University of Kerala, commonly referred to as Kerala University (KU, ISO: Kēraḷa Sarvakālāśāla), formerly known as University of Travancore is a publicstate university university in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, India. It was established in 1937 by a promulgation of the Maharajah 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 by NAAC 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. The Governor of Kerala serves as the Chancellor of university.[3]
History
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 of Travancore (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 invite Albert Einstein to be the first Vice-Chancellor.[6] The university was modeled after the best Universities of the United Kingdom, and even today retains some of these features. The affiliating system of the university, however, evolved differently from the college system in British universities.
The earliest origins of the University may be traced back to two institutions of modern learning in Kerala – the University College Thiruvananthapuram and the Trivandrum Observatory. The University College was initially founded as the Maharaja's Free School by Maharaja 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
Governance
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. The Governor of Kerala is the Chancellor of the university while Education Minister of Kerala is the Pro-Chancellor of the university.[8]
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, including Colombia, 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.
T. K. A. Nair – Formerly served as adviser to the Prime Minister of India with the rank of the Minister of State. He also previously served as Principal Secretary to Prime Minister of India.
V. R. Lalithambika – An Indian engineer and former Director of ISRO Human Spaceflight Programme, played a key role in the Gaganyaan 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 of Remote sensing technology in India, especially Earth observation sensors.
Suresh Gopi – actor, playback singer, television presenter and politician who is currently serving as the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Minister of Tourism since June 2024.
↑"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")
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