1868	Agricultural School was started at Saidapet, Chennai (Madras)
1906	The Saidapet Agricultural School was shifted to Coimbatore and foundation stone laid for Madras Agricultural College.
1908	Students were admitted to education program leading to Licentiate in Agriculture (L. Ag.)
1909	Opening of Agricultural College and Research Institute (AC & RI) by Sir Arthur Lawley.
1920	The AC & RI was affiliated to Madras University. A new course of study leading to a three year degree in Agriculture -B.Sc. (Ag.) was started.
1945	Second Agricultural College was started at Bapatla (Now in Andhra Pradesh).
1958	Regional Post-Graduate Center was established to offer programs leading to Masters degree in Agriculture & Horticulture.
1960	Integrated system with four year B.Sc. (Ag) degree program after Pre-University education was introduced and subsequently doctoral program in Agriculture was started.
1965	Third Agricultural College was started at Madurai, Tamil Nadu and the Masters program at Madurai was introduced during 1969.
1971	The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University came into existence with Coimbatore as its Head Quarters.
1972	A separate Faculty of Horticulture was established and a degree program in Horticulture - B.Sc. (Hort.) was introduced. The College of Agricultural Engineering was established at Coimbatore and a Bachelor's degree program in Agricultural Engineering - B.E.(Ag) was introduced.
1973	Doctoral program was introduced in Horticultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore.
1975	Faculty of Post Graduate Education was established in TNAU, Coimbatore and Masters and Doctoral (1978) programs were started in Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology.
1976	The Madras Veterinary College became constituent unit of TNAU and B.V.Sc. degree program was suitably restructured*.
1977	Bachelor's degree (B.F.Sc.) program in Fisheries Science at Thoothukudi was started*.
	Masters and Doctoral program in Agricultural Engineering was introduced.
1980	Bachelor's degree (B.Sc. (H.Sc.)) in Home Science was launched in Madurai Campus.
1981	Masters program was introduced in Home Science College & Research Institute, Madurai and Doctoral program in 1988.
1989	Doctoral program in Agriculture was introduced in Agricultural college & Research Institute, Madurai; Masters program introduced in Forest College & Research Institute, Mettupalayam and Horticultural College & Research Institute, Periyakulam.
1990	Masters program in Agriculture was introduced in Agricultural College & Research Institute, Killikulam, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu and Doctoral program in Forest College & Research Institute, Mettupalayam.

Today India has 33 State Agricultural Universities, four Deemed Universities and one Central University dealing with various educational
programs in Agriculture. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) awarded TNAU the "ICAR Best Institution Award 1998". The University was also adjudged as the "Best performing University" based on the performance of farm graduates at national level competition. Since the inception of TNAU, 11,973 Undergraduates, 4465 Masters students and 1152 Doctoral students obtained their degree from TNAU.

Institutional growth
At the time of establishment of the University there were only two Agricultural Colleges, one at Coimbatore and another at Madurai. Now the University has ten Colleges including two affiliated Colleges. There are several faculties like Agriculture, PG Education, Horticulture, Agricultural Engineering, Forestry and Home Science. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is the fifteenth State Agricultural University in India, started in 1971.

Institutional planning process
The curricula and syllabi are planned by the teachers in consultation with the students and stakeholders in the Teaching Seminar and finalized at the Board of Studies for Post Graduate Education under the chairmanship of Dean, Post-Graduate studies. Then the Board of Studies, in turn, recommends the proposals to the Academic Council for final approval and then implemented by the concerned faculties. The syllabi are updated once in four years. Semester-wise courses to be offered for Post Graduates are planned by the concerned department and approved by Dean, Post Graduate Studies. Research programs leading to theses projects are planned by the students in consultation with the Chairman, Advisory Committee and Advisory Committee Members in line with the vision and the thrust area for the concerned departments. The research programs proposed are to be approved by the by the Dean, Post Graduate Studies.

Mission and Goals

The mandates of the University as defined in TNAU Act are:
Ø To impart education in various branches of agriculture and allied sciences as the University may determine
Ø To further the advancement of learning and prosecution of research in agriculture and allied sciences
Ø To undertake the extension of such sciences to the rural people in co-operation with the concerned Government departments

The mission statement
To help the farming community in improving their levels of living, by developing and disseminating technologies for raising the farm productivity, and by providing quality research, education and training necessary for effecting improvements in agriculture.