraging their inter personal relationship
By improving teaching and learning strategies and infrastructure
By providing our students the professional competence to meet the academic, scholastic and societal needs

Admissions to all the UG, PG and Research programmes will be according to the rules and regulations notified by TN Govt. every now and then. Admission of every candidate is purely provisional. Admissions will be confirmed only after ratification by the University. If not ratified by the University or competent higher educational bodies, admission of a candidate will be cancelled. Fees paid by such a candidate will not be refunded. The college can not be held responsible for any financial or other losses suffered by such candidates.

Candidates discontinuing in the second or third years of a programme in other colleges will not be admitted in this college. However wards of Government employees transformed to Trichy may be admitted at the discretion of the Principal.

Thanthai Periyar Government Arts & Science College offers UG, PG, M.Phil. and Ph.D. Programmes. Following are the eligibility conditions for students admission according to the norms laid down by the Department of Collegiate Education, Tamil Nadu and Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli.

Eligibility for Under Graduate Programmes

A pass in the Higher Secondary Examination (10 + 2) (Academic / Vocational Stream) conducted by the Government of Tamil Nadu; or an examination accepted as equivalent thereto by the Syndicate of Bharathidasan University, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed thereof.

Transport Facilities: Buses are plying via college by the Tamilnadu Transport Corporation for students and staff. All the students are provided with Free Bus Pass by the Government. Train concession is also provided for students.