The University of Travancore which eventually became the University of Kerala was established in 1937 by a promulgation of the Maharaja of Travancore, Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma was the first Chancellor of the University. The University was established in 1937.

At present, the University has sixteen faculties and forty departments of teaching and research. The University Departments offer a wide range of teaching and research at post-graduate M.Phil and Ph.D levels. About 32 Colleges offer post graduate teaching programmes and some are offering M.Phil courses for teachers in affiliated colleges. During 1990-91 the University launched an ambitious programme of setting up Teacher Education Centers Offering B.Ed. At present, the University has ten Teacher Education Centers. There are eighty four affiliated colleges. Of these Sixty two are  Arts & Science Colleges, two are Law Colleges, four Engineering Colleges, two Medical Colleges,  ten Teachers Training Colleges, one Ayurveda College, one Homoeopathy College, two Fine Arts College, one Music college and one College of Physical Education. Besides this, there is an affiliated institute conducting 2 year full time MBA course.