Anna University
அண்ணா பல்கலைக்கழகம்
Tamil Nadu's state technical university, built around the College of Engineering, Guindy, founded in 1794.
- Tuition
- ₹30,400
- From · 2025-26
- Founded
- 1978
- QS World Ranking
- #470
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
- 189 acres (main campus, Guindy); 52 acres (MIT Chromepet); 5 acres (Taramani)
About Anna University
Anna University was established on 4 September 1978 and named after C. N. Annadurai, a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. It was created by bringing together four older Chennai institutions: the College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG, founded in 1794), the Alagappa College of Technology (ACT, 1944), the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT, 1949) and the School of Architecture and Planning (SAP, 1957).
Today these four University Department campuses in Chennai form the core of the university, alongside constituent colleges, regional campuses at Tirunelveli, Madurai and Coimbatore, and several hundred affiliated engineering colleges across Tamil Nadu. The main campus in Guindy covers 189 acres beside the Adyar River, and MIT has its own 52-acre campus at Chromepet. Undergraduate teaching centres on four-year B.E. and B.Tech. degrees, plus B.Arch. and B.Plan. at SAP.
Admission for Tamil Nadu students runs through TNEA, the state's single-window engineering counselling based on Class 12 marks in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, while NRIs and foreign nationals apply to supernumerary seats through Anna University's own Centre for Admissions. It suits students who want a long-established, low-cost public engineering education in Chennai.
Progress through Knowledge
University motto
Why students choose Anna University
Tuition in the regular stream is very low for Tamil Nadu students: CEG's regular B.E./B.Tech. semester fee was Rs 15,200 in 2025-26, including Rs 6,000 of tuition.
Foreign nationals and NRIs can apply directly for supernumerary seats (5% of each branch for each category), selected on Class 12 Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry marks, with no entrance test.
The College of Engineering, Guindy dates from 1794 and its graduates include Turing Award winner Raj Reddy and Verghese Kurien, architect of India's White Revolution.
Specialised branches that few universities offer, such as Leather, Textile, Ceramic and Printing and Packaging Technology, and Aeronautical and Rubber and Plastics Technology at MIT.
Admissions
2027-28 entry (dates below are from the 2026-27 cycle)
Selectivity
No overall admission rate is published. Tamil Nadu students are ranked through TNEA on a 200-mark merit score from Class 12 Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, with communal reservation; seats at the University Department campuses (CEG, MIT, ACT, SAP) are among the most sought-after in the counselling.
Typical entry requirements
| Tamil Nadu HSC (Class 12) via TNEA | Pass with at least 45% average in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry (40% for BC, MBC and SC/ST); ranked on marks reduced to 200 |
|---|---|
| Foreign nationals (FN) and LDC/SIDS citizens | Class 12 or equivalent (8+4 or 9+3 foreign boards) with all subjects passed and at least 45% in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry; proof of financial support; valid student visa, PIO or OCI card at admission |
| Non-Resident Indians (NRI) and CIWGC | Same academic minimum; separate 5% supernumerary quota per branch, ranked on Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry marks |
Deadlines
- NRI / FN / LDC-SIDS / CIWGC application, 2026-27 (past) Non-binding Passed15 June 2026 (extended from 22 May 2026)
Notification and applications opened 16 March 2026 for B.E./B.Tech./B.Plan. at CEG, ACT, MIT, SAP and UCE Tiruchirappalli.
- TNEA 2026 (Tamil Nadu students) Non-bindingSee tneaonline.org
State single-window counselling run through tneaonline.org; online registration, rank list and choice-filling counselling.
The 2027-28 notifications have not been published yet. For 2026-27, applications under the NRI, foreign national and CIWGC categories opened on 16 March 2026 and closed on 15 June 2026 after an extension; expect a similar spring window in 2027.
How to apply
Tamil Nadu applicants register for TNEA online at tneaonline.org and fill choices in online counselling by rank. NRI, foreign national, LDC/SIDS and CIWGC applicants register at cfa.annauniv.edu, pay a US$400 (+18% GST) processing fee, upload passport, transcripts and financial proof, and then take part in online choice-filling counselling, paying a US$1,000 initial deposit.
What admissions looks for
- Marks in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry in the qualifying Class 12 exam, which alone decide the merit rank.
- For ties: higher Mathematics, then Physics, then the optional subject, then total Class 12 marks, then age.
- For NRI and foreign applicants, complete documentation: passport, transcripts with official grade-to-mark conversion, and proof of financial support.
- Eligibility on the last date of application: TNEA does not consider results or changes after that date.
Tips for applying to Anna University
- 1 Mathematics carries half the TNEA score (100 of 200 marks), so it matters most for your rank.
- 2 If your board issues grades, get the official grade-to-mark conversion from the board itself; letters from school principals are not accepted.
- 3 Foreign nationals from Least Developed Countries or Small Island Developing States have their own 5% quota, and unfilled seats move between FN and LDC/SIDS in the second phase.
- 4 Budget for branch choice: computer science, ECE, IT and AI and Data Science cost foreign nationals twice as much (US$7,500 a year) as other branches (US$3,750).
Costs & financial aid
2025-26 · figures in INR
Tamil Nadu students admitted under the 7.5% reservation for government school students have tuition, hostel and other fees paid by the state; first-generation graduates and SC/ST/SCA students receive fee concessions or Post Matric Scholarships. Foreign nationals and NRIs pay a separate annual fee in US dollars (US$3,750 or US$7,500 a year for 2026-27, by branch), for which no university scholarship is listed.
- US$3,750 a year for most branches; US$7,500 for CSE, ECE, IT, AI and Data Science and VLSI
- Foreign national / NRI tuition, 2026-27
- US$400 + 18% GST, non-refundable
- Application processing fee (NRI / FN)
- Fees absorbed by the Tamil Nadu government
- Government school students (7.5% reservation)
- About Rs 70,175: Rs 3,675 a year for room, electricity and water plus Rs 33,250 per semester for residential service, maintenance and mess advance; one-time admission fees and deposits extra
- CEG hostel, UG, 2025-26 (annual recurring charges incl. mess advance)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (8 semesters over 4 years for B.E./B.Tech.)
B.E. Computer Science and Engineering (CEG and MIT)
Offered at both flagship campuses; one of the top-fee branches for foreign nationals at US$7,500 a year.
B.E. Aeronautical Engineering (MIT)
Taught by MIT's Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Chromepet campus.
B.Tech. Leather Technology (ACT)
A rare specialisation from the Alagappa College of Technology, alongside Textile, Ceramic and Food Technology.
B.E. Mining Engineering (CEG)
One of CEG's specialist branches alongside Geo-informatics, Printing and Packaging Technology and Materials Science.
B.Arch. (SAP)
The School of Architecture and Planning, founded in 1957, is one of the university's four founding institutions.
B.E. Civil and Mechanical Engineering in Tamil (CEG)
CEG offers Tamil-medium sections of Civil and Mechanical Engineering.
Research
- The UGC recognised Anna University as a 'University with Potential for Excellence' for biomedical engineering research and applications.
- The university runs a Centre for International Relations with MoUs and student exchanges, including programmes with the University of Bern and the University of Tours.
Schools & faculties
- College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG)
- Alagappa College of Technology (ACT)
- Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), Chromepet
- School of Architecture and Planning (SAP)
Student life
Student life is spread across Chennai campuses: CEG, ACT and SAP share the leafy Guindy campus next to the Adyar River, while MIT has its own campus in Chromepet. Hostels at CEG are run by an executive warden and include a mess, and international students are served by an International Hostel managed by the Centre for International Relations. Sports, the NSS and Youth Red Cross, and the Valar Tamil Mandram Tamil society all appear in the fee structure, reflecting a campus culture tied closely to Tamil Nadu.
- The Guindy campus covers 189 acres beside the Adyar River, next to Raj Bhavan.
- International Hostel for foreign students, run by the Centre for International Relations.
- Student activities include NSS, Youth Red Cross and the Valar Tamil Mandram.
- Student exchange programmes with partner universities abroad through the Centre for International Relations.
Housing. Hostel places are available at CEG and other campuses (CEG UG hostel charges about Rs 70,000 a year including mess advance in 2025-26), and foreign students can apply to the International Hostel through the Centre for International Relations.
Location
Anna University's main campus is in Guindy, in southern Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. The 189-acre campus sits between the Adyar River and Raj Bhavan, about 3 km from Guindy railway station and 10 km from Chennai Airport, while the Madras Institute of Technology has its own campus at Chromepet. Living costs are low by international standards: a CEG hostel place with mess advance costs roughly Rs 70,000 a year.
Nearest airport: Chennai International Airport (MAA)
Notable alumni
- RR Raj ReddyTuring Award-winning computer scientist at Carnegie Mellon University; civil engineering graduate of the College of Engineering, Guindy
- VK Verghese KurienArchitect of India's White Revolution (Operation Flood); mechanical engineering degree from the College of Engineering, Guindy
- KS Krishnamachari SrikkanthFormer India cricket captain and chief selector; electrical engineering graduate of CEG
- VS Venu SrinivasanIndustrialist, chairman of TVS Motor Company and Sundaram-Clayton; CEG graduate
- DR Dhiraj RajaramFounder of analytics firm Mu Sigma; electrical engineering degree from CEG
- AL A. LalithaIndia's first woman engineer; studied electrical engineering at CEG
Frequently asked questions
How can international students apply to Anna University?
Foreign nationals apply online at cfa.annauniv.edu under the FN or LDC/SIDS category, paying a US$400 (+18% GST) processing fee. Selection is on Class 12 Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry marks, followed by online counselling.
What are Anna University's fees for foreign nationals?
For 2026-27, US$3,750 a year for most B.E./B.Tech. branches and US$7,500 a year for computer science, ECE, IT, AI and Data Science and VLSI branches.
Does Anna University accept students through JEE or DASA?
Anna University's own B.E./B.Tech. admissions use TNEA counselling for Tamil Nadu students and its Centre for Admissions for NRI and foreign national categories, both based on Class 12 marks rather than an entrance exam.
What is the minimum mark for Anna University B.E. admission?
A pass with at least 45% average in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry (40% for reserved communities under TNEA); actual admission depends on your merit rank out of 200.
When is the Anna University NRI and foreign national deadline?
For 2026-27 the window ran from 16 March to 15 June 2026. The 2027-28 dates had not been announced by late September 2026.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- Anna University Centre for Admissions (CFA)
- Anna University CFA: Foreign Nationals (B.E./B.Tech./B.Plan.) 2026-27
- Anna University: FN / LDC-SIDS information and instructions 2026-27 (PDF)
- Anna University: NRI information and instructions 2026-27 (PDF)
- Anna University: NRI/FN/CIWGC notification 2026-27 (PDF)
- Anna University: CEG B.E./B.Tech. fee structure 2025-26 (PDF)
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Anna University in the QS World University Rankings 2027.