Sydenham College is one of the most cosmopolitan and reputed colleges of Mumbai.. He was instrumental in making the "Bachelor of Commerce" degree a reality on 22nd October 1913, with Mr. K. S. Aiyer as honorary Principal, merely four part time lectures and a hundred students. Chosen out of three hundred applicants, the Government College of Commerce was inaugurated in the Elphinstone College buildings.

History of Sydenham College
This education institution was started in Mumbai in a borrowed premises belonging to the Elphinstone College. Firstly, this education institution was christened as the Government College of Commerce and it got its present name as Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics The borrowed place never became the permanent residence of the college and it changed its address three times. The college does not provide any facilities for accommodation of students.

Courses at Sydenham College
The junior college offers courses prescribed by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary Education at the 10+2 level and is affiliated with the University of Mumbai. The college offers a variety of undergraduate courses in the commerce stream. Besides this there are Vocational Subjects, such as, BMS, Environmental Management, Marketing, etc. The college also offers postgraduate courses in Commerce stream.

Co-Curricular Activities at Sydenham College
There are the Student`s Council and the Annual Magazine Committee in this college. The Student`s Council is considered to be the apex body of students; it represents the student community in front of the management and acts as a line of communication between the two. It organizes events of all societies including Brouhaha, the grand intercollegiate festival of the college. The Annual Magazine Committee is responsible for publishing the college`s annual magazine with a number of sections. This committee also publishes the newsletter, `Speak`.

The college has twenty societies in the college operating actively in their individual spheres.
The Annual Magazine Committee (A-Mag) publishes the annual magazine of the college and the newsletter `Speak`.
The Book Circle (BC) aims at promoting reading a habit amongst the students runs an informal library in the common room.
Dramatics Society (DS) aims at promoting theatre by organising various plays.
Gujarati Sahitya Mandal (G.S.M.) promotes traditional Indian culture and Hindi as a national language.
Marathi Wangmaya Mandal (M.W.M.) promotes Marathi, the state language both culturally and literarily.
Nature Club (N.C.) promotes love for nature and environment awareness.
Performing Arts Society (P.A.S.) discovers and encourages potential talent in dance and music.
Planning Forum creates awareness about various aspects of business and commerce through their workshops and seminars.
Public Speaking and Debating Society (P.S.D.S.) promote literary thinking and analytical ability. The society organises various competitions, quizzes and debates.
Poor Students` Education Relief Fund (P.S.E.R.F.) aids financially underprivileged students in completing their studies by providing textbooks and funds.
Rapport - The Sydenham Students` News Media is India`s only college news media publishes newspapers, an annual issue, handles two daily changing bulletin boards - the Wallpaper and Happenings and organises workshops and competitions related to creative media.
Social Service League (S.S.L. - N.S.S.) is a programme initiated by the government and launched by Sydenham College. The league organises various blood donation drives, health and AIDS awareness and adult education programmes.
Sydenham Auditorium Committee (S.A.C.): Maintains the college auditorium and allocates it for society events..
Sydenham Audio Visual Education Society (SAVES) promotes education and entertainment through audio visual means like laser disc shows and slides.
Sydenham College Co-operative Stores (Co-ops) is a -operative company solely managed by students. The store promotes hardcore business skills among students. Its three divisions include an on-campus retail outlet, C3 - the Computer Centre and La Pub - a publicity agency.
Sydenham College Gymkhana (Gym) co-ordinates all sporting activities in college and maintains the sport infrastructure.
Sydenham College Students` Council is regarded as the apex body of students.
Sydenham Computer Centre (SCC) manages the computer lab in college besides organising programmes related to information technology.
Sydenham Photographic Society (SPS): Promotes photography as an art, science and a profession.
Some of the famous alumni of the Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Maharashtra are Kumar Mangalam Birla, Suresh Kotak, Vikas Kasliwal, Padmanabh Mafatlal, Shailesh Sheth, Niranjan Hiranandani, Anirudh Dhoot, Rajendra Mehta, Vijay Marchand, Aditya Hitkari, Uday Pawar, Hritwik Roshan, Sonal Phadke, Rahul Bose, Sanjana Kapoor, Manoj Bothra, Atul Agnihotri, Sameera Reddy, Uday Chopra, Sanjiv Kohli, etc.

It is one of the prominent colleges in Mumbai for the study of Commerce.