University College, Thiruvananthapuram (UCT) is a public college situated in Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, India. Established in 1866, it is one of the oldest colleges in Kerala. The college has been accorded "College with Potential for Excellence" (CPE) status by the University Grants Commission.
University College is identified as a heritage institution by the Government of Kerala. Alumni of the college includes luminaries such as the former President of India, K. R. Narayanan, numerous cabinet secretaries, ambassadors, civil servants, IT doyens, teachers, poets, writers, artists, politicians and the like.
Contents
Academics
Faculties
Language faculties
Faculty of English
Faculty of Malayalam
Faculty of Hindi
Faculty of Arabic
Faculty of Sanskrit
Faculty of Tamil
Faculty of French
Humanities faculties
Faculty of Economics
Faculty of History
Faculty of Political Science
Faculty of Islamic History
Faculty of Philosophy
Science faculties
Faculty of Chemistry
Faculty of Biochemistry
Faculty of Mathematics
Faculty of Physics
Faculty of Geology
Faculty of Geography
Faculty of Botany
Faculty of Zoology
Faculty of Statistics
Faculty of Psychology
Other faculties
Faculty of Physical Education
Rankings
It is ranked 22nd among colleges in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2024.
Notable alumni
University College Thiruvananthapuram has produced luminaries that include a former president of India, two former chief ministers of Kerala, cabinet secretaries, ambassadors, civil servants, IT doyens, teachers, poets, writers, artists and politicians.
Notable principals
John Ross M.A. 1866–1884
Robert Harvey M.A., L.L.D. 1884–1890
H. N. Read M.A. 1890–1892 (acting)
Dr Alexander Crichton Mitchell D.Sc., F.R.S.E 1892–1909
A.W. Bishop PhD 1909–1915
L.C. Hodson M.A. 1912–1915
A. R. Raja Raja Varma Kovil Thampuran MA 1915–1916, 1918
Dr. J. Stephenson, BSc, A.R.D.S.C. 1916–1927
James Pryde, M.A., BSc 1927–1930
Controversy
On 3 May 2019, a first-year BSc Chemistry student attempted suicide on campus, alleging harassment from SFI leaders for not taking part in their programmes and disruption of classes.
On 12 July 2019, a final-year B.A. political science student was stabbed amid a dispute between two groups of students belonging to the SFI, following which two SFI leaders were arrested. Later in the day, answer sheets and the official seal of an assistant professor were recovered while clearing the SFI office on campus, raising questions on the credibility of examinations conducted by the university. The police also found fake seals and university answer sheets from the residence of a prime accused.