Student Support Services

The University offers a number of student support services. These include the Library, Hostel accommodation, Endowments and Scholarships, "Earn while you Learn Scheme", University Students Advisory Bureau, SC/ST Cell, NSS and NCC activities and avenues for Sports and Games.

University Library System

Many of the departments of the University have their own library collections. Besides, all the campuses of the University are served by large libraries. Computer based information services have been introduced. The Main Library of the University is located at its Tholkapiar Campus. Besides maintaining a collection of print materials, the University Library system also maintains a collection of E-resources on CDs and also subscribe to over four thousand e-journals under U.G.C.'s INFONET programme

The working hours of the libraries are as below:

University Library, Tholkapiar Valagam (Chepauk) : 8.00 A.M. to 8.00 P.M. on all days.
Guindy Campus library, Maraimalai Valagam : 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. on all working days & from 10.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on holidays
Taramani Campus Library, Sekhizhar Valagam : 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on all working days.
Marina Campus Library, Parithimar Kalaignar : 10.00 A.M. to 5.45 P.M. from Monday to Friday (Excluding public holidays)

Internet Centre:

The University operates INTERNET Centres in all the campuses. The INTERNET centres are open to all the students of the University departments

Student Hostels:

Limited accommodation is available to needy and deserving students in the following four hostels maintained by the University:
Mother Theresa Hostel for Women, Tholkapiar Campus, Chepauk
Thiruvalluvar Hostel for Men, Parithimar Kalaignar, Marina
Bharathiar Hostel for Men, Maraimalai Campus, Guindy
Avvai Hostel for Women, Maraimalai Campus, Guindy
Bharathidasan Hostel for Men, Sekhizhar Campus, Taramani
Dr.Muthulakshmi Reddy Hostel for Women, Sekhizhar Campus, Taramani
The hostels provide basic amenities including a common lounge with television, radio, newspapers and magazines.

University Centre for International Relations (UCIR)

The University of Madras established the International Centre of University of Madras (UCIR) in 2003 in consonance with UGC's X Plan programme on Promotion of Indian Higher Education Abroad (PIHEAD) in fulfillment of its policy evolved to promote the free flow of students from other nations to India, as well as allow Indian students to get educated in other nations. The primary motto of the UCIR is to provide educational excellence and culturally appropriate ambience to all international students

The UCIR students are advised to contact the Director, UCIR, University of Madras for admission to the courses they are interested in.

On being admitted after paying the prescribed eligibility fee, the students Coordinator's office at University Student Advisory Bureau (USAB) first scrutinize the original credentials of the foreign students who are aspiring to pursue either higher programmes or do specialized courses (papers) and then issues eligibility certificates. If it is an Under Graduate programme, with eligibility certificate, a student is directed to go to any of the affiliated colleges according to his/her choice. If it is a Post Graduate programme, the student is admitted into the respective University Departments, subject to clearance by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and subject to production of student's visa on paying the prescribed fee. The UCIR also encourages joint Ph.D. programmes between the Madras University and foreign Universities from where students are hailing. [*SEPARATE APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS]

University Students Advisory Bureau (USAB)

The USAB housed in the Tholkapiar campus of the University offers counseling and career guidance and also offers placement services to graduates and post graduates of the University. USAB organizes exhibitions on careers (INFORMEX) and vocations.

The USAB is responsible for processing applications of foreign students seeking admission to the University. USAB is the authorized body of the University of Madras for attestation of certificates/marks statements of the University students applying for admission to foreign Universities. The other activities include: Issue of Railway Concession Forms (Season Ticket, Vacation, Data Collection and Educational Tour) to the students studying in the University Departments; Organise Science Talent Promotion Scheme for the First year P.G. Students studying in the University Departments; Organise Job oriented Short-term courses for the Unemployed Graduates; Provide Computer Training courses to the Students; Offer coaching classes for Various Competitive Examinations such as UPSC Civil Service Preliminary Examination/TNPSC Group I and II, Staff Selection Commission, UGC NET Examination; Conduct Seminars and Workshops on Career Oriented Courses for the benefit of Graduates/Post Graduates students of the University and the Public; arrange Inter Departmental Cultural Programmes (UNIFEST) for the students in the University Departments; set up cultural Get-together frequently for the International Students studying in the University Departments and affiliated Colleges; celebrate International Women's day with the participation of Women staff and students of University departments and affiliated Colleges

National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC)

The NSS Unit of the University organizes regular and special camps related to health and hygiene, literacy, environment, personality development, etc. These camps are usually held in the campuses of affiliated colleges or in the adopted villages. These involve student volunteers in various youth-related seminars, workshops and training programmes. NSS Unit also deputes volunteers to various Inter State Camps, National Integration Camps and also Inter State and National Cultural Festivals

The NSS students of Madras University area take part in All India Basic Leadership Camps (Boys and Girls), Nau Sainik Camps, All India Competition Camps, Vayu Sainik Camps, Skeet shooting, drill and glider competitions, Para Training courses, Mountaineering courses, Army, Navy, and Air Force training, All India Trekking Expeditions, National Integration Camps, Para Sailing, Flying/Gliding training, etc.

Sports and Games

For the promotion of sports, the Madras University Union was formed in the year 1932 at Rutland House, Spur Tank Road, Chetpet, Chennai. The facilities include a pavilion, sports track, athletic track, volley ball court, basket ball court, badminton court, and two tennis courts. Students of the University participate in more than 30 South zone and All India Inter-University sports competitions annually

SC/ST Cell

A Standing Committee for the welfare of SC/ST has been constituted in the University with the Vice-Chancellor as Chairman to look after the welfare of SC/ST students. A Special Cell for the welfare of students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has been set up. The cell has the responsibilities of receiving, scrutinizing and processing applications from SC/ST students of University departments for :

Tuition fee concession; National overseas scholarship for higher studies abroad; Indian Oil scholarships to SC/ST students pursuing full time Engineering, Medical and P.G. Degree course in Business Administration / Management in recognized institutions; Closely monitoring the implementation of the reservation policy of the State Government in admission and hostel accommodation; Collecting data from the university departments and affiliated colleges regarding admission of SC/ST students and hostel accommodation / SC/ST students may contact the SC/ST Cell, University of Madras, Tholkapiar Valagam for any guidance and redressal of grievances.

PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED STUDENTS:

Full fee concession including examination fee is provided for the Physically Challenged students in P.G. and M.Phil. programmes in the University Departments of Teaching and Research

Scholarships

Apart from SC/ST, BC/MBC and National Merit scholarships many other scholarships are available to the students of the University Departments

1. The Lions International Endowment Scholarship (C&UD)
2. Rotary Club of Madras city Endowment Scholarship (C&UD)
3. The Lady Willingdon Peace Endowment Scholarship (C&UD)
4. Srimathi Sivakama Radhakrishnan Scholarship (C&UD)
5. The Sir T. Muttuswami Ayyar Endowment Scholarship (C&UD)
6. The Srimathi Padmasani Bai Endowment Scholarship (C&UD)
7. The K.N. Ayyaayyar Endowment Scholarship (C&UD)
8. The Gokhale Endowment Scholarship (UD&C)
9. Sambuvarayar Endowment Scholarship
10. Aringnar Anna Endowment Scholarship
11. Maharaja Sri Ganga Singhji Endowment Scholarship
12. Professor R. Selvam Endowment Scholarship
13. A.M.M. Foundation Endowment Scholarship
14. IBP Endowment Scholarship
15. Dr. A.L. Mudaliar Silver Jubilee Endowment Scholarships
16. Prof. L. Krishnasamy Endowment Scholarship
17. The R.Tatachariyar Endowment Scholarship
18. Lady K. Srinivasa Ayyangar Endowment Scholoarship
19. Shri.A. Nageswara Rao Endowment Scholarship
20. Thiru.A.R. Ramasawami Endowment Scholarship
21. The N.C. Vasanthakokilam Endowment Scholarship
22. Baliga Family Endowment Scholarship
23. Bardswell Law Endowment Scholarship
24. The Sir T. Muttuswami Ayyar Memorial Endowment Scholarship
25. Selvi.V. Saraswathi Memorial Endowment Scholarship
26. Dasari Narayana Rao Endowment Scholarship
27. Thiru.K.Gopalan Memorial Endowment Scholarship
28. The V.Rama Ayyangar Endowment Scholarship

Madras University Free Education Scheme:

Complete fee waiver for one poorest student among students based on merit and Economic status in each P.G. Programme. Candidates belonging to SAARC countries are entitled to 40% concession on Tuition Fee only.
Sri Lankan Tamil students and Tibetan refugees are eligible to pay Tuition and other course fees on par with the Indian students for all the PG/M.Phil Programmes offered in the University Departments under CBCS Regulations Sri Lankan Tamil and Tibetan refugees would pay Tuition fee be collected on par with the Indian Students.

Earn While You Learn Scheme:

A novel scheme of "Earn while you Learn" for Post-graduate students and Research Scholars of the University has been introduced. Under this, deserving students will work as Part-time Laboratory Assistants, Library Assistants, Technical Assistants, and Tutorial Assistants (for M. Phil. & Ph.D. Scholars) in the University for a specified number of hours every month. They will receive a suitable monthly remuneration

Endowments

Several medals and prizes for rank holders in various examinations, for outstanding essays, for thesis are awarded under various Endowments instituted in the University

Add-on P.G. Diploma Programmes

University Departments/Schools offer Part-time Add-on P.G. Diploma programmes. These are skill Knowledge oriented in the primary discipline and are aimed at offering Masters students of the University Departments/affiliated colleges with an opportunity to acquire an additional Diploma while pursuing their regular Master's programme. Students admitted to University Departments

Soft Skill Programme

In tune with the goals and vision of the University, the authorities of the University devised new methodology for successfully conducting Soft Skill courses in the four campuses. The University of Madras has been offering the Soft Skills program to all its students. It is mandatory for every student of the University to acquire 8 credits from this program to successfully complete their post graduation degree. The Soft Skills program at the University is a thirty hour module with two hours of class per week from 4 pm to 6pm. Attendance is very important for this course; therefore students may miss only 2 classes. They are provided study materials for the course.

The emphasis is on the four skills/modules- listening, speaking, reading and writing. The University of Madras has recently outsourced this program with a private Educational Company, Everonn Education Limited in 2010, as per University norms for successfully training the post graduate students for empowering their personality, foreign languages and employability skills. The curriculum with focus on specific training technologies and methodologies was developed by the faculty of the University in consultation with the trainers. The University of Madras coordinates the Soft Skills program over its four campuses.

LANGUAGE LABORATORIES

The language laboratory focuses on computer-aided multi-media instruction and language acquisition. This learner friendly mode of language learning enables the students to be self instructional. The laboratory acts as a platform for learning, practicing and producing language skills through interactive lessons and communicative mode of teaching.

INTERNSHIP

Internship is intended to gain practical knowledge related to the study. The duration is for 4-6 weeks for 2 credits and 6-8 weeks for 3 credits and it should be carried out in an organization recommended by the Department during the summer vacation of the first year.

A report must be prepared and submitted to the HOD concerned for evaluation and grading. Internship is optional and is left to the discretion of the concerned Department. In case of a student not opting for internship, he/she must take one more soft skill 2/3 credits to fulfill the total credits requirement of 10/15 credits