Thanjavur is renowned for its culture of education. It is home to the famous Saraswati Mahal Library which dates back to the end of the 16th century and contains over 30,000 rare manuscripts. It has now been fully computerized. There are many other libraries including The Central Library,Thanjavur. Currently, Thanjavur has four universities including Tamil University

Tamil University

The Tamil University , India, was established to provide higher research in the Tamil language and advanced study in allied branches such as linguistics, translation, lexicography, music, drama and manuscriptology...

 and several colleges including the renowned Thanjavur Medical College

Thanjavur Medical College

Thanjavur Medical College is one of the prominent medical colleges in India. It is located in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu and is affiliated with the Tamilnadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai. It is one of the oldest medical colleges in Tamil Nadu and has a name on its own merit...

. There are also many research centres, including the Paddy Processing Research Centre (Now Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology) and Soil and Water Research Centre.

Universities

• SASTRA University
• PRIST University
• Periyar Maniammai University
  Periyar Maniammai University
  Periyar Maniammai University is a university in the town of Vallam Thanjavur, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India.-External links:*...
  
  
• Tamil University
  Tamil University
  The Tamil University , India, was established to provide higher research in the Tamil language and advanced study in allied branches such as linguistics, translation, lexicography, music, drama and manuscriptology...
  
  

Engineering Colleges

• Arasu Engineering College
  Arasu Engineering College
  Arasu Engineering College is located on Chennai Main Road in Kumbakonam in the Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Arasu Engineering College , Kumbakonam is established by Sri Thirunavukkarasu Dhanalakshmi Educational and Charitable Trust. It was registered as a public charitable...
  
   (AEC)
• Anjalai Ammal Mahalingam Engineering College (AAMEC)
• PR Engineering College
• Ponnaiyah Ramajayam College of Engineering and Technology (PRCET)
• King's College of Engineering (KCE)
• St. Joseph's College Of Engineering and Technology
• Parisutham Institute of Technology & Science
  Parisutham Institute of Technology & Science
  Parisutham Institute of Technology and Science is an engineering institution in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. The institution is affiliated to Anna University, Chennai. The institution had earlier been affiliated to Anna University of Technology, Tiruchirappalli before the merger in 15 September...
  
   (PITS)
• As-Salam College Of Engineering and Technology
• Vandayar Engineering College

Polytechnic Colleges

• Periyar Centenary Polytechnic
• CCMR Polytechnic
• Shanmuga Polytechnic
• Vandayar Polytechnic College,Thanjavur

Medical Colleges

• Thanjavur Medical College
  Thanjavur Medical College
  Thanjavur Medical College is one of the prominent medical colleges in India. It is located in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu and is affiliated with the Tamilnadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai. It is one of the oldest medical colleges in Tamil Nadu and has a name on its own merit...
  
   (Fourth Medical College in Tamil Nadu started in 1959)
• Orathanadu Veterinary Medical College (soon)
• Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal sciences University (Research & Training Centre)

Paramedical College

• Mannai Narayanasamy College
• Arasu Paramedical College
• Konagarnadu College of Nursing
• Our Lady of Health College of Nursing

Nursing Colleges

• Mannai Narayanasamy School of Nursing
• Thanjavur Medical College
• Our Lady of Health College of Nursing

Arts, Science and Management Studies

• Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy
  Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy
  The Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy, known as SASTRA University, is a deemed university in the town of Thirumalaisamudram, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. Undergraduate and postgraduate engineering courses are its focus....
  
  
• Tamilvel Umamaheshwaranar Karanthai Arts & Science College
• Na. Mu. Venkatasamy Nattar College
• Nalli Kuppusamy Women's College
• Bharath College of Science and Management
• Marudhupandiar College
• Vivekanandha College
• Adaikala Matha College
• Adaikala Matha Institute of Management
• Bon Secours College
• Abi & Abi College of Arts and Science
• Swamy Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science
• Annai Vailankanni Arts & Science college
• Gnanam School of Business (GSB)
• P R Institute of Management

Colleges of Education

• Dr.S.R.J.College of Education
• Maruthu Pandiar College of Education
• Bon Secours College of Education
• Vandayar College of Education
• Bharath College of Education
• John Britto College of Education
• P R College of Education
• Dr.Velaichamy Nadar College of Education for Women

Teacher Training Institutes

• St. John De Britto teachers Training Institute
• Maruthu Pandiar Teacher Training Institute
• Vandayar Teacher Training Institute

Agriculture

• Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT)

Autonomous Colleges

• A.V.V.M Sri Pushpam college
  A.V.V.M Sri Pushpam college
  A. Veeriya Vandayar Memorial Sri Pushpam College is one of premier Art and Science Autonomous College in Thanjavur District. Established in 1956, it offers higher education in Arts, Science and Technology.-History :Rao Bahadur Sri. A...
  
  , Poondi, Thanjavur Dt. (A.Veeraiya Vandaiyar Memorial Sri Pushpam College was established in 1956 in a village Poondi, 12 km from Thanjavur on the way to Nagapattinam on National Highway 67. The college campus is 85 acres large and has NAAC accreditation with status of four stars.)
• Rajah Serfoji Govt. College
• Kunthavai Naacchiyaar Government Arts College for Women

Schools

• Auxilium Girl's Higher Secondary School
• Bharathi Vidyalaya Matriculation School
• Blake Higher Secondary School
• Blossom's Higher Secondary School
• Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School
  Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School
  Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School is located in Egmore, Chennai. The school was established in July 1958 with an initial strength of 140 students and Fr.Mallon as the Principal and has since grown to a strength of over 2700 students...
  
  
• E D Thomas Higher Secondary School
• Girls Christian Higher Secondary School
• Kalyanasundaram Higher Secondary School (KHSS) (Established in 1893)
• Kamala Subramaniam Matriculation Higher Secondary School (KSMS)
• Kendriya Vidyalaya (CBSE)
• Maharishi Vidya Mandir higher secondary school
• Maxwell Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• Oriental High School
• Radient International School
• Rajahs Higher Secondary School
• Sacred Heart Girl's Higher Secondary School
• Seventh-Day matriculation higher secondary school
• Sri Venkateswara matriculation higher secondary school
• St. Antony's Higher secondary school
• St. Joseph Girls Higher Secondary School
• St. Peters Higher Secondary School
• Thamarai International School (TIS)
• Thirumagal Higher Secondary School
• Umamaheswara Higher Secondary School
• Veeraragava Higher Secondary School
• Yagappa Matriculation Public School

South India's First English College

St. Peter’s school, Thanjavur was established by Rev. C F Schwartz

Christian Friedrich Schwarz

Christian Friedrich Schwarz was a German Lutheran Protestant missionary to India, born on 8 October 1726 at Sonnenburg, in the electorate of Brandenburg, Prussia. Having learned Tamil to assist in a translation of the Bible into that language, he was led to form the intention of becoming a...

 in the year 1784. This was the first school in South India

South India

South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...

which taught English to the local populace. It was originally established as a college. Christian Missionaries also played a key role in promoting Education here. The local population benefited from their Educational initiatives.