The University has been publishing since 1946 the Journal of Indian History, a prominent publication in the area. The International Journal of Kerala Studies is also similarly an established Journal.

The Manuscript Library of the University is a treasure trove of Indian culture. The library has over 65,000 works in 30,000 copies mainly of palm leaf manuscripts. In addition, some paper manuscripts, a few copper plates, writings on Bhurjapatra (birch bark), Agarutvak (the bark of Amyris agallocha), and textiles are also found in the collection. The manuscript collection also includes those belonging to other different Indian states and nations such as Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal etc. About eighty percent of the collections are in Sanskrit. The initial moulds of scripts of modern Indian languages like Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu, Oriya, Assamese, and Burmese are also found.

The Centre for Adult & Continuing Education (CACEE) received the UNESCO- NLM award for literacy in 2005.

The first world Malayalam Conference was organized by the University of Kerala in 1977.

The University has honored many scholars, scientists and technologists, artists, and thought leaders with honorary degrees. Amartya Sen, K. J. Yesudas, Laurie Baker, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, Bharatha Rathna M S Subbalakshmi, Semmangudi Sreenivasa Iyer, Harikesanallur Muthaiha Bhagavathar, O N V Kurup, G Madhavan Nair, Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Ilya Prigogine are among the recipients.

The University Grants Commission has identified the University as one of the 26 institutions selected for the promotion of India Studies by foreign students.

The University Degree Certificates with Holograms and over 112 security features to prevent counterfeiting.

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council has placed the University at the A++ grade.

University's supreme bodies - Senate and Academic Council and the executive body of the University, the Syndicate, also has student representation in it (for the first time in Indian Universities, in 1977). The University Union is an active presence in the University life since 1939.