Tan was famed for his involvement outside the political arena. From the 1950s till 1978, Tan was a member of the Council of the University of Malaya. He was instrumental in the selection of Ungku Aziz as a Professor of Economics – Ungku Aziz would go on to become Vice-Chancellor of the University. In 1967, Tan was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Council, and was promoted to chairman four years later. The University Chancellor later awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Laws.