Chennai’s iconic Pachaiyappa’s College is all set to welcome women students at the undergraduate level after the State government accorded permission for the same recently.

A Government Order (G.O.) issued on June 15 stated that a resolution was passed at a college board meeting on December 17, 2024, seeking permission from the government to enrol women students for the 12 undergraduate courses at the college. According the permission, the G.O. stated that the college authorities have assured that this move will not cost the government any extra expenditure.

“As the first woman principal of this legacy institution, I feel privileged to be part of history,” its principal Baby Gulnaz said.

Dr. Gulnaz said that the move will ensure the 184-year-old institution is able to provide a more inclusive environment for students. “Those seeking admission here come from the most deprived social backgrounds. Several of them either do not have parents or are children of single parents. Our teachers are often required to fill that gap. It is a challenge,” she observed.

Over the past few years, the college had been facing a decline in enrolment in most of its programmes. Dr. Gulnaz says it could be because the government had opened several new colleges across the State and had also increased the intake of students by introducing an evening shift (Shift II). Most of the aided institutions have taken a hit in all disciplines, she added.

Enrolment from 2026-27 academic year

Women students will be enrolled from the 2026-27 academic year itself since the last date for admission is June 30. The institution was also contemplating extending the last date for admission to facilitate enrolment of more students, Dr. Gulnaz added.

The college had been seeking co-education status since 2016 and had written to the government several times since then. During the COVID 19 pandemic, the process slowed down but was taken up again once students returned to campus. The institution has, for the past couple of decades, been enrolling women students at the postgraduate and doctoral levels. Dr. Gulnaz said the college authorities met the Higher Education Minister and department officials recently to push their case. She thanked the government and the department for acceding their request.

Pachaiyappa’s College was established in 1842 out of the wealth left behind by eighteenth century philanthropist Vallal Pachchaiyappa Mudaliar who, according to his 1794 Will, dedicated a sizeable chunk of his riches and properties to promotion of education. The Pachaiyappa’s Trust Board runs six colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Cuddalore, and five schools in Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Chidambaram.