As many as five educational institutions from Kerala have initiated works to attain the prestigious "Deemed to be University" status. Among them, the University Grants Commission (UGC) is expected to soon review the application submitted by Rajagiri College, Ernakulam. Other institutions, including Mar Ivanios College in Thiruvananthapuram, have also begun working towards this goal.
To qualify for Deemed University status, institutions must have at least five multidisciplinary departments and submit No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from both the state government and the university to which they are currently affiliated. The institutions that have achieved a CGPA of no less than 3.01 during three consecutive NAAC accreditation cycles are also eligible to apply
The primary hurdle for many applicants is the delay in obtaining the NOC from the state government. Once this approval is granted, the UGC will proceed with its inspections. Currently, only three institutions in Kerala hold the "Deemed to be University" status.
