loyola college, chennai

Loyola College, a Catholic Minority Institution, was founded by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1925, with the primary objective of providing University Education in a Christian atmosphere for deserving students irrespective of caste and creed.

It started functioning in July 1925 with just 75 students on the rolls in three undergraduate courses of Mathematics, History and Economics. Loyola is ranked 6^th among the Top Colleges in India by NIRF 2019. It offers various Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral programs in the discipline of Commerce & Economics, Vocational Studies, Humanities, Physical Sciences and many more. All the courses under the stream of Arts, Science & Commerce are offered by the college in two shifts – Shift I (Aided) & Shift II (Self-Supporting).

Loyola College, though affiliated to University of Madras, became autonomous in July 1978. It is autonomous, in the sense that it is empowered to frame its own course of studies and adopt innovative methods of teaching and evaluation. The University degrees will be conferred on the students passing the examinations conducted by the college.

UGC conferred the status of “College with potential for Excellence” on Loyola College in 2004 and confirmed the same in 2010.

NAAC’s re-accreditation score in 2012 (Third Cycle) is 3.70 out of 4.00 CGPA.

UGC has elevated Loyola College to the status of “College of Excellence” for the period from April 1, 2014 till March 31, 2019.

Today, there are 19 P.G courses and 19 U.G courses (Arts, Sciences and Commerce) and 12 special Institutes offering various programs to 12,107 students. 11 departments are offering M.Phil. programs and 12 departments offer Ph.D. programs. At present, 117 teaching staff members out of 286 hold doctoral degree. There are 182 non-teaching staff in service.

MAJOR FACILITIES
• The central library has a collection of more than 1,02,000 books, 225 journals, 8,087 e-journals and 48,146 e-books.
• The Loyola Digital Library provides 24 hours access to the students.
• Loyola Men’s Hostel and Loyola Women’s Hostel together have 836 rooms and can accommodate 1650 students.
• Prayer Room
• Loyola Health Centre
• Food Court
• Wi-Fi
• Recreational Center
• Sports Pavilion and Gymnasium

Loyola College received SIRO (Scientific Industrial Research Organization) in January, 2011.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India, has recognized the quality of scientific research done in Loyola College by the approval granted to it on 01.04.2011 of tax exemption under clause (ii) sub section 1 of section 35 of the Income Tax Act 1961. This approval enables 175% tax exemption to the donors of Loyola College Society for the purpose of scientific research.

Our educational institutions will shape our students into agents of social change, preparing them for concerted social action and thus paving the way to mass movements which will bring about the desired liberation. They will, in their admission policies actualize our preferential option for the poor, by “giving a privileged place to the weak” who are poor, economically and academically and form them “as men for others, stamped with the Ignatian hallmark of excellence and relevance” ; they will challenge the existing educational system into reorienting itself in order to respond to the crying needs of today’s society. They will also promote research in those branches of arts, sciences and relevant pedagogy which would help build a just social order. Aware as we are of the great structural constraints we work under, we have real apprehensions as to how effective our educational institutions could be in bringing about the desired social change through social action. Yet, responding to the greater call to be pioneers and prophets, we engage ourselves in the momentous task of liberation with a readiness to pay the price the kingdom demands

The primary aim of the College is to provide University education in a Christian atmosphere to deserving students, especially those belonging to the Catholic Christian Community. Although this college is meant primarily for Catholics, it does admit other students irrespective of their caste and creed. The college aims at training young men and women of quality to be leaders in all walks of life and serve their fellowmen with justice, truth and love. It is expected that this training would play a vital role in bringing about the desired change for the betterment of the people of our country, more particularly the poorer and marginalized sections of the society and especially dalits. Further, it will foster an atmosphere of intellectual vigour and moral rectitude in which the young men and women of our country may find their fulfillment and achieve greatness as eminent men and women for others.