The Government of Tamil Nadu established the Tirunelveli Medical College in 1965, with the agreement of the University of Madras. A total of 75 students were admitted for the MBBS course for the academic year 1965-66 and they had their first year of study at the St Xaviers College for Men and Sarah Tucker College for Women. In July 1966, the first batch of second year MBBS students started attending the classes in the then newly constructed Anatomy Block. Other departments like Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology and Social & Preventive Medicine started functioning in the subsequent years, and the District Headquarters Hospital was converted to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital. The college was affiliated to the Madurai Kamaraj University consequent to its inception in 1967 till the newly formed The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Guindy, Chennai in 1988. The college increased the number of admissions to 100 per year during 1973-74 and was subsequently recognised by the Medical Council of India since the year 1977. At present the college gives admission to 250 students each year.
Emblem
The official emblem of the college has the caduceus, paddy and the words 'Duty, Dignity, Discipline'.
Medical college
The college is present over a sprawling campus of around 350 acres and has lecture halls, libraries, reading rooms, auditoria and 2 separate hostels for men and 2 for women. There is a Central Animal House with a wide range of common laboratory animals, for conduction of research programme. The hospital is 500 meters to the west of the main college campus, and the men's hostel is 500 meters southeast of the campus. The college is among the top 5 in terms of UG course offered across the state Tamil Nadu.
Location
The Tirunelveli Medical College, along with its primary teaching hospital, is located at High Ground in Palayamkottai in the city of Tirunelveli, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The college, the hospital and the hostels are all located within a radius of 1 kilometre. The college is located within about 7 kilometres from the Railway Station and 5 kilometres from the Bus Stand.
Administration
The college is affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University. The college and the hospital are funded and managed by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The College has also received PMSSY funding from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Central Government of India for setting up Super specialty Hospital in the campus.
The college admits 150 students to the MBBS course once every year through NEET. Of this 85% is state quota which is allotted by DME of Government of Tamil Nadu and the remaining 15% is All India Quota allotted by MCC of Central Government of Republic of India.
Alumni
The alumni of Tirunelveli Medical College are referred to by the name Nellaimedicos. Each batch of Tirunelveli Medical College is known by a Name 65 - 71 Octavians 68 - 74 Buds 79 - 85 Unity Batch 84 - 90 Dynamics Miss 2004 85 - 91 People of Pride 87 - 93 Yuppie Batch 89 - 95 Demonz de la med 90 - 96 Jubiliants 91 - 97 Celestials 92 - 98 Gargantuansm 93 - 99 Tiranvelianz 94 - 00 Dazzling Dragons 95 - 01 Centurions 96 - 02 Masters of Millennium 97 - 03 Immaculates 98 - 04 Zenforians 99 - 05 Insignius 00 - 06 Truculents 01 - 07 Verasians 02 - 08 Rampants 03 - 09 Philistines 04 - 10 Xorticanz 05 - 11 2005 Batch 06 - 12 ZentaurianZ 07 - 13 Thersanderz 08 - 14 Silastans 09 - 15 Rovanzerz 10 - 16 Xastradianz 11 - 17 Zernestenz 12 - 18 Ryzentronz 13 - 19 DravergonZ 14 - 20 Knightraydenz 15 - 21 Gyllenarztianz 16 - 22 Clarendonz 17 - 23 Xenokratez 18 - 24 Zaedendronz
