The National Institute of Technology (formerly known as Regional Engineering College) Tiruchirappalli, situated in the heart of Tamil Nadu on the banks of river Cauvery, was started as a joint co-operative venture of the Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1964 with a view to catering to the needs of man-power in technology for the country. The college has been conferred with autonomy in financial and administrative matters to achieve rapid development. Because of this rich experience, this institution was granted Deemed University Status with the approval of the UGC/AICTE and Govt. of India in the year 2003 and renamed as National Institute of Technology. NIT-T was registered under Societies Registration Act XXVII of 1975.

The institution offers Under Graduate Courses in ten different areas of specilization and Post Graduate Courses in twenty one disciplines of Science, Engineering & Technology besides Ph.D. in all the departments. The faculty is inducted through a process of open advertisement throughout the country. The college is an example of cultural unity with students drawn from most of the states in the country. 

The hallmark of the campus is the good facilities which cater to the academic and extra-curricular interests of the students. The Octagon is the pride of the campus equipped with modern facilities like a CAD/CAM Lab, Local Area Network, an 10 Mbps High Speed Internet connection and other seminar and conference facilities. It is maintained and run by the Computer Support Group of the institute. 
The College has a sprawling campus of around 800 acres. This includes hostel facilites, Hospital, Post & Telegraph, Telecom Center, fully computerized State Bank of India branch with ATM facility, Book stall, Reprographic Center, Canteen, Swimming pool and Co-op. Stores.
Apart from this the campus provides ample opportunities for developing extra-curricular skills which include NCC, NSS, Students Chapters of IEEE, social clubs and sports & games. The Alumni of this institution have excelled in various spheres and are positioned very well globally in a number of leading Government, Public Sector & Private Organizations.