GetMyUni's Verdict on Madras Christian College

Pratiki Patra

“Madras Christian College has an unmatched legacy which the students pride themselves for. Despite its good education coupled with expert faculties, its poor placement record makes a dent in its reputation.”

Indra Nooyi, Benny Dayal, Prathap C. Reddy, and many such esteemed persons have walked the halls of the Madras Christian College. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of the oldest colleges in Asia. Over the last centuries, the college has achieved some staggering milestones. It was one of the first colleges in India to be granted autonomous status. Spread across over 300 acres of lush greenery, the campus is no less than a sanctuary with distinct flora and fauna.

Studying at Madras Christian College is a matter of pride. The environment is apt for academics with excellent faculties. Although, it can be heard that some departments have underperformed over the years. While few have exceeded the expectations. The college is known to encourage self-expression and discussion. However, in recent times, students have exclaimed of a few teachers who have tried to put restrictions on the same. 

Regarding rules and regulations, the MCC students present a mixed view on various social platforms. While some seem to believe it is one of the most lenient colleges, the other half disagrees and says it is strict. Some even have gone on to accuse the college administration of malpractices. Analysing the various views, it cannot be said that the college can compete with the top-tier universities of the country. However, it indeed offers many benefits and a holistic experience.

Table of Contents

• Good Academics
• Esteemed Faculties
• Decent Infrastructure
• Comfortable Student Accommodation
• Poor Placement Opportunities
• Thrilling Campus Life
• Is Madras Christian College Worth it?

Good Academics

Madras Christian College has good educational facilities. Currently, it offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research programs. BCA, Microbiology, BSW, and Political Science are some of the most popular courses. It is often regarded as one of the good universities to provide a good blend of liberal arts and science courses. There is an equal emphasis on the theoretical and practical aspects of the subjects. However, students themselves also need to gear up and study hard.

The courses provide industry-relevant information, making it enriching. Depending on the course and subject, there will be a relative amount of fieldwork that one has to undergo. The exams are not too difficult to pass. However, few students have expressed on various online portals that a faculty spoon-feeds the students. Hence, it becomes a cakewalk to pass for that subject.

While some have said that some require steady dedication and a lot of practice and patience to pass a few subjects. It presents a mixed bag of reviews when it comes to the difficulty of the exams. MCC might not impart the best of the academics. However, it surely fares better than many other autonomous universities and colleges in the country. 

The Madras Christian College organises industrial visits, field trips, seminars, and industry-oriented events to inspire and broaden the students' knowledge. It is safe to say that the students, apart from gaining significant industry knowledge, enjoy such outings. It only enhances the campus experience and strengthens the bond among the students and the professors.

The Madras Christian College follows a unique Choice Based Credit System (CBCS). In such a system, there is a wide range of selection of courses that the students can choose from. This is followed so that students have a holistic approach to academics.

The Boyd Tandon School of Business

In a new collaborative effort between MCC and one of its illustrious alumni, Chandrika Tandon, it has laid the foundation of its first business school- Boyd Tandon School of Business. Chandrika Tandon has a trail of achievements spanning over 23 years.

Chandrika Tandon had previously left the Mc Kinsey and accepted the prestigious role of executive-in-residence at NYU. Followed by which she had tremendously helped set up the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Now, she has turned her attention to her alma mater and laid the foundation of the Boyd Tandon B-school. Soon, in a matter of time, it will open its gates to the first batch of students.

Expensive Fee Structure 

Madras Christian College is a private university, and its course fees do not come cheap. For a BBA course, students need to pay around INR 83,757; for a BSc course, they need to pay INR 71,236; for BCA, they must spend INR 1,01,757. Because of such high fees, it is difficult for students from socio-economically disadvantaged groups to study at MCC.

In many cases, the college provides various financial aid through scholarships. It is offered to students based on multiple parameters like first-generation learners, single/no parents, students who are engaged in part-time jobs to support their studies, etc.

Esteemed Faculties 

MCC boasts of an impressive list of faculties. The faculty members are carefully chosen to impart the best knowledge to the students. In years, they have earned their name. They have also made a place in the students’ hearts. The professors are warm and friendly in their approach and walk the extra mile to help students achieve their academic goals.

The faculties are always ready to help the students resolve their doubts and queries. Given that in a class, the number of students can go up to 70, many a time, one professor for such a large number of students might not be a good fit. Nonetheless, the dedication the faculties show does not diminish.

However, students have recently expressed their grievances about a few faculty members on various online forums. They have stated that some of the professors have rigid traditional views regarding the social dynamics of society. These faculties have criticised the students for their attire and other such things.

Decent Infrastructure

Madras Christian College has a sturdy, modern infrastructure. Although it might not be on par with many top-tier universities and colleges in the country, it is good enough for the students to have good exposure. One striking feature of MCC is its surrounding lush greenery. This instantly makes it distinct from various other colleges. The campus is home to about 90 deer, and numerous flora and fauna spread across 300 acres. 

The library stocks a plethora of books from various genres. It also houses numerous magazines, publications, research papers, newspapers, journals, periodicals, etc. The campus is kept clean and hygienic throughout. Similarly, the laboratories are also well-maintained and have a good number of equipment.

Although among the infrastructure, there is a lack of good internet connectivity on the campus. The classrooms of MCC are traditionally built to preserve the heritage. The entire infrastructure has seamlessly blended the modern and heritage aspects of the campus, giving it a unique feel.

The sports facilities are well built, having a basketball court, cricket field, football ground, etc. The college premises also have a cafeteria, gymnasium, and medical facilities. The entire premise is made safe and secured by 24x7 security surveillance. The college also has its own service for the differently abled persons. It provides all the logistical and academic support to differently-abled students. 

Comfortable Student Accommodation

The hostels at Madras Christian College have their own life. It provides student accommodation to both boys and girls. The rooms are well furnished with all the basic facilities like chairs, tables, mattresses, etc. The hostel premises are kept clean and hygienic. They are also safe and secure with tight security all around.

The hostel charge is approximately INR 19,500. This can be a bit expensive for a few students to afford. In such cases, the students can look for paying guest facilities in the city. They come at various prices with good facilities.  

Poor Placement Opportunities 

Madras Christian College has a decent placement facility but a poor placement record. It has managed to apprise a few top recruiters. Although, when it comes to internships, students do not get any support from the management. The dedicated placement cell looks after the recruitment process and helps students to secure jobs.

The placement cell is also actively involved in arranging leadership and other training programs to benefit the students. Around 80% of the students get placed. The highest salary offered is INR 8 LPA, which is below the industry standards in many departments.

Thrilling Campus Life

Life at MCC is the most exciting part of the student's life. There are hardly any dull days on campus. It is always a buzz with various cultural and sports events. Students can also participate in multiple clubs as per their interests. The clubs are also engaged in organising events. One of the most eccentric aspects of college life at Madras Christian College is it encourages the students to engage and have a dialogue and opinion on various issues.

Such an environment stimulates the students to have rational thinking. It also develops their persona and gains different perspectives. As mentioned earlier, there is a mixed review by the students about the strictness of the college. While most agree it to be lenient, many disagree with the same. There are no strict dress codes or uniform systems. Hence, students can dress by their will. 

MCC draws students from various backgrounds from all over the country. However, the majority of students come from within Tamil Nadu. There is a fair, cultural exchange between the students as well.

Is Madras Christian College Worth it?

MCC offers a charged campus experience with good academics and excellent faculties. Perhaps only a few colleges are left which encourage students to have an opinion and express their views. It is a mix of traditional and modern takes on various aspects. Nevertheless, it also has its own drawbacks regarding placements and infrastructure. 

Overall, MCC sits high on the students' priority list as it still holds the prestige and well-networked alumni globally. Students are assured that, in the end, it provides a good education.

Without further delay, here is a pros and cons list of Madras Christian College:

*Source: madraschristiancollege Instagram