The Annamalai University is a unitary residential University imparting instruction in Post-Graduate and Professional Programmes in several disciplines, besides providing for research programmes upto the Ph.D., D.Litt./D.Sc. levels. It was founded by the munificence of the farsighted, noble-hearted philanthropist and patron of letters, the Hon'ble Dr. Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar of Chettinad. He started several colleges, and ultimately, the University in 1929. Since its inception, the Annamalai University has progressively tried to realise the aims of its noble Founder Pro-Chancellor. After him, his illustrious son, Padma Bhushan Dr. Rajah Sir Muthiah Chettiar of Chettinad, was the Pro-Chancellor from 1948 to 1984, and he sedulously nurtured the growth and development of the University. The University has had the unique good fortune of having a succession of eminent Vice-Chancellors to guide its destinies. During the last 80 years, it has grown rapidly and has consolidated its position as a unitary and residential University with forty-nine Departments of Study and over 3240 members on its teaching staff. Annamalainagar is already a busy and self contained University town, east of Chidambaram, the abode of Lord Nataraja. The University campus, including the colleges, hostels, and playgrounds sprawls over an area of about one thousand acres. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council has reaccredited at A Grade.

        In the initial stages, the institute was well nurtured by Dr. S.V. Chittibabu, the then Vice-Chancellor. It was then taken care of, by the Vice-Chancellors who took keen interest in the growth of the Rajah Muthiah Institute of Health Sciences. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons had recently conferred on him their Fellowship (i.e) FRCS. in recognition of his contribution of General Surgery. He suceessfully conducted the Golden Jubilee of the Faculty of Agriculture during April 2008.

        The Rajah Muthiah Dental College & Hospital serves the needs of the surrounding villages by providing dental treatment with skilled doctors and well equipped hospital. Apart from ensuring curative and rehabilitative services through the teaching hospital of the college, community services on the preventive and promotive sides are being meaningfully organised, keeping in view the health needs of the rural as well as the urban sectors of the community. The Rajah Muthiah Institute of Health Sciences is designed to play a dynamic role in efficiently and effectively implementing the "Health for all by 2000 A.D." programme envisaged by the Government.

        It was the dream of Dr. Rajah Sir Muthiah Chettiar to give a new thrust to the academic projects of the University by taking it closer to the community in a significant manner, and hence the idea was put forth to establish the Faculty of Medicine so that the University may make its own worthy contribution, to serve the health needs of the community with a missionary fervour. During its Golden Jubilee celebrations in December 1979, the University announced its decision to set up the Faculty of Medicine and start a Dental College under its purview as a first step. Thus the RAJAH MUTHIAH DENTAL COLLEGE was born in December 1980 with a batch of 40 students admitted to the 4-year B.D.S. (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) Programme. The permanent recognition of the Dental Council of India has now been secured after due review by the Council's inspection Commission. Twenty-two batches of students have successfully completed their B.D.S. Programme.

        All undergraduates of the Rajah Muthiah Dental College undergo a five year programme leading to the degree of B.D.S. which immediately qualifies its holders to register their names in the Dentists' Register and to practice dentistry in and outside India. The College has encouraged the enrolment of women students, and about one-third of our present students are women.

        The B.D.S. programme is designed to develop in the students, the skill to take care of the total oral health of the patient. In addition to lectures, teaching is conducted by means of seminars, laboratory demonstrations, practical laboratory work, and clinical practice in the hospitals.
        The Rajah Muthiah Institute of Health Sciences building that houses the dental college was constructed at a cost of about Rs. 4 crores and was declared open on 28.4.1988 by His Excellency Rashtrapathi Shri R. Venkataraman, the then President of India. It accommodates both the Dental College with the Dental Hospital and the Medical Wing. Two hostels each for men and women students, staff-quarters, and other amenities have been provided in the campus. Started as a self-financing institution, the University necessarily raises adequate resources through fees that represent the economic cost of Dental Education imparted to the student of the College.

        The Dental Council of India granted permission to start the M.D.S. programmes in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery from 1987-88, and Periodontics, Pedodontics and Orthodontics from 1988-89, and subsequently in Prosthodontics under the Faculty of Dentistry. Out-patient and in-patient facilities are also provided, including a modern and well equipped operation theatre. The post-graduate training has been specially planned with the available infrastructure. The curriculum has been updated with emphasis on total body care.

        Ever since the Rajah Muthiah Dental College & Hospital was started in 1980, following infrastructural facilities are being added to cope with the latest developments in Dentistry including an imported casting and ceramic Laboratory.

        The hospital is well equipped with sufficient number of sophisticated Dental chairs and other modern equipments by which an average of 250 to 300 outpatients are treated per day. Further, the hospital is catering to the needs of rural public in and around Chidambaram Town through routine Dental Camps with a fully equipped Van to move about. This institution has earned a National reputation among the other Dental Colleges in India.