The Government of Tamil Nadu established the Tirunelveli Medical College in 1965, with the agreement of the University of Madras.

In July 1966, the first batch of second year MBBS students started attending the classes in the then newly constructed Anatomy Block.

The college is present over a sprawling campus of around 286 acres and has lecture halls, libraries, reading rooms, auditoria and 3 separate UG hostels for men (The House of Princes, The House of Lords, Valluvam) and 3 for women (The House of Angels, The Palace of Princess, Junior Angels) with separate hostels for interns (CRMI) and Postgraduates inside the hospital campus.

The college is among the top 5 in terms of UG course (MBBS) offered across the state 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.