It was established by the Government of Tamil Nadu, under the Thiruvalluvar University Act, 2002 (Tamil Nadu Act 32 of 2002).

The university was named after the Tamil poet and sage Thiruvalluvar.

It began functioning as the 'Post Graduate Extension Centre of University of Madras', at the Fort Campus, Vellore.

[2] The university affiliates Arts and Science colleges under the area comprising the districts of Ranipet, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore.

University campus is spread over an area of 112 acres at Serkadu about 16 km from the Vellore city on NH-4.