Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute was established by Sri Ramachandra Educational and Health Trust in the year 1985 as a private notfor-profit self-financing institution and dedicated to serve the society as a centre of excellence with emphasis on medical education, research and health care. In view of its academic excellence, the Government of India declared Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute as a in September, 1994 under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. As notified by the UGC, the nomenclature of the institution has been changed to Sri Ramachandra University in 2006. The Trust achieved the task of establishing this Institution as a "Centre of Excellence" under the leadership of Late Shri.N.P.V.Ramasamy Udayar who was the Founder & Managing Trustee of the Trust and also the first Chancellor of the Deemed University. Shri.V.R.Venkataachalam is currently the Chancellor of the University and is also the Managing Trustee of the Trust.

Over two decades, the institute has transformed into a full fledged university with nine constituent colleges/faculties and around 100 courses in the health care sciences. Nearly 4000 students receive teaching and training within the University campus. Over 3500 patients seek health care in the state of the art academic medical centre.

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council has accredited (Cycle-2) Sri Ramachandra University with "A" Grade with a CGPA of 3.62 on a 4-point scale, the highest to be awarded to a private medical University in India.

The Joint Commission International (JCI) has accredited the University teaching hospital, the first teaching hospital in India to obtain such accreditation from JCI.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) has recognized and upgraded the Regional Centre in Medical Education Technologies, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra University, as a Nodal Centre to conduct both Basic and Advance course in Medical Education Technologies.

The WHO has designated Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Occupational Health.

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has accredited the Biodosimetry lab of the Department of Human Genetics for assessment of personnel radiation exposure and related studies, the only non-governmental institution to have achieved such accreditation.