The higher education department has approved 59 new courses from the academic year 2026-27 in government and arts-aided colleges of Kerala University, Mahatma Gandhi University, Calicut University (CU) and Kannur University. 35 aided colleges and seven government colleges were included in the list. An order to that effect was issued on March 14.
Forty-seven new courses are in aided colleges and the rest in government colleges. Permission under the order is subject to the approval of the relevant universities and on the condition that no new posts are created in the next five years. Universities where only one course has been approved may start one more under the above conditions. Similarly, colleges where no new course has been approved can start two new ones. Universities have previously submitted proposals to launch new academic programs.
Newly approved courses include B.Sc. (Data Science), B.Sc. (Informatics-Honours and Research), BA (Public Administration-Honours), Mgr. (Physics with specialization in Nanosciences) and Integrated M.Sc. (Geography), M.Com. (logistics and supply chain management), Mgr. (Botany – ethanobotany and ethanopharmacology), B.Sc. (Artificial Intelligence and Data Science), BBA (International Relations and Public Policy), BA (Econometrics and Data Management-Honours), Mgr. (Home Science-Nutrition and Dietetics), Bc. (Forensic Science and Criminology).
The five government colleges of the University of Kerala have been given four new undergraduate (UG) and four postgraduate (PG) courses. Two Government Colleges in Kannur University have got two UG courses and two PG courses.
Supported colleges
The University of Kerala’s sixteen aided colleges have acquired 21 new courses, including eight PG courses. In Mahatma Gandhi University, three colleges have got five UG courses. Thirteen colleges of the University of Calicut have acquired 15 courses, including five PG courses. In Kannur University, four colleges have acquired six courses, including one PG course.
Published – 15 March 2026 21:35 IST
