The College of Engineering, Trivandrum was set up in 1939 as the primary Engineering College in the then Travancore State. The primary classes were begun on third July 1939 during the rule of the Travancore King, Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and as the leader of the then Travancore state he merits a lot of credit in the foundation of the school. At first the College was housed in the previous office and home of the Chief Engineer (present PMG Office). Maj T.H. Mathewman, a Britisher was the main Principal. Begun as a constituent College of Travancore University, the College had an underlying admission of 21 understudies each for Degree and Diploma courses in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical branches. With the foundation of the Directorate of Technical Education in the late fifties, the College organization went under the control of the Government of Kerala. The College was moved to the present rambling 125 sections of land in 1960.