The Tamil Nadu Open University Chennai was established in the year 2002 by the State Government of Tamil Nadu to promote ‘Open Learning and Distance Education Systems’ in the education system. Tamil Nadu Open University admissions for the academic year 2022-23 are open now. The last date to apply is October 31, 2022. The hall ticket for the Term End Examinations July 2022 is available on the official website of Tamil Nadu Open University. The list of candidates shortlisted for the VC applications is available on the official website of Tamil Nadu Open University. 

The sole objective of the TNOU is to strengthen and introduce degree, diploma, and certificate courses that can fulfil candidates' employment needs and, at the same time, contribute to the economy of the state and country. To enhance employability opportunities by upgrading knowledge, training, and skills in the context of innovations, research, and discovery in all fields of human endeavours. The overall mission is to transform an individual so that they will be able to attain the heights of success and satisfaction. 

Tamil Nadu Open University courses are accessible to everyone who wants to pursue higher education. Courses at TNOU Chennai are classified as UG, PG, diploma, and certificate courses. Interested candidates can seek TNOU admission annually. Also, the Tamil Nadu Open University scholarships offer a couple of scholarships for students from various categories. 

The TNOU has grown widely in the past 16 years. It is currently offering 218 programmes across various disciplines and skills through the medium of short-term certificate courses up to the postgraduate level. It runs 13 academic schools, 5 support divisions, 8 regional centres, and 2 constituent communities; and a chain of networks with 536 centres, including 68 learner support centres.

The Tamil Nadu Open University is recognised by the University Grants Commission - Distance Education Bureau, National Council for Teacher Education and Rehabilitation Council of India. The university has signed MoUs with various institutes at the national and international levels. It is in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), and the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE). It has signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, which resulted in offering 16 agriculture-related programmes at a distance through the Krishi Vigyan Kendra of the TNAU, to target 4000 unemployed youth in 2016-2017.

It is the only institute in the state that has signed an MoU with the National Skill Development Council (NSDC) and has made its vocational programmes in collaboration with the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). The TNOU placement cell also works throughout the year to provide better employment facilities to final-year degree candidates. The alumni of TNOU are placed among the top market players in the country and are growing.