The Tamil Nadu Open University was established by an Act of the legislative assembly of the government of Tamil Nadu to benefit those who have been deprived of and / or denied the access to higher education especially destitute, physically challenged, working men and women, economically weaker sections of the society, and those who discontinued education for various reasons, etc. In the main, it aims to reach the hitherto unreached. The university offers many programmers in various disciplines.

The distance Education Council, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) paid rich tributes to the government of the government of Tamil Nadu for having established TNOU thus: given the geographical extent, population and actual need of Tamil Nadu Open University by the Government of Tamil Nadu is the right step