The University of Madras is a public state university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu which was established in 1857. It was incorporated by an act of the Legislative Council of India.

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council has conferred 'five star' accreditation to the university and it has been given the status of 'University with Potential for Excellence' by the UGC or University Grants Commission.

In 2011, the University Grants Commission selected as a university with potential for excellence, under which the university gets Rs. 250 million (Rs. 25 crore). It was selected under phase 1 of the scheme in 2001–02 along with a few other universities in India.

UGC has identified the school of geology and the school of zoology of the university as centers of excellence and has allotted Rs. 32.5 million (Rs. 3.25 crore) each for their development. It is planning to use the funds to buy equipment and improve infrastructure

Affiliated Colleges and Research Institutions

Affiliated Colleges
Loyola College
Presidency College
Madras Christian College
Stella Maris College
Women's Christian College
Ethiraj College for Women
Pachaiyappa's College
Queen Mary's College
The New College
Madras School of Art
Madras School of Social Work
Meenakshi College for Women
A. M. Jain College
DG Vaishnav College
Guru Nanak College
M.O.P. Vaishnav College
SHASUN College
Stella Matutina College of Education
St. Thomas College
Vivekananda College

Research Institutions
Adyar Cancer Institute
Central Leather Research Institute
Central Institute of Brackish Water Aquaculture
Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology
Defence Services Staff College, Wellington
Institute for Financial Management and Research
King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research
Loyola Institute of Business Administration
Madras Institute of Development Studies
Madras School of Economics
MS Swaminathan Research Foundation
National Defence College, New Delhi
National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis
National Institute of Epidemiology