Madurai Kamaraj University was inaugurated on 6 February 1966, based on the extension centre of the University of Madras, at Madurai. In 1968 the foundation stone for a new campus was laid by Zakir Hussain, the President of India. The Directorate of Distance Education of the university was established in 1971.
In 1978 the name was changed to Madurai Kamaraj University to honour K. Kamaraj, former Chief Minister of Madras State