Palayamkottai known as Oxford of South India has in itself many educational institution of various discipline namely, Arts Colleges, women colleges, Teachers training colleges, Professional Colleges and Schools for the handicapped.
Some of there education institutions are 1) St. John’s College (2) St.Xaviers College (3) Sara Tucker College (4) MDT Hindu College – all these being centenarians.
5) Satha kathula appa College
6) Saratha College for women (7) Rani Anna Govt. Arts College for women.
PROFESSIONAL COLLEGES
1) Tirunelveli Medical College – is a post-graduate degree center and also release the nursing batch every year.
2) Tirunelveli Govt. Engineering College
3) Tirunelveli Law College (recently started)
4) Siddha Medical College at Palayamkottai – a research center for the Siddha Systems.
5) Agricultural College – at Killikulam (10 km from Tirunelveli) – a college though not in the corporation area is very near to its limits.
SCHOOLS FOR THE HANDICAPPED
1) School for the Deaf and Dumb
2) School for the Blind
3) School for the mentally retarded.
There are 17 Elementary Schools, Middle schools, High schools and Higher secondary Schools for the Boys and Girls and Co-education are in number.
UNIVERSITY
The Manonmaniam Sundaranar University , named after Sundaram Pillai, the author of the famous drama “Manonmaniam”, is the controlling authority of all the colleges. The song written by Mr. Sundaram Pillai is the Title song of Tamil Nadu Govt. (“Neeradum Kadaludutha”). The University is a pioneer in its advancement in the field of microbiology. The eco-friendly atmosphere and the courses for the same have been started at Alwarkuruchi – at the base of the Western Ghats.
THE DISTRICT SCIENCE CENTRE
Out of the few Centres of the nation maintained by Ministry of Human Development department is situated in the heart of the City at Kokirakulam.
SPORTS
Tirunelveli is well known for its excellent sports facilities and has produced several nationally and internationally well known sports persons like Dhanraj Pillai etc.
Anna Stadium situated at Palayamkottai having athletic treacle and Indoor badminton stadium and Swimming pool .