The Government of Tamilnadu established the Bharathiar University at Coimbatore in February 1982 under the provision of the Bharathiar University Act, 1981 (Act 1 of 1982), with jurisdiction over the districts of Coimbatore, Erode and the Nilgiris. The Postgraduate Centre of the University of Madras which was functioning in Coimbatore till 1982 formed the nucleus of Bharathiar University. The University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi recognised the University in 1985.