Queen Mary’s College is best known as a pioneer in the task of empowering women through education. It was started in 1914 by the British Government as Madras College for Women. With a modest intake of 33 women students at the time of inception, it has, over the 110 years of its existence, grown phenomenally from an Intermediate to a tertiary level institution and on to a full- fledged premier institution. Today it caters to over 5000 women students. It is the first government college to go in for accreditation by NAAC and was accredited with ‘4 star status’ in 1999. The college was granted autonomy in 1987. The college has gone in for re-accreditation and currently accredited with ‘A+’ Grade.
The scenic and sprawling campus of 17 acres located on the famed Marina and overlooking the magnificent vista of the Bay of Bengal, symbolizes the history of its endeavours to reach new horizons of knowledge. This college has launched women into all spheres of life: its alumni have played decisive roles in governmental and non-governmental organizations, both nationally and internationally and have achieved global recognition.
Queen Mary’s College has been ranked 62 in the NIRF-2025 rankings. The wide cross section of disciplines include humanities (History, Sociology and Languages - English, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Hindi, Sanskrit and French), Applied Sciences like Computer Science, Clinical Nutrition, Home Science, Biochemistry as well as all the major Basic Sciences – Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology. The college also offers Under Graduate courses in Geography, Physical Education and Music. Most of the departments on campus are either Post Graduate departments or full time research departments. Queen Mary’s College is blessed with the kind of academic environment where a student can evolve from an enthusiastic undergraduate to a keen research scholar. There are 24 departments offering 23 Under Graduate programs, 18 Post Graduate program, with the introduction of MCA in 2023-2024 and 13 M. Phil programs in the college, among which 13 departments offer Ph.D programs. Every department has its niche in a sprawling green campus. The college campus provides the perfect ambience for knowledge acquisition and expansion.
Education is the most powerful weapon
which you can use to change the world
The College has played a dominant role in empowering women from disadvantaged sections of society. Tuned to societal needs, the college has as its mission the following aims and objectives:
Queen Mary’s college has been a significant part of Indian history, not only because it was established during colonial times in 1914. The alumna of the college have made a significant contribution to the Quit India Movement, Capt. Lakshmi Sehgal of the INA having been a student of Queen Mary’s College is a testimony to the claim. There are many unsung women freedom fighters from the college and the annals of the college are replete with narratives about the involvement of the students of the college in the nationalist movement. The college has also nurtured women scholars, leaders and administrators. Among the illustrious alumna of the college are Dr. Rajammal Devadass, distinguished nutrition scientist and Vice Chancellor, Avinashilingam Deemed University. The first three child-widow graduates from South India graduated from QMC. The three young widows Ammukutty, Parvathy and Lakshmi were residents of the Icehouse widows’ home. They joined the college in 1917. On completion of the course. Ammukutty went on to serve as a teacher in Coimbatore and Lakshmi taught at her alma mater for some years.
The college holds the record of being the first government college to have initiated a Knowledge and Skill mapped syllabi since 2018-19 at PG level and 2019-20 at UG level, aiming to become the centre of excellence before its 125th Anniversary. The launch of e-resources for all courses by faculty of all departments in our college website is a jewel in the crown of QMC. The contribution of the college to the cause of women empowerment was recognized with the Katral Award by News 18 conferred on the college in a grand ceremony on 15th December 2021.
The legacy of the college continues till date with yet another Katral Award given by NEWS 18 in April 2025, having been recognized as the Best Government Arts and Science College for the productive initiatives taken towards empowering women.
It was the first government college to go in for accreditation by NAAC and was accredited with ‘4 star status’ in 1999 and reaccredited in 2025.
Being granted autonomy in 1987, it has sustained two decades of autonomy and has increased its programmes to 23 at the UG level (English and Tamil medium), 18 at the PG level, 13 in M.Phil and 13 in Ph.D.
Doing the commendable, creating the memorable and achieving the historic has proved to be the credo of Queen Mary’s College. The most recent proud moment was on 25th May 2022, when the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. M.K Stalin visited Queen Mary’s College. The college was selected to host the Youth Skill Development Festival. The event was coordinated by Rural and Panchayat Raj Department and Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department. A festive atmosphere pervaded the college with the stalls set up by women’s Self Help Groups. Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation also conducted an overwhelming exercise in dissemination of “skill training” in various sectors through their stalls. The event was not only glorious but an outreach to the student community with regard to skill training as well. The Chief Minister enthused the youth who were present on the occasion and also those watching the live programme through his motivational slogan, “Naan Mudhalvan”. He shared his vision of preparing the youth of the state industry through skill training and boosting the economy of the state by training and education for gainful employment.
Given the policy of equal opportunity and the egalitarian climate of college, education at Queen Mary’s College is the privilege of a lifetime. It is a place where every student feels at home and is encouraged to discover herself. The journey of a life of fulfilment begins here where the young minds are tuned to become socially responsible individuals.
