Mahatma Gandhi College is a leading centre of research among the Arts and Science colleges in the state of Kerala. Among the nine postgraduate departments in the college, the following seven are recognized research centres of the University of Kerala .

• PG department of Physics and Research Centre
• PG department of Botany and Research Centre
• PG department of Zoology and Research Centre
• PG department of Chemistry and Research Centre
• PG department of Commerce and Research Centre
• PG department of Malayalam and Research Centre
• PG department of Hindi and Research Centre

The first department to be elevated as a research centre was the PG Department of Physics in 1983. The PG department of Botany was recognized as a Research Centre in 1988. At present there are 18 research guides in the college. The research facilities of the college are also extended to former faculty members of the college and experts working in other institutions. They serve as external guides of the departments concerned. The complete list of the approved guides is given separately. More than fifty PhDs have been produced from these centres so far. The faculty members of the departments have completed many major and minor projects. The faculty have published more than 250 research papers in reputed international and national journals, and presented papers in many international and national conferences. The departments also have international and national collaborations in the research activities.

Only candidates who have qualified the NET by UGC or the entrance test conducted by the University of Kerala with not less than 55% marks in their masters will be considered for registration for Ph.D. (For SC/ST candidates 45% marks in Science and 40% marks in Arts and Commerce fetch the eligibility). As there are only limited number of openings for PhD in the college, the candidates can have the details from the respective departments.