It was established to provide higher research in the Tamil language.

The university is situated in a campus of about 900 acres (3.6 km2), granted by the State government of Tamil Nadu, making it the largest university in the state by area.

Buildings and blocks for the administrative and academic departments are located in the campus.

The administrative block with its gopuram motif can be seen from the National Highway connecting Thanjavur with Trichy.

[1] The Karikalan Gallery, built on the occasion of the World Tamil Conference is capable of accommodating about 2000 people.