Thiruvanthapuram (Trivandrum ) is also the academic hub of Kerala due to the presence of large number of colleges and research institutions. There are some well established and renowned institutions in the capital city. Higher education is a big investment in Kerala and admission to colleges and universities in specific fields such as engineering and medicine are in demand but highly competitive. A majority of the people in the State has come to look upon education as the most important avenue for economic and social mobility. Apart from well-known institutions a large number of private self-financing professional colleges have emerged. In a way they are a boon to the high school students who graduate every year in record number. Students seeking admission to the self-financing colleges pay exorbitant fees. Some students seek admission to foreign universities for better prospects. Collaboration with foreign institutions have increased in recent years.
Trivandrum has several professional education colleges including 15 engineering colleges, 8 medical colleges and 2 law colleges. The University of Kerala is located here. 
University of Kerala was established in 1937 by a proclamation of Maharaja Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. It was the 16th University to be established in India and the first in the State of Kerala. Today, the University of Kerala is one of the largest Universities in the country with more than 70 affiliated colleges and numerous teaching/research departments.
The College of Engineering
The College of Engineering, is one of the prominent engineering institutions in the country. It was established in 1939 as the first Engineering College in the then Travancore State and owes its foundation to the bold and inspired vision of Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the then Maharaja of Travancore. Initially the College was housed in the former office and bungalow of the Chief Engineer in the present PMG Office in the city. The College was shifted to the present sprawling 125 acres campus in 1960. The College ranks among the top in the country in the quality of its graduates and the number of top jobs held by its graduates. At present the college has around 3500 students, 285 teaching staff and 290 n0n-teaching staff. It has eight full-fledged departments offering eight undergraduate , 19 postgraduate and doctoral programmes under the University of Kerala. In addition to the regular B. Tech, B. Arch, M. Tech, MCA and MBA, the college also offers evening courses . With such an eminence in the academic and curricular activities, the College is the most sought after engineering college by applicants of engineering degree programmes in Kerala.
All Saint’s College
All Saint’s College is a girls’ college connected to Holy Angels’ Convent, Trivandrum was founded by Rev. Mother Mary Loiuse in 1964. The College began functioning in the Holy Angels’ Convent premises in 1964 with 277 students in the First Year Pre-Degree class.
The College was shifted to its new campus at Chackai in 1967. At present the college has an enrollment of around 800 girls students. The college offers Degree Courses in English, History, Economics, Mathematics, Chemistry and Zoology including postgraduate course in Environmental Sciences . It offers to the students a unique opportunity to develop an all rounded personality through the multi-faceted curriculum and sufficient facilities to excel in various spheres. Religious and moral education forms an integral part of the curriculum. Daily prayers conducted in accordance with the tradition of the Church of North India, as a corporate act of worship, form compulsory part of the curriculum.
The College serves as a centre for Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) programme, “Skill Enhancement Computer Training and Women’s Resource Centre in Colleges of Kerala”. It celebrated its Golden Jubilee marking 50 years of academic excellence and service.
Mar Ivanios College
Mar Ivanios College is a private Catholic co-educational institution situated in Nalanchira, Trivandrum. Founded in 1949 this is one of the best-run institutions in Kerala.
Mar Ivanios College was granted autonomous status by the University Grants Commission in 2014 for a period of six years . Remarkable features of the college include a strong sense of discipline among staff and students of the college and cooperation.
The College offers a number of degree programmes with the option to select from a wide range of subjects. With Central Computing Facility, Mar Ivanios supports a Campus-wide network ideally suited for an e-learning environment, which offers opportunity for everyone to develop key computational skills and regular access to the world of IT enabled e-learning resources.
Mahatma Gandhi College
Mahatma Gandhi College, dedicated to the memory of the Father of the Nation was established in the year 1948 by the social reformer Sri Mannathu Padmanabhan. It is one of the largest and oldest institutions of higher education in Trivandrum run by the largest educational agency of Kerala- the Nair Service Society. Mahatma Gandhi College functions with the objective of providing value added quality education to all with special emphasis on the economically poor sections of the society. It offers 13 UG, 10 PG and 7 research programmes in the faculties of basic sciences.
Loyola College of Social Sciences
Loyola College of Social Sciences is a pioneering institution in the social sciences. Founded by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1963, the College offers courses in M A (Sociology), MSW (Masters in Social Work), MAHRM (Masters in Human Resource Management) and MSc Counselling/ Psychology. The College is affiliated to the University of Kerala and is a recognized Research Centre of the University. The Centre prepares students for Ph.D. in Sociology, Social work and Management Studies and also takes up sponsored research projects.
A unique feature of the College is the full-fledged Loyola Extension Services(LES). This service acts as the Social Lab of the College which strives to reach the benefits of higher education to the people, especially the vulnerable and the marginalised .
The Govt. College for Women
The Govt. College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram is a prestigious institution that has to its credit a history of more than 100 years of excellence in the field of women’s education. The College is the sixth oldest college in Kerala and one of the oldest women’s colleges in the country. It was started as the Sircar Girl’s School in 1864 by the Royal family of Travancore . In1920, it was elevated to the status of a First grade college and was renamed as H.H. The Maharaja’s College for Women. Today the College has 22 teaching departments that conduct 16 U.G. courses and 17 P.G. courses. Nine of the departments are identified as research centres by the University of Kerala.
University College, Trivandrum
University College, Thiruvananthapuram established in 1866 was built to impart English education to the common folk of the erstwhile Travancore Maharaja Sri Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma . Its architecture, location, history and resourcefulness have made University College one of the important landmarks in the city. Today, after more than a century of dedicated service to the state, the College stands tall for having produced thousands of luminaries that includes Presidents of India, Cabinet Secretaries, Ambassadors, Civil Servants, IT doyens, Teachers, Poets, Writers, Artists and Politicians. The College is undoubtedly vibrant academically offering 18 UG, 20 PG, 14 M.Phil and 16 Ph. D programmes. The College has staff strength of 215, of which more than sixty per cent are research degree holders. The College has sixteen research departments, 55 research guides and 141 research scholars. Thus, University College is both a “University” and a “College”. Its student-strength of 3200 comprises of pupils from all social classes, mostly from the lower strata. Since the selection procedure to all the courses is based on merit alone, the percentage of financially challenged but meritorious students is the highest in this College.
Government Sanskrit College
Government Sanskrit College, located in Palyam was founded in1889 by Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, one of the most renowned rulers of the State of Travancore. The college has grown to have five major departments . It offers Post Graduate courses and Subsisidary Departments in ,English, Hindi, Malayalam and Physical Education. The college is also serves as Research Centre of the University of Kerala.
Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Technology for Women
LBSITW( LBS) is the only engineering college for women in the Government sector in the state of Kerala. Founded in 2001 it is located in Poojapura. It is the first engineering college for women in the state of Kerala. It is managed by the LBS Centre for Science and Technology , Trivandrum. LBS Institute offers B.Tech programs in Electronics and Communication, Applied Electronics and Instrumentation, Computer Science and Engineering, Information Technology & Civil Engineering and M.Tech programs inSignal Processing and Computer Science and Engineering. 
The College of Fine Arts
The present College of Fine Arts has a history of more than 100 years . Founded in1881 by the then King of Travancore , it is affiliated to the University of Kerala. It offers courses in three disciplines – Painting, Sculpture and Applied Art. The College celebrated its SilverJubilee in 2001. You will find impressive art work throughout the campus. 
Govt. Ayurveda College: Trivandrum
Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram, is a premier institution teaching the ancient science of Ayurveda. One of the capital city’s most known landmarks, the Ayurveda College celebrated its 125 anniversary. Affiliated to University of Kerala, it was established in 1889 during the reign of the erstwhile ruler Shri Moolam Thirunal. A hospital is also attached to the college. The campus houses an out-patient counter and pharmacy for the general public. The college is conveniently located on the M G Road in the city.
The institution has 15 full-fledged departments offering undergraduate and 12 postgraduate programmes, affiliated to the Kerala University of Health Sciences. The third campus at Poojapura spreads over eight acres a includes the Panchakarma Hospital complex, three postgraduate departments, medicinal plants garden, snake park and men’s hostel.
Trivandrum Medical College
Government Medical College, Trivandrum is the first medical college in Kerala and was inaugurated in 1951 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru , the first Prime Minister of India. The Medical College started with an annual admission of 60 students, which was increased to 200 in 1983. Now it is ranked among the top 20 medical colleges in the country. The institution has been upgraded to the status of All India Institute of Medical Sciences due to its unique achievements and as an important tertiary care-provider to the southern parts of India.
The college and hospital has been consistently able to maintain its high quality standards despite the enormous number of patient admissions and low-cost treatment facilities . The 140 acre campus houses the medical college and several tertiary care centres such as Sri Chitra Tirunal Centre for Medical Sciences and Technology, Regional Cancer Centre and SAT Hospital, Nursing College, Pharmacy College , Paramedical Institute, Dental College and the Directorate of Medical Education.
The Government Medical College, Trivandrum has been one among the two breakthrough colleges and has found a place among the top 25 colleges in the country- currently ranked 21 in the India Today survey. The College linked with the different sections of the city by bus routes, is very near the national highway NH 47 and the nearest railway station is just few kilometres from the college.
Dental College
The Dental College, Trivandrum was started during the year 1959. Till 1953 there were no dental colleges in South India. In an attempt to provide avenues for formal dental education, dental college were started at four state capitals of southern states. The present building of the Dental College was commissioned during 1962. Nearly 2000 students have graduated from this great Institution so far. The college has got eight full fledged departments and all of them offer postgraduate courses. Today,the College is passing through a dynamic phase of growth, with addition of new equipment, making it the best and foremost College in the Government sector in India.
Swathi Thirunal College of Music
Initially named the music Academy, it is one of the prestigious and well managed music institutes of South India. It is situated in Thycaud in the capital city.
The academy was founded in 1939 and renamed as Swathi Thirunal College of Music in 1962. The college was affiliated to the University of Kerala . The institution offers Bachelor of Performing Arts Degree and Master of Performing Arts. Besides P.G. Courses in Vocal Music, Veena, Violin, Mridangam and Dance are also available.
Kerala Agricultural University/ College of Agriculture
The Agricultural College and Research Institute came into existence in 1955 as part of the then existing research wing of the Travancore University and the Department of Agriculture. The Institute started functioning by acquiring the Senior Maharani’s Palace building at Vellayani belonging to the then Royal family of erstwhile Travancore-Cochin State. It continues as the premier centre of education in Agriculture. The undergraduate programme leading to B.Sc.(Ag.) was started during 1955. Post graduate programmes, leading to M.Sc. (Ag.) and Ph.D. degrees were started in the college during 1962 and 1965 respectively The amalgamation of this College with the newly formed Kerala Agricultural University also led to an integration of teaching, research and extension activities. Today, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, is the leading agro technology provider for the State and its graduates are well recognized.
The Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology (IHMCT)
IHMCT, is committed to the pursuit of Excellence in Hospitality Education and is run under the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism. Located at Kovalam, the Queen of beach resorts, the Institute is in proximity to many resort hotels.
Leading National and International hospitality organizations conduct Campus interviews. IHMCT ensures placement for deserving students through its active placement cell. It has excellent placement record, with its alumni in various positions in the hospitality industry in India and abroad.
Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies(KITTS)
KITTS is an autonomous institute functioning under the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala catering to the needs of the global tourism industry. KITTS conducts various courses and training programmes for both students and professionals in the Tourism industry including a two-year MBA course in tourism.
The Institute of Management in Kerala
IMK is housed in the most elite and state of the art student campus of University of Kerala- the Karyavattom Campus. Spread across many acres, the Campus boasts of a fully fledged library, which is subscribed to high profile current affairs literature and an attached computer lab with high speed internet facility. The well maintained green Campus contains 37 different teaching departments easily accessible .
The School of Business management and Legal studies
This is a newly formed school of the Institute. It is the first implementation of school system by the University of Kerala. The exchange between 3 inter related disciplines namely Management, Commerce and Law makes it possible for an awesome system of pedagogy, where students get to interact with Professors of the sub-fields. The mixture of students of various disciplines also contributes to a healthy learning environment. The School has a large convertible conference hall, with audio visual facilities.
The Gulati Insttute of Finance and Taxation (GIFT) is envisaged as a centre of excellence, specializing in research, training and consultancy, to provide fiscal and social policy inputs to the Government of Kerala in particular and the South Indian states in general. The GIFT was formed in 2009 by upgrading the Centre for Taxation Studies (CTS), an autonomous institution formed by the Government of Kerala in 1992 for undertaking research , training, consultancy, and publication in the area of public economics. GIFT is named after Professor I.S Gulati, an eminent economist who was closely associated with public policy making in various capacities. GIFT is located in Pappanacode, Trivandrum.
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