To mark the 500th birth anniversary of the Great Saint of Sikh Community, Guru Nanak Devji, the college was established and managed by the The Guru Nanak Educational society (Regd), Chennai, with late Lt.Col G.S.Gill, C.I.E, O.B.E., M.B., Ch.B(Edin), I.M.S as its founder President and late Padmashree P.N.Dhawan as general secretary, established a first grade college in the city of Chennai, Tamilnadu in 1971. The Government of Tamilnadu made a generous gift of twenty acres of land near Raj Bhavan, Guindy. The college was incerted with a sole motive of spreading the ideals of universal brotherhood, Oneness of god, Communal harmony and welfare to all communities. The college in being run as a minority college within the meaning of article 29 and 30 of the constitution of India.

The college is situated on the Velachery, Tambaram Road, providing a quiet and ideal environment for the intellectual pursuits of the younger generation.  The college has an excellent infrastructure with dedicated and well-qualified faculty striving their best to inculcate in the minds of the students, the qualities of leadership and service mindedness.

The college is adjudged as one of the best institutions in the state of Tamil Nadu, particularly in the city of Chennai and the NAAC has given a 5 Start Status to the colleges. Guru Nanak College is the only college for getting certificate by ISO.

The College, Affilliated to the University of Madras and is Co educational. Since the college has the best infrastructural facilities, the management decided to put them into better use by establishing the Evening college in 1981 to cater to the need of this southern part of the city students. The day college comes under the grant in aid pattern of Governemtn of Tamilnadu. The evening college comes under unaided self financing pattern.

Though preferences in admission is guranteed to the students of Sikh faith, the admission is open to students of any Religion, Caste, Creed or Sex.