Kerala Agricultural University Courses, Fees & Admission 2026

Kerala Agricultural University: About

Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) is a state-run university dedicated to agricultural education, research and extension, with its main campus situated at Vellanikkara in Thrissur, Kerala. It was established on 24 February 1971 under the Kerala Agricultural University Act, 1971 (Act 33 of 1971), and became operational on 1 February 1972. The university's activities cover education, research and extension in agriculture and allied areas.

The university was created by bringing existing educational and research institutions administered by the Kerala Government's Agriculture and Animal Husbandry departments under one university structure. KAU was later reorganized in 2011, when Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) were formed.

Academic Structure

KAU operates through multiple colleges and institutions covering agriculture, forestry, agricultural engineering, climate and environmental sciences, and co-operation and banking. The university operates several colleges and specialized academic institutions across Kerala, including centers at Vellanikkara, Vellayani, Padannakkad and Tavanur.

The university offers programmes at UG, PG, diploma and PhD levels. Current 2026 prospectus listings include:

• B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture
• B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture
• B.Tech. Agricultural Engineering
• M.Sc. Agriculture/Horticulture
• M.Sc. Forestry
• M.Sc. Agricultural Statistics
• M.Sc. Community Science
• M.Sc. Co-operation & Banking
• MTech. Agricultural Engineering
• MBA in Agribusiness Management
• Ph.D. Agriculture/Horticulture
• Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering
• Ph.D. Forestry
• Ph.D. Agricultural Statistics
• Ph.D. Community Science
• Several PG Diploma and Diploma programmes

Research at Kerala Agricultural University

Research is a major part of KAU's academic activities. The university has a dedicated Directorate of Research, based at the main campus in Vellanikkara.

KAU's research network includes Regional Agricultural Research Stations and specialized research stations working on crops, farming systems and agricultural technologies. Its listed research infrastructure includes stations dealing with pepper, cardamom, banana, coconut, rice, pineapple, cashew, medicinal plants and farming systems, among other areas.

Examples include:

• Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ambalavayal
• Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi
• Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode
• Regional Agricultural Research Station, Vellayani
• Regional Agricultural Research Station, Kumarakom
• Pepper Research Station, Panniyur
• Cardamom Research Station, Pampadumpara
• Banana Research Station, Kannara
• Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram
• Rice Research Station, Vyttila
• Pineapple Research Station, Vazhakulam

KAU Research Areas

The research network enables the university to undertake work relevant to Kerala's different agro-climatic regions. Research activities include crop improvement, crop production, farming systems, agricultural engineering, environmental sciences, forestry, biotechnology and other areas connected with agriculture and allied sciences.

KAU also maintains Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and extension units as part of its wider education, research and technology-transfer network. The university's official information describes a network consisting of colleges, Regional Agricultural Research Stations, research stations, KVKs and extension institutions across Kerala.

NIRF Ranking

According to the Ministry of Education's NIRF 2025 Agriculture ranking, Kerala Agricultural University was placed 12th in the Agriculture category, with an overall score of 60.00. The NIRF page lists KAU under Thrissur, Kerala.

For comparison with the previous cycle, KAU was placed 16th in the NIRF 2024 Agriculture ranking with a score of 55.30.

Kerala Agricultural University Fee Structure

Kerala Agricultural University has issued a revised fee structure for regular Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Ph.D. programmes for the 2026–27 admission year. The revised fees are applicable for the prescribed duration of the respective programmes.

*The exact fee payable can vary by programme and the applicable revised fee notification.

For regular UG programmes, the published fee schedule includes tuition, examination, library, medical inspection, stationery, sports/athletic, magazine, university union and other prescribed fees.

Important: KAU issued a specific notification dated 18 September 2026 revising the fees for UG, PG and Ph.D. programmes for the 2026–27 admission year. Therefore, programme-specific fees should be checked against the latest official notification before publishing a final fee amount.

Kerala Agricultural University Contact Information

The above main-campus address and telephone numbers are listed on KAU's official contact page. The university has provided the Registrar’s contact information through its official communication channels.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Kerala Agricultural University?

Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) is a state-run institution in Kerala dedicated to the fields of agriculture and allied sciences. Its headquarters is situated at Vellanikkara in Thrissur, while its academic activities cover agricultural education, research and extension services.

2. Where is Kerala Agricultural University located?

The headquarters of Kerala Agricultural University is located at Vellanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala – 680656. KAU also operates colleges, research stations and other institutions at different locations in Kerala.

3. What courses are offered by Kerala Agricultural University?

KAU offers programmes at undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD, PG diploma and diploma levels. Courses include B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture, B.Tech. Agricultural Engineering, M.Sc. Agriculture/Horticulture, M.Sc. Forestry, M.Sc. Agricultural Statistics, MTech. Agricultural Engineering and PhD programmes, among others.

4. What is the admission process for Kerala Agricultural University in 2026?

The admission process depends on the programme. KAU's 2026 admission notifications include admission through KEAM, ICAR/CUET-ICAR, KAU entrance examinations and other programme-specific routes. Candidates should check the relevant 2026 prospectus for eligibility and selection details.

5. What is the fee structure of Kerala Agricultural University?

KAU has published a revised fee structure for regular UG, PG and PhD programmes for the 2026–27 admission year. The applicable fee varies according to the programme and category.

6. Is Kerala Agricultural University located in Mannuthy?

The KAU headquarters is at Vellanikkara, Thrissur, rather than Mannuthy. Vellanikkara is part of the Thrissur urban area and is associated with several KAU academic and research institutions.

7. Does Kerala Agricultural University have a campus at Vellayani?

Yes. KAU has the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, and offers programmes including B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture through its institutions. The 2026 admission information also lists B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture at Vellayani.

8. What is Kerala Agricultural University known for?

KAU is known for its work in agricultural education, research and extension. Its academic and research network covers areas such as agriculture, horticulture, agricultural engineering, forestry and allied agricultural sciences.

9. Does Kerala Agricultural University offer PhD programmes?

Yes. KAU offers PhD programmes in several disciplines, including Agriculture/Horticulture, Agricultural Engineering, Forestry, Agricultural Statistics, Community Science and Co-operation & Banking.

10. What is the contact number of Kerala Agricultural University?

The university's main contact numbers are +91-487-2438011 and +91-487-2438050. Its headquarters is at KAU Main Campus, KAU P.O., Vellanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala – 680656.

11. Does Kerala Agricultural University have a nursery at Mannuthy?

KAU has horticultural and agricultural activities involving plant materials and nurseries through its institutions and centers. For current availability, products and online purchasing facilities, candidates or customers should verify the details through the relevant official KAU unit rather than relying on third-party listings.

12. What is the official website of Kerala Agricultural University?

The official website of Kerala Agricultural University is kau.in. The university also operates a dedicated 2026 admission portal for applications and admission-related notifications.