Presidency College, Chennai is a government autonomous arts and science college set up in 1840. It is affiliated with the University of Madras, recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC), and funded and run by the Tamil Nadu Government. The college offers UG, PG, M.Phil, and Ph.D programmes in arts, science, commerce, and computing.

In the NIRF Rankings 2025, Presidency College Chennai is placed at 15 in the Colleges category with a score of 70.62. The college is also known for its historic campus in Chennai and its wide range of low-fee degree programmes.

The campus stands on College Road, Nungambakkam, in Chennai. Its main Gothic-revival building was completed in 1867 and is a listed heritage structure that remains one of the city’s well-known landmarks.

Presidency College Chennai offers courses in arts, science, commerce, computing, social work, and research:

  • BA is available in Tamil, English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, History, Economics, and Political Science
  • B.Sc is offered in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Statistics, Geology, Geography, Psychology, Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, and Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology
  • B.Com is offered in General and Corporate Secretaryship, along with BCA
  • MA is offered in 9 humanities and social science subjects, M.Sc in 10 science subjects, and M.Com
  • MSW in Social Work and MCA are also offered
  • M.Phil and Ph.D programmes are available in arts and science fields

For 3 years, the total fee is INR 3,875 for BA and B.Com, while B.Sc and BCA cost INR 3,935. At the PG level, MA, M.Com, and MSW cost INR 1,725 for 2 years, and M.Sc costs INR 1,845 for 2 years.

Students can apply for schemes such as the Tamil Nadu Government Post-Matric Scholarship with full fee reimbursement for SC, SCA, and ST students, TN First Graduate Scholarship of INR 20,000 per year, and BC/MBC/DNC Scholarship of up to INR 9,000 per year.

As per NIRF 2026 data for 2024-25, 301 UG students and 186 PG students were placed. The median salary stood at INR 2.11 LPA for UG students and INR 2.16 LPA for PG students. Many graduates also move into higher studies, civil services, teaching, and competitive exam preparation.

Presidency College Chennai Courses and Fees

Presidency College Chennai has more than 40 programmes at UG, PG, M.Phil, and Ph.D levels. The total course fees range from INR 1,725 for MA programmes to INR 3,935 for B.Sc and BCA.

CourseFee
BA (all subjects, 3 years)INR 3,875
B.Com / B.Com Corporate Secretaryship (3 years)INR 3,875 each
B.Sc (all science subjects, 3 years)INR 3,935 each
BCA (3 years)INR 3,935
MA (all humanities subjects, 2 years)INR 1,725 each
M.Sc (all science subjects, 2 years)INR 1,845 each
M.Com / MSW (2 years)INR 1,725 each
MCA (2 years)INR 2,825
M.Phil in arts and social sciences (1 year)INR 2,215 per year
Ph.D in all disciplines (minimum 3 years)INR 2,215 per year

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

BA options include Tamil, English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, History, Economics, and Political Science. B.Sc students can choose from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Statistics, Geology, Geography, Psychology, Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, and Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology. B.Com Corporate Secretaryship is meant for students interested in Company Secretary-related study paths.

Presidency College Chennai Admission Process

Presidency College Chennai admits most students on merit. UG and PG admissions, except MCA, are handled through TNGASA, the Tamil Nadu Government centralised portal for arts and science college admissions.

UG Programmes (BA / B.Sc / B.Com / BCA)

Students must pass Class 12 from a recognised board. For BA language courses, merit is mainly based on marks in the related language paper. For other BA, B.Com, and BCA courses, rank lists are prepared using aggregate marks in non-language subjects. B.Sc applicants need the relevant science subjects at the Class 12 level. Special quota counselling was held at the college campus on June 5-6, 2026, and general quota counselling was held on June 8-18, 2026.

PG Programmes (MA / M.Sc / M.Com / MSW)

For PG admission, students need a relevant UG degree. MA requires a bachelor’s degree in the related subject. M.Sc needs a B.Sc in the matching science discipline. M.Com applicants need B.Com or an equivalent degree. MSW accepts graduates from any discipline. Seat allotment for PG courses is based on qualifying degree marks through TNGASA.

MCA

MCA applicants must have BCA, B.Sc CS, or any 3-year UG degree with Mathematics at 10+2 or graduation level. The minimum qualifying score is 50%, or 45% for reserved categories. Admission is based on TANCET MCA scores through centralised counselling.

Presidency College Chennai Placements and Career Outcomes

Presidency College Chennai students choose different career routes, including campus jobs, higher studies, competitive exams, and teaching. NIRF 2026 data for the 2024-25 batch shows that 301 UG students out of 878 eligible graduates were placed with a median salary of INR 2.11 LPA. At the PG level, 186 out of 494 eligible students were placed, and the median salary was INR 2.16 LPA.

Corporate hiring is stronger for BCA, B.Sc CS, B.Com, and MCA students. Recruiters listed for the college include TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Cognizant, Accenture, Amazon, Deloitte, KPMG, and Axis Bank. Students from arts, science, and social science programmes also commonly prepare for M.Sc, MBA, M.Phil, Ph.D, UPSC, TNPSC, teaching, and other competitive exams.

Career PathwayMost Relevant ProgrammesKey Support
Corporate campus placementBCA, B.Sc CS, MCA, B.Com, M.ComTraining and Placement Cell, soft skills training, mock interviews
Higher studies (M.Sc, MBA, Ph.D)All UG and PG programmesFaculty mentoring, NET and SLET coaching, research labs
Civil services (UPSC, TNPSC)BA (History, Economics, Pol. Sci.), MA, Public AdministrationCoaching support, faculty guidance
Teaching and academiaMA, M.Sc, M.Com, MSWNET and SLET preparation, faculty-guided research

Presidency College Chennai Rankings

Presidency College Chennai has a strong national ranking record among arts and science colleges. In NIRF Colleges, it ranked 15 in 2025, 13 in 2024, and 3 in 2023.

Ranking BodyCategory2025 Rank2024 Rank2023 Rank
NIRFColleges15133

The NIRF score improved from 68.36 in 2024 to 70.62 in 2025. Its rank 3 in NIRF Colleges 2023 shows its strong performance in teaching-learning resources and graduate outcomes. Among government arts and science colleges in Tamil Nadu, Presidency College Chennai remains one of the top two performers in national rankings.

Presidency College Chennai Scholarships

Presidency College Chennai supports students through Tamil Nadu state government and Government of India scholarship schemes. SC, SCA, and ST students generally get full tuition fee reimbursement along with monthly maintenance allowances.

ScholarshipEligibilityBenefit
TN Government Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)SC, SCA, ST category studentsFull tuition fee reimbursement plus monthly maintenance allowance
TN First Graduate ScholarshipFirst-generation college student in the family, no income limitINR 20,000 per year
BC/MBC/DNC ScholarshipBC, MBC, DNC category, family income below INR 2.5 Lakhs per yearINR 5,000 to INR 9,000 per year
EVR Nagammaiyar ScholarshipGirl students in Tamil Nadu government collegesMerit-based amount from Tamil Nadu government
College Council ScholarshipMerit-cum-means, open to BA, B.Sc, B.Com, MA, M.Sc, M.Com, MCA studentsFull or half fee waiver, limited to 4% of college strength
INSPIRE Scholarship (DST)Top 1% in Class 12 board or science Olympiad rankINR 60,000 per year for B.Sc programmes only

Presidency College Chennai Campus and Infrastructure

Presidency College Chennai is located on College Road, Nungambakkam, in the centre of Chennai. Its main building, built in 1867 in Gothic-revival style, is a protected heritage structure and a familiar city landmark. The campus has lecture halls, science laboratories, a central library with a large collection, and hostels for outstation students.

Each programme has its own department. Science students use laboratories for Physics, Chemistry, Geology, and Biotechnology. The college is affiliated with the University of Madras and functions under the Tamil Nadu Department of Collegiate Education (DCE), which supervises staffing, infrastructure, and curriculum.

Presidency College Chennai vs Loyola College Chennai vs Madras Christian College

Students looking for top arts and science colleges in Chennai often compare Presidency College with Loyola College and Madras Christian College. All three offer arts, science, and commerce courses in Chennai, but they differ in management, fee level, and academic strengths.

ParameterPresidency College ChennaiLoyola College ChennaiMadras Christian College
TypeGovernment AutonomousPrivate Aided (Jesuit)Private Aided (Christian Minority)
NIRF Colleges 202515Lower rankLower rank
AffiliationUniversity of MadrasUniversity of MadrasUniversity of Madras
BA Total Fees (3 years)INR 3,875ModerateModerate
Co-EdCo-educationalCo-educationalCo-educational
Key StrengthScience and humanities, NIRF rankCommerce and managementScience and research

Presidency College has the lowest fees among the three because it is a government college, and it also has the strongest NIRF performance. Loyola College is known for commerce and management alumni networks. Madras Christian College is known for science research and its large Tambaram campus. Students interested in competitive exams and civil services often choose Presidency College because of its government support and civil services alumni record.

Presidency College Chennai FAQs

Ques. How much do students pay for courses at Presidency College Chennai?

Ans. Presidency College Chennai has very low fees because it is a government college. The total fee for BA and B.Com is INR 3,875 for 3 years. B.Sc and BCA cost INR 3,935 for 3 years. MA, M.Com, and MSW cost INR 1,725 for 2 years, while MCA costs INR 2,825 for 2 years.

Ques. What rank did Presidency College Chennai get in NIRF?

Ans. Presidency College Chennai ranked 15 in NIRF Colleges 2025 with a score of 70.62. It has stayed among the top 20 colleges in India and was ranked 13th in 2024 and 3rd in 2023.

Ques. What is the admission route for Presidency College Chennai?

Ans. UG and PG admissions at Presidency College Chennai are done through TNGASA, the Tamil Nadu Government Arts and Science Admissions portal. Most courses do not have a separate entrance test. UG merit is based on Class 12 marks, while PG merit is based on qualifying degree marks. MCA admission depends on TANCET MCA scores.

Ques. Are placements available at Presidency College Chennai?

Ans. Presidency College Chennai offers campus placements, but many students also choose higher studies, civil services, and teaching. As per NIRF 2026 data, 301 UG and 186 PG students were placed in 2024-25. The UG median salary was INR 2.11 LPA. Recruiters for IT-related streams include TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and Deloitte.

Ques. Can outstation students get hostel accommodation at Presidency College Chennai?

Ans. Presidency College Chennai provides hostel facilities for students from outside Chennai. Since it is a government institution, hostel fees are subsidised. The Tamil Nadu Department of Collegiate Education publishes the exact hostel fee details during admission. Hostel demand is high because the college is centrally located in Chennai.

Ques. How does Presidency College Chennai compare with Loyola College?

Ans. Presidency College Chennai and Loyola College are both leading arts and science colleges in Chennai. Presidency College ranked higher in NIRF Colleges 2025, with rank 15, while Loyola had a lower rank. Presidency College also has lower fees because it is government-run. Loyola is known for commerce and management networks. Students who value NIRF standing, research, civil services, or academic careers often prefer Presidency, while students looking for a private college setting with management links may consider Loyola.