University in India
University of Kerala Emblem of the University of Kerala
Other name
Kerala University Former name
University of Travancore Motto Karmaṇi Vyajyate Prajñā (Sanskrit ) Motto in English
Wisdom manifests itself in action Type Public research university Established November 1, 1937; 88 years ago (1937-11-01 ) Founder Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma Accreditation NAAC ,NBA ,UGC Affiliation NIRF Academic affiliations
ACU ,AICTE ,AIU ,AUAP ,BCI ,CCIM ,COA ,ICAR ,INC ,NCTE ,PCI ,WES Budget ₹ 8.1 billionChancellor Governor of Kerala Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal(acting) [ 1] Students 40000+ Undergraduates 35000+ Postgraduates 6000+ 250+ Other students
1000+ Location ,, Campus Urban Language English,Malayalam ,Hindi Sporting affiliations
NCC ,NSS Website keralauniversity
Senate House, University of Kerala. University of Kerala , commonly referred to asKerala University (KU ,ISO :Kēraḷa Sarvakālāśāla University of Travancore is apublic state university inthiruvananthapuram , the capital ofKerala , India. It was established in 1937 by a promulgation of theMaharajah of Travancore ,Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma who was also the first Chancellor of the university.C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer , the then Diwan (Prime Minister) of the State was the first Vice-Chancellor. It was the first university in Kerala, and among the first in the country. It is accredited byNAAC with highest grade of 'A++' and scored 3.67 points out of 4.[ 2]
The university has over 150 affiliated colleges and has sixteen faculties and 43 Departments of teaching and research. TheGovernor of Kerala serves as theChancellor of university.[ 3]
The history of the University of Kerala is integral to the history of the state itself. One of the first 16 universities in India, the University of Kerala was founded on November 1, 1937 as the University of Travancore in the erstwhile princely state ofTravancore (now southern part of Kerala and some neighbouring parts of state of Tamil Nadu).[ 4] [ 5]
The university came into being by a promulgation of the Maharajah of Travancore, Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma who was also the first Chancellor of the university. Sir C. P Ramaswamy Ayyar, the then Diwan (Prime minister) of the State was the first Vice-Chancellor. He was an eminent scholar and an able administrator. It has been written in Indian media that the Government made an unsuccessful attempt to inviteAlbert Einstein to be the first Vice-Chancellor.[ 6]
The earliest origins of the University may be traced back to two institutions of modern learning in Kerala – theUniversity College Thiruvananthapuram and theTrivandrum Observatory . The University College was initially founded as the Maharaja's Free School byMaharaja Swathi Thirunal in 1834, with Mr John Roberts, a Christian Missionary as Headmaster, and soon grew into a college in 1866, affiliated to the Madras University. When the University of Travancore was founded, the departments of the college became University departments, only to switch back again when the transformation to University of Kerala happened in 1957. The University College still retains its connection with the University as an affiliated college. The Thiruvananthapuram Observatory was founded in 1838 and had an internationally reputed scientist, John Caldecott FRS as its first Director. It became a part of the Travancore University, but was administered as an independent government institution for some time. It is now the oldest institution under the Kerala University.[ 7]
Organisation and administration [ edit ] The Chancellor, the Pro-Chancellor, the Vice- Chancellor, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and the members of the Senate, the Syndicate and the Academic Council constitutes the governing body of the university. TheGovernor of Kerala is the Chancellor of the university while Education Minister of Kerala is the Pro-Chancellor of the university.[ 8]
Affiliated colleges [ edit ] University rankings General – India NIRF (Overall)[ 9] 42 NIRF (Universities)[ 10] 25 NIRF (State Public Universities)[ 10] 5
Ranked 25th among universities, 5th among public state universities and 42nd overall by theNational Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2025.[ 11] QS World University Rankings [ 12]
International Students [ edit ] The University of Kerala has received an unprecedented 2,620 applications from international students representing 81 countries for its academic programmes in 2025–26.The university currently hosts 205 international students from 52 countries, includingColombia ,Peru , United Kingdom, and the United States of America, through ICCR scholarships and self-financing options.
Students from America at Kerala University's Kariavattom campus, Thiruvananthapuram. [ edit ] The University of Kerala runs a Semester-in-India Programme (SIP) for American students, enabling them to study selected courses for one semester with credit transfer to their home institutions. The programme is governed by the university's Credit Transfer Regulations and Credit and Semester System (CSS) Regulations for foreign students. So far, three batches with a total of 23 students have completed the SIP, representing institutions such asSt. Mary's College of Maryland ,Grand Valley State University ,George Mason University ,Green Mountain College ,Cornell University ,Plymouth State University ,Hendrix College ,Berea College andPacific University .
Academic collaborations with foreign universities [ edit ] The University of Kerala has already signed MoU(Memorandum of Understanding) with upto 22 institutions across the globe.It includesUniversity of Hartford ,University of Warsaw ,Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University .
Notable alumni includes tenthPresident of India K. R. Narayanan , renownedtheoretical physicist Thanu Padmanabhan , geneticistM. S. Swaminathan ,ISRO former chairmanG. Madhavan Nair ,INSA scientistPerdur Radhakantha Adiga , formerSupreme Court judges,Justice Kurian Joseph ,Justice Fathima Beevi , legal luminaryN. R. Madhava Menon , Indian film actorMohanlal , Malayalam poetsO. N. V. Kurup ,Sugathakumari , Music composerG. Devarajan , historianM. G. S. Narayanan , cricketerSanju Samson and many other eminent personalities.
Pinarayi Vijayan –12th Chief Minister of Kerala .Oommen Chandy –10th Chief Minister of Kerala A. K. Antony –6th Chief Minister of Kerala and25th Minister of Defence (India) Minister of Defence ,Government of India .Vayalar Ravi – FormerMinister of Civil Aviation ,Government of India .Mullappally Ramachandran – FormerMinister of Home Affairs ,Government of India .P. J. Kurien - 11thDeputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha .Kodiyeri Balakrishnan – Former Minister forHome Affairs ,Government of Kerala .V. D. Satheesan –Leader of the Opposition -15th Kerala Assembly .Ramesh Chennithala - former Minister forHome Affairs ,Government of Kerala .T. M. Thomas Isaac – Former Minister for Finance,Government of Kerala .K. B. Ganesh Kumar – Minister for Transport,15th Kerala Assembly ,Government of Kerala .K. N. Balagopal – Minister for Finance,15th Kerala Assembly ,Government of Kerala .Veena George – Minister for Health,15th Kerala Assembly ,Government of Kerala .Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan – FormerRevenue Minister,Government of Kerala .M. B. Rajesh – 23rd Speaker of theKerala Legislative Assembly .Adoor Prakash – Member of parliament ,18th Lok Sabha ,Attingal Lok Sabha constituency .K. Sudhakaran – Member of parliament ,18th Lok Sabha ,Kannur Lok Sabha constituency .N. K. Premachandran -Member of parliament ,18th Lok Sabha ,Kollam Lok Sabha constituency .Rajmohan Unnithan – Member of parliament ,18th Lok Sabha ,Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency .Benny Behanan – Member of parliament ,18th Lok Sabha ,Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency .Anto Antony - Member of parliament ,18th Lok Sabha ,Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency .Kodikunnil Suresh – Member of parliament ,18th Lok Sabha ,Mavelikara Lok Sabha constituency .Dean Kuriakose – Member of parliament ,18th Lok Sabha ,Idukki Lok Sabha constituency .Francis George (politician) -Member of parliament ,18th Lok Sabha ,Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency .Chandy Oommen – Member of the15th Kerala Assembly .P. C. Vishnunadh – Member of the15th Kerala Assembly .K. G. Balakrishnan – Formerchief Judge of theSupreme Court of India .Alexander Thomas (judge) – Former judge of theHigh Court of Kerala .George Alencherry –Cardinal of theSyro-Malabar Catholic Church .Baselios Cleemis –Cardinal of theSyro-Malankara Catholic Church .Thomas Jessayyan Netto –Metropolitan Archbishop of theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Trivandrum .Appu Kuttan – He has served as an advisor to American PresidentBill Clinton , India Prime MinisterRajiv Gandhi , thePresident of Venezuela , and theMauritius Prime Minister.T. V. Paul – Former president of theInternational Studies Association .P. K. Abdul Aziz – Former Vice chancellor ofCochin University of Science and Technology ,Aligarh Muslim University ,University of Science and Technology Meghalaya .Jacob Punnoose – FormerDirector general of police ofKerala .T. P. Senkumar – FormerDirector general of police ofKerala .Jija Madhavan Harisingh – She was the first woman IPS officer (Indian Police Service ) from South-India (Karnataka cadre).Resul Pookutty – Oscar award winner.Ameer Shahul – Indian author and environmentalist.Ambalapuzha Gopakumar – Malayalam poet, historian, and writer from Kerala.C. V. Ananda Bose – 21stGovernor of West Bengal .P. S. Sreedharan Pillai – 19thGovernor of Goa .S. Venkitaramanan – 18th Governor of theReserve Bank of India .K. S. Chithra – Famous playback singer .Mammootty – Famous Malayalam actor .Thoppil Bhasi – IndianMalayalam language playwright, screenwriter, and film director.Venu Nagavally – FamousMalayalam actor & director.Adoor Gopalakrishnan – IndianMalayalam language screenwriter, and film director.Sreekumaran Thampi – Famous Lyricist. He has written over 3,000 songs forMalayalam Cinema .Murali (Malayalam actor) – Famousmalayalam actor.Bharat Gopy – Famous Malayalam actor .Padmarajan – Famous Malayalam movie director .K. G. George – An Indian filmmaker and screenwriter who worked in theMalayalam cinema .Sibi Malayil – Famous Malayalam movie director .Blessy – Famous Malayalam movie director .Joshiy – Famous Malayalam movie director .Thilakan – Famous Malayalam actor .Nedumudi Venu – Famousmalayalam actor.Sukumaran – Famous Malayalam actor .Karamana Janardanan Nair – FamousMalayalam Actor.Sudheer Karamana – FamousMalayalam Actor.Narendra Prasad – FamousMalayalam Actor.Fahadh Faasil – Famous Malayalam actor .Kunchacko Boban – Famous Malayalam actor .Murali Gopy – Famous Malayalam actor and screenwriter .M. Jayachandran – Indian composer, singer, and musician.Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma -Malayalam lyricist and poet.Prakash Varma – Famous Malayalam actor and advertisement director.Santosh Sivan – Famous Indiancinematographer .K. J. Yesudas – Famous Indian playback singer .M. G. Sreekumar – Famous Indian playback singer.P. Jayachandran – Famous Indian playback singer.G. Venugopal – Famous Indian playback singer .Prem Nazir – Famous Malayalam actor .Madhu (actor) – prominent lead actor during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and has acted in more than 400 films.Priyadarshan – Famous Indian director and screenwriter.Jacob Abraham - Americancomputer scientist and engineer.T. K. A. Nair – Formerly served as adviser to thePrime Minister of India with the rank of the Minister of State. He also previously served as Principal Secretary to Prime Minister of India.R. Hari Kumar – He served as 25thChief of the Naval Staff .S. Suresh Babu - Indian film screenwriter.Kuncheria P Isaac – Former secretary ofAICTE and first vice chancellor ofA. P. J. Abdul Kalam Technological University, Thiruvananthapuram . M. A. Baby – General Secretary of theCommunist Party of India (Marxist) . Minister of Education in Kerala from 2006 to 2011.T. V. Rajan Babu – organic chemist who holds the position of Distinguished Professor ofChemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences at theOhio State University .Veliyam Bharghavan - Secretary of theCommunist Party of India .Tiffany Brar – Indian social activist.Sathyabhama Das Biju – An Indian amphibian biologist,wildlife conservationist and heads the Systematics Lab at theUniversity of Delhi .G. Devarajan – Indian composer andCarnatic singer.Koppillil Radhakrishnan – 7thChairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation .S. Somanath – 10thChairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation .Sheena Rani – Program director of theAgni-V Intercontinental ballistic missile underDRDO . V. R. Lalithambika – An Indian engineer and former Director ofISRO Human Spaceflight Programme, played a key role in theGaganyaan mission. She was conferred the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, France's highest civilian award, for her contributions to Indo-French space cooperation.George Joseph (scientist) – Indian space scientist, best known for his contributions to the development ofRemote sensing technology in India, especially Earth observation sensors.T. K. Alex – Former director ofIndian Space Research Organisation Satellite Centre (ISAC).K. N. Ninan (scientist) – Former Deputy Director ofVikram Sarabhai Space Centre atISRO , and later an emeritus professor at theIndian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST).C. Divakaran – State Executive Member ofCommunist Party of India .Renji Panicker – Actor, screenwriter, director inMalayalam films .Sanal Edamaruku – president of theIndian Rationalist Association .Salim Gangadharan – Chairman of theSouth Indian Bank .Kris Gopalakrishnan – Co-founder ofInfosys .S. D. Shibulal – He was the chief executive officer and managing director ofInfosys and one of its seven founding members.P. K. Gurudasan – An Indian politician, trade unionist, and a member ofCommunist Party of India (Marxist) .Thirunalloor Karunakaran – was a poet, scholar, and teacher.O. Madhavan – was an Indian theatre director and actor . He was one of the founding members of theCommunist Party of India in Kerala.V. Madhusoodanan Nair – Indian poet and critic ofMalayalam literature .Lopamudra R – Indian poet and translator writing inMalayalam language with the pen name Lopamudra.S. K. Satheesh – Indian meteorologist and a professor at the Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences of theIndian Institute of Science (IISc).T. N. Seema – social worker, teacher, and politician who was an MP fromRajya Sabha elected fromKerala from 2010 to 2016 for theCommunist Party of India .Bindu Ammini – Indian lawyer and lecturer atGovernment Law College ,Kozhikode , and aDalit activist.S. D. Shibulal – He was the chief executive officer and managing director ofInfosys , and one of its seven founding members.M. S. Valiathan – An Indiancardiac surgeon . He was a president of theIndian National Science Academy and a National Research Professor of theGovernment of India .Jose Chacko Periappuram – An Indiancardiac surgeon and medical writer who performed the first successfulheart transplant in the state ofKerala , as well as the first successful heart retransplant in the country.M. Krishnan Nair (doctor) -Founding director of theRegional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram .Government of India awarded him Padma Shri in 2001 for his contributions in the cancer care field.B Umadathan-RenownedForensic Surgeon, he who unravelled many mysterious murders includingSukumara Kurup case. P Rema-Former head of theforensic department of theThiruvananthapuram Medical College and wife of actorJagadeesh . K. P. Haridas – Indian surgeon known for first successful liver resection.Mary Verghese – An Indian physician who was among the earliest pioneers ofphysical medicine and rehabilitation in India.D. Vinayachandran –Malayalam poet.Rajashree Warrier – one of India's foremostBharatanatyam Dancers.Jagathy Sreekumar – Indian actor, director and playback singer, who has appeared in over 1500Malayalam films.Jagadeesh - an Indian actor, screenwriter, and television presenter.Basil Joseph - Indian film actor and director who works in theMalayalam film industry .Suresh Gopi – actor, playback singer, television presenter and politician who is currently serving as theMinister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and theMinister of Tourism since June 2024.Mukesh (actor) – Actor and politician.Balachandra Menon – FamousMalayalam Actor & director.Parvathy Thiruvothu – Actress who predominantly works inMalayalam andTamil films.^ "Vice Chancellor" .www.keralauniversity.ac.in . Retrieved1 March 2018 .^ "University of Kerala" .^ "University of Kerala" .^ "Pioneering Higher Education: State Initiatives by the Rulers of Modern Travancore" , by B. P. Blessy and S. R. Saritha,Journal of Kerala Studies Vol. XLIX (2022) p.44 ISSN 0377-0443 ("After so many efforts, the dream came true with the establishment of Travancore University by a royal proclamation on 1st November 1937 by the then Maharaja."^ "Believe It Or Not, Kerala University Offered Einstein Rs 6,000 Job In 1937" , IndiaTV, January 2, 2012 ("The University of Travancore, now Kerala University, came into existence on November 1, 1937 with King Chitira Tirunal Balarama Varma as Chancellor, mother-queen Sethu Parvathy Bai as pro-Chancellor and CP as Vice-Chancellor")^ "How India missed being Einstein home" ,The Telegraph ^ "University of Kerala" .^ "Kerala University Act 1974" (PDF) .^ ^a b ^ "NIRF 2024" (PDF) .^ "QS Asia University Rankings 2025 – Overall" .Top Universities . 20 May 2025.
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