Kannur University was established under the Kerala Legislative Assembly Act 22 in the year 1996. Earlier, in the year 1995, the university actually came into existence as ‘Malabar University’. But later, on 2nd March 1996, it was named as ‘Kannur University’ and was inaugurated by the then chief minister of Kerala.

The main aim of the university is to develop higher education in Kannur, Kasagod revenue districts and Mananthvady Taluk belonging to Wayanad District of Kerala. The university has multiple campuses located at different locations under its jurisdiction. According to the Kerala Legislative Assembly the university shall develop, manage, maintain and establish campuses at Kanhangad, Thalassery, Payyannur, Manaanthavady, Kasargod and Kannur areas of Kerala for providing educational and research facilities in these areas. Information regarding the list of colleges affiliated to Kannur University is given below:

Government/Aided Colleges:

• Govt. College, Vidya Nagar. P.O, Kasaragod

• E. K. Nayanar Memorial Govt. College, Elerithattu (Via) Nileshwar, Kasaragod Dist.

• K. M. M Govt. Women’s College, Kannur

• Govt. College Mananthavady, P.O. Nallurnad, Wayanad

• Govt. Brennen College, Dharmadam, Kannur

Professional Colleges:

• Govt. Ayurveda College, Kannur Dist.

• Govt. College of Engineering, P.O. Parassinikadavu, Kannur Dist.

• Govt. College of Engineering, P.O Nallarnad, Wayanad Dist.

Training Colleges

• Govt. College of Teacher Education, Thalassery, Kannur

• P.K.M. College of Education, Madampam P.O, Kannur

• Keyi Sahib Training College, Karimbam, Kannur

Arts & Science Colleges

• Govinda Pai Memorial Govt. College, Manjeswaram, Kasaragod Dist

• Nehru Arts & Science College, P.O. Padanekat, Kasaragod Dist

• St. Pius X College, Rajapuram, (via) Kanhangad, Kasaragod

• Payyannur College, P.O. Edat, Kannur Dist.

• Co-operative Arts & Science College, Madai P.O, Kannur

• Sir Syed College, Taliparamba, Kannur

• S. E. S. College, Sreekandapuram, Kannur

• Sree Narayana College, P.O. Thottada, Kannur

• Nirmalagiri College, P.O.Nirmalagiri, Kannur

• Pazhassi Raja N. S. S. College, Mattanur, Kannur

• Mahatma Gandhi College, Iritty, Kannur

• N. A. M. College, Kallikandy, Kannur

• Marymatha Arts & Science College, P.O.Vemom, Wayanad

Oriental Title Colleges (Aided)

• Nusrathul Islam Arabic College, Kadavathur P.O, Kannur

• Darul Irshad Arabic College, P.O. Paral, Kannur

Un-Aided Colleges:

• College of Applied Science, Kuttikkol P.O, Kannur

• College of Applied Science, Cheruvathur, Kasargod

• College of Applied Science, Kannur

• Malabar Islamic Complex Arts & Science College, Kasaragod

• Gurudev Arts & Science College, Payyannur

• Aditya Kiran College of Applied Studies, Krishnagiri, Kannur

• Sir Syed Institute of Technical Studies, Taliparamba

• Taliparamba Arts & Science College, Taliparamba

• Deva Matha Arts & Science College, Kannur

• Mary Matha Arts & Science College, Kannur

• Sharaf Arts & Science College, Kasargode

• Bhaskara College of Arts, Kannur

• Sa-A-Diya  Arts & Science  College, Kasargode

• SNDP Yogam Arts & Science College, Nileswar, Kasargode

• Dr. Ambedkar Arts & Science College, Kasargode

• Mahatma Gandhi Arts & Science College, Panur P.O

• I.T.M College of Arts & Science, Kannur

• Nalanda College of Arts & Science, Perala P.O, Kasargode

• Chinmaya Arts & Science College for Women, Thottada P.O, Kannur

• Peoples Co-Operative Arts & Science College, Kasaragod

• Khansa Women’s College for advanced Studies, Kasaragod

• St. Joseph’s College, Pilathara, Kannur

• M. E. S. College, Kannur-670 643

• Sibga Arts & Science College, P.O. Kalliad, Kannur

• Our College of Applied Sciences, Payyanur, Kannur

Oriental Title Colleges:

• Ideal Arabic College, Uliyil P.O, Kannur

• Al-Maquar Arabic College, Pallivayal

Professional Colleges:

• L.B.S College of Engineering, Muliyar P.O, Kasargode

• Sree Narayanan Guru College of Engineering & Technology, Payyanur

• Vimal Jyothi Engineering College, Kannur

• Institute of Technology, Mayyil

• Chinmaya Institute of Technology

• Don Bosco Arts & Science College

• Mar Thoma College of Special Education

• A. W. H Al Badar Special College

• Don Bosco Arts & Science College

Ayurveda College:

• Parassinikadavu Ayurveda Medical College, Parainikadavu, Kannur

Medical Colleges:

• Academy of Medical Sciences, Pariyaram

• Kannur Medical College

Dental Colleges:

• Century International Institute of Dental Science and Research centre

• Pariyaram Dental College, A.C. M. E, Pariyaram

• Kannur Dental College Anjarakandy, P.O.

Pharmacy Colleges:

• Crescent B. Pharm College

• Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ACME

• Malik Deenar College of Pharmacy, Thalankara

• Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Pharmacy

Nursing Colleges:

• Malik Deenar College of Nursing

• College of Nursing, A. C. M. E.

• Koyili College of Nursing, Kannadiparamba P.O.

• Century College of Nursing, Poinachi

• Canossa College of Nursing. St. Martin De Porres Hospital, Cherukunnu

• College of Nursing Kannur Medical College, Anjarakandy

• Lourde College of Nursing, Taliparamba

Other Colleges:

• Co-operative Institute of health Sciences

Apart from the above-mentioned colleges, Kannur University has also got ITEC University centers at Kannur and Taliparamba and a teaching department called department of applied economics at its Talassery campus. Apart from Talassery, the university campus is also available in three other places namely Mananthavady, Payyanur and Mangattuparamba.

The university has nine main departments for Hindi, molecular biology, Malayalam, rural & tribal sociology, zoology, environmental sciences, statistical sciences, mathematical science and geography. In addition to these departments, the university has also got 17 schools under its jurisdiction like school of health sciences, school of Indian Languages, school of pedagogical sciences, school of visual arts & fine arts, school of chemical sciences, school of physical sciences and sports education, etc…