A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University
State public university
CET Campus, Thiruvananthapuram
Main focus: Engineering, technology and applied sciences.
Official website Source: UGC — State Universities
Kerala education directory
Universities in Kerala
Browse 19 UGC-listed universities by district and university category. Listings identify headquarters or main campuses, not affiliated colleges or off-campus centres.
District-wise directory
19 listed universities
Use district links to find each university’s main Kerala location. Official university websites and UGC category registers are linked on every listing.
Thiruvananthapuram
4 universitiesUniversity of Kerala
State public university
Senate House Campus, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram
Main focus: Multidisciplinary teaching, research and postgraduate education.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesKerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology
State public university
Technocity Campus, Mangalapuram, Thiruvananthapuram
Main focus: Digital sciences and the development and application of digital technologies.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesIndian Institute of Space Science and Technology
Deemed-to-be university
Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram district
Main focus: Space science, technology and engineering.
Official website Source: UGC — Deemed to be UniversitiesKollam
1 universitySreenarayanaguru Open University
State public open university
Kollam city
Main focus: Open and distance learning.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesKottayam
1 universityMahatma Gandhi University
State public university
Priyadarsini Hills Campus, Athirampuzha, Kottayam district
Main focus: Multidisciplinary higher education and research.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesErnakulam
5 universitiesCochin University of Science and Technology
State public university
Thrikkakara, Kochi
Main focus: Science, technology, engineering and related higher education and research.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesKerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies
State public university
Panangad, Kochi
Main focus: Fisheries, aquaculture and ocean sciences.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesNational University of Advanced Legal Studies
State public university
HMT Colony, Kalamassery, Kochi
Main focus: Advanced legal studies, legal education and research.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesSree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit
State public university
Kalady, Ernakulam district
Main focus: Sanskrit and related language, humanities and cultural studies.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesChinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth
Deemed-to-be university
Adi Sankara Nilayam, Veliyanad, Ernakulam district
Main focus: Indian knowledge systems and multidisciplinary higher education.
Official website Source: UGC — Deemed to be UniversitiesThrissur
3 universitiesKerala Agricultural University
State public university
Vellanikkara, Thrissur district
Main focus: Agriculture and allied sciences.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesKerala University of Health Sciences
State public university
Medical College P.O., Thrissur
Main focus: Health sciences and health-professional education.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesKerala Kalamandalam
Deemed-to-be university
Cheruthuruthy, Thrissur district
Main focus: Kerala performing arts and traditional arts education.
Official website Source: UGC — Deemed to be UniversitiesMalappuram
2 universitiesUniversity of Calicut
State public university
Thenhipalam, Malappuram district
Main focus: Multidisciplinary teaching and research across its university departments.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesThunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University
State public university
Tirur, Malappuram district
Main focus: Malayalam language, literature and Kerala studies.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesWayanad
1 universityKerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
State public university
Pookode, Wayanad district
Main focus: Veterinary and animal sciences.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesKannur
1 universityKannur University
State public university
Mangattuparamba, Kannur district
Main focus: Multidisciplinary higher education and research.
Official website Source: UGC — State UniversitiesKasaragod
1 universityCentral University of Kerala
Central university
Tejaswini Hills, Periye, Kasaragod district (main campus)
Main focus: Multidisciplinary postgraduate education and research.
Official website Source: UGC — Central UniversitiesFrequently Asked Questions
How were universities selected?
Listings were checked against UGC university registers and university websites. Affiliated colleges and proposed institutions are not listed as universities.
Are the locations university headquarters?
Locations identify a university headquarters or main campus in Kerala. A study centre or off-campus centre alone is not used to place a university in a district.
Are private universities included?
The UGC registers reviewed on 3 November 2026 listed 15 state public, one central and three deemed-to-be universities in Kerala; no Kerala-headquartered state-private university appeared in the reviewed UGC entries. A proposed university is not treated as established.
Which districts have no listed university headquarters?
Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki, Palakkad and Kozhikode are included in the district navigation, but no headquarters or main campus from this list is placed in those districts.
Official registers and reference
University names and UGC categories were checked against the official registers. Focus descriptions and campus locations are linked to each university’s official website.