The Centre for Affiliation of Institutions (CAI) is an autonomous Centre of Anna University, its primary function being to facilitate granting of affiliation and to process other allied matters pertaining to the Engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu encompassing Chennai (Head Quarters) and regions Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tirunelveli.

Administration of the Centre: The administrative activities of the Centre are monitored and regulated by an Executive Committee whose members are nominated by the University. The Vice-Chancellor, Anna University Chennai is the Chairman of the Executive Committee. The Centre is headed by a Director assisted by Deputy Directors, administrative and other supporting staff.

Objectives of the Centre: Enabling the Engineering colleges under its jurisdiction to achieve academic excellence by guiding them to equip themselves with qualified faculty and state of the art infrastructure so as to produce competent engineers to meet the local and global requirements.

The affiliated colleges are four types:

• Anna University's colleges and campus
• Tamil Nadu Government Engineering Colleges
• Tamil Nadu government aided engineering colleges
• Self-financing engineering colleges

The university's main campus is located in Chennai and extends over 185 acres adjoining the Adyar River and the Raj Bhavan. It houses College of Engineering, Guindy, Alagappa College of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning and three technical departments of the University of Madras. Affiliated campuses are located in Chrompet (Madras Institute of Technology) and Taramani in Chennai.

The university has satellite campuses in Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Tirunelveli. The university also runs engineering colleges at Villupuram, Tindivanam, Arani and Kanchipuram in Chennai region, Erode and Bargur in Coimbatore region, Panruti, Pattukkottai, Thirukkuvalai and Ariyalur in Tiruchirapalli region, Ramanathapuram and Dindigul in Madura region, Nagercoil and Thoothukudi in Tirunelveli region.