Presidency College, Chennai is an autonomous government arts and science college that started in 1840. It is one of India’s oldest higher education institutions. The college is affiliated with the University of Madras, funded and run by the Tamil Nadu Government, and recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The college offers UG, PG, M.Phil, and Ph.D programmes in arts, science, commerce, and computing. In NIRF Rankings 2025, Presidency College Chennai secured rank 15 in the Colleges category with a score of 70.62.
The campus stands on College Road, Nungambakkam, in central Chennai. Its main Gothic-revival building was completed in 1867. It is a listed heritage structure and a well-known city landmark.
Presidency College Chennai offers courses in arts, science, and commerce:
- 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 covers 9 humanities and social science subjects, M.Sc covers 10 science subjects, and M.Com is also offered
- MSW in Social Work and MCA are available
- M.Phil and Ph.D are offered in arts and science disciplines
The total fee for BA and B.Com is INR 3,875 for 3 years. B.Sc and BCA have a total fee of INR 3,935 for 3 years. MA, M.Com, and MSW cost INR 1,725 for 2 years, while M.Sc costs INR 1,845 for 2 years.
Students can apply for scholarships such as the Tamil Nadu Government Post-Matric Scholarship, which gives full fee reimbursement to SC, SCA, and ST students, the TN First Graduate Scholarship of INR 20,000 per year, and the BC/MBC/DNC Scholarship of up to INR 9,000 per year.
In 2024-25, 301 UG students and 186 PG students were placed. According to NIRF 2026 data, the median salary was 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 runs more than 40 courses at the UG, PG, M.Phil, and Ph.D levels. The full-course fees start at INR 1,725 for MA programmes and go up to INR 3,935 for B.Sc and BCA programmes.
| Course | Duration | Total Fees |
| 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 (arts and social sciences) | 1 year | INR 2,215 per year |
| Ph.D (all disciplines) | Minimum 3 years | INR 2,215 per year |
Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm
BA students can choose Tamil, English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, History, Economics, or Political Science. B.Sc options include Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Statistics, Geology, Geography, Psychology, Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, and Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology. The B.Com Corporate Secretaryship course is meant for students interested in Company Secretary-related paths.
Presidency College Chennai Admission Process
Admission to most courses at Presidency College Chennai is based on merit. UG and PG admissions, except MCA, are handled through TNGASA, the Tamil Nadu Government centralised portal for arts and science admissions. The college does not conduct a separate entrance test for most programmes.
UG Programmes (BA / B.Sc / B.Com / BCA)
Students must pass Class 12 from a recognised board to apply for UG courses. For BA language subjects, the rank list gives main weight to marks in the related language paper. For other BA, B.Com, and BCA courses, merit is based on aggregate marks in non-language subjects. B.Sc applicants must have studied the relevant science subjects in Class 12.
PG Programmes (MA / M.Sc / M.Com / MSW)
For PG admission, students need a relevant UG degree. MA applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in the related subject. M.Sc applicants need a B.Sc in the matching science subject. M.Com requires B.Com or an equivalent degree. MSW accepts graduates from any UG stream. 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. They also need at least 50% in the qualifying degree, or 45% for reserved categories. Selection is through TANCET MCA score and centralised counselling.
Presidency College Chennai Placements and Career Outcomes
At Presidency College Chennai, placements are one career option along with higher studies, competitive exams, and teaching. NIRF 2026 data for the 2024-25 batch shows that 301 UG students were placed out of 878 eligible students. The UG median package stood at INR 2.11 LPA. At the PG level, 186 students were placed out of 494 eligible students, with a median salary of INR 2.16 LPA.
Corporate placement is stronger for BCA, B.Sc CS, B.Com, and MCA students. Recruiters confirmed for the college include TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Cognizant, Accenture, Amazon, Deloitte, KPMG, and Axis Bank. Many students from arts, science, and social science courses choose M.Sc, MBA, M.Phil, Ph.D, UPSC, TNPSC, teaching, or other competitive exam routes, which do not appear in placement-rate data.
| Career Pathway | Most Relevant Programmes | Key Support |
| Corporate campus placement | BCA, B.Sc CS, MCA, B.Com, M.Com | Training and Placement Cell, soft skills training, mock interviews |
| Higher studies (M.Sc, MBA, Ph.D) | All UG and PG programmes | Faculty mentoring, NET and SLET coaching, research labs |
| Civil services (UPSC, TNPSC) | BA (History, Economics, Pol. Sci.), MA, Public Administration | Coaching support, faculty guidance |
| Teaching and academia | MA, M.Sc, M.Com, MSW | NET and SLET preparation, faculty-guided research |
Presidency College Chennai Rankings
Presidency College Chennai has a strong record in national college rankings. In NIRF Colleges, it was placed at rank 15 in 2025, rank 13 in 2024, and rank 3 in 2023.
| Ranking Body | Category | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank |
| NIRF | Colleges | 15 | 13 | 3 |
The college improved its NIRF score from 68.36 in 2024 to 70.62 in 2025. Its 2023 rank of 3 shows its performance in areas such as teaching-learning resources and graduate outcomes. Among Tamil Nadu government arts and science colleges, Presidency College Chennai remains among the top two performers in national rankings.
Presidency College Chennai Scholarships
Presidency College Chennai is a government college, so students can access Tamil Nadu state government and Government of India scholarship schemes. SC, SCA, and ST students usually get full tuition fee reimbursement along with monthly maintenance allowances.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Benefit |
| TN Government Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST) | SC, SCA, ST category students | Full tuition fee reimbursement plus monthly maintenance allowance |
| TN First Graduate Scholarship | First-generation college student in the family, no income limit | INR 20,000 per year |
| BC/MBC/DNC Scholarship | BC, MBC, DNC category, family income below INR 2.5 Lakhs per year | INR 5,000 to INR 9,000 per year |
| EVR Nagammaiyar Scholarship | Girl students in Tamil Nadu government colleges | Merit-based amount from Tamil Nadu government |
| College Council Scholarship | Merit-cum-means, open to BA, B.Sc, B.Com, MA, M.Sc, M.Com, MCA students | Full or half fee waiver, limited to 4% of college strength |
| INSPIRE Scholarship (DST) | Top 1% in Class 12 board or science Olympiad rank | INR 60,000 per year for B.Sc programmes only |
Presidency College Chennai Campus and Infrastructure
Presidency College Chennai is based on College Road, Nungambakkam, in the centre of Chennai. Its main building was built in 1867 in Gothic-revival style and is protected as a heritage structure. The campus has lecture halls, science laboratories, a central library with a large collection, and hostel facilities for students from outside Chennai.
Each programme has a dedicated department. The college also has science labs for Physics, Chemistry, Geology, and Biotechnology. It is affiliated with the University of Madras and works under the Tamil Nadu Department of Collegiate Education (DCE), which manages staffing, infrastructure, and curriculum matters.
Presidency College Chennai vs Loyola College Chennai vs Madras Christian College
Students looking for leading arts and science colleges in Chennai often compare Presidency College with Loyola College and Madras Christian College (MCC). All three offer arts, science, and commerce courses in Chennai, but they differ in management type, fee level, and academic strengths.
| Parameter | Presidency College Chennai | Loyola College Chennai | Madras Christian College |
| Type | Government Autonomous | Private Aided (Jesuit) | Private Aided (Christian Minority) |
| NIRF Colleges 2025 | 15 | Lower rank | Lower rank |
| Affiliation | University of Madras | University of Madras | University of Madras |
| BA Total Fees (3 years) | INR 3,875 | Moderate | Moderate |
| Co-Ed | Co-educational | Co-educational | Co-educational |
| Key Strength | Science and humanities, NIRF rank | Commerce and management | Science and research |
Presidency College has the lowest fees among the three because it is a government institution, and it also has the strongest NIRF performance. Loyola College is known for commerce, management, and its alumni network. Madras Christian College is known for science research and its large Tambaram campus. Students aiming for research, civil services, academia, or competitive exam preparation often prefer Presidency 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. PG courses such as MA, M.Com, and MSW cost INR 1,725 for 2 years. MCA has a total fee of INR 2,825 for 2 years.
Ques. What position did Presidency College Chennai get in NIRF?
Ans. Presidency College Chennai was ranked 15 in NIRF Colleges 2025 with a score of 70.62. It has stayed within India’s top 20 colleges in recent rankings. Its NIRF rank was 3 in 2023 and 13 in 2024.
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 programmes do not have a separate entrance exam. UG merit is based on Class 12 marks, while PG merit is based on marks in the qualifying degree. MCA admission depends on TANCET MCA scores.
Ques. Are placements available at Presidency College Chennai?
Ans. Yes, placements are available at Presidency College Chennai, but many students also choose higher studies, civil services, teaching, and other competitive exam paths. NIRF 2026 data shows that 301 UG students and 186 PG students were placed in 2024-25. The UG median salary was INR 2.11 LPA. TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and Deloitte are among the confirmed recruiters for IT-related streams.
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 charges are subsidised. Hostel fee details are released by the Tamil Nadu Department of Collegiate Education during admission. Demand for hostel seats is high because the campus is in central Chennai.
Ques. How does Presidency College Chennai compare with Loyola College?
Ans. Both colleges are among the leading arts and science colleges in Chennai. Presidency College ranked 15 in NIRF Colleges 2025, while Loyola had a lower rank. Presidency also has lower fees because it is a government college. Loyola is known for commerce, management, and its alumni network. Students who want strong ranking performance and paths linked to research, civil services, or academics often choose Presidency, while students looking for a private college setting with management links may consider Loyola.