Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS) is based in the Pallavaram district of Chennai, the largest city in Tamil Nadu.
It was founded in 1992 and deemed a university in 2008 following the merger of Vels Institutes of Science, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Engineering and Technology, and Maritime Education and Training.
It has schools of pharmacy, health science, physical science, engineering and technology, maritime studies, management, science and commerce, nursing, life sciences, science and humanities, law, and medicine.
Activities are concentrated on a 29 acre urban campus, less than a mile from Pallavaram railway station and not much more to Chennai international airport.
The university has a 600-bed hospital. as well as student hostels that students can stay in.
The School of Life Science’s new Fish Immunology Centre is a response to the lack of trained staff in a new field.
