Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science & Technology, Thanjavur

Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science and Technology (PRIST), also known as PRIST University, is a private deemed university recognized under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956, located in Vallam, Thanjavur, India. It was founded in 1985 by Prof. P. Murugesan as the Institute of Computer Science and Technology, initially receiving affiliation from Bharathidasan University to offer postgraduate diploma programmes in computer applications. It later expanded to include an Arts and Science College, College of Engineering and Technology, College of Education, a Research Institution and a Polytechnic College. In 2004, Ponnaiyah Ramajayam College received an "A" grade from NAAC, becoming the first college in the Bharathidasan University area to do so. On 4 January 2008, the institute was conferred deemed university status by the UGC, Ministry of HRD, and the Government of India. It also received approval from the Distance Education Council and the National Council for Teacher Education for its B.Ed. course. The institute now offers degrees in medicine, engineering, arts and science, education, law, pharmacy, management, and technology, along with Ph.D. programmes. It has two campuses in Thanjavur—West and East—and hosts various student clubs, associations, festivals, and technical certification courses.