Jawaharlal Nehru University
जवाहरलाल नेहरू विश्वविद्यालय
A mainly postgraduate research university in south Delhi, famous for social sciences, international studies and languages.
- Students
- 7,807
- 1,345 undergraduates
- Student–faculty
- 10:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- ₹120
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1969
About JNU
Jawaharlal Nehru University was created by an Act of Parliament in 1966 and came into existence in 1969. It was designed as an institution mainly for postgraduate teaching and research, and its 1,000-acre campus of rocky, wooded terrain in south Delhi is fully residential. Instead of single-subject departments, JNU is organised into 13 multidisciplinary Schools, some divided into Centres, plus special centres for fields such as law and governance, molecular medicine, nanoscience, and national security studies.
It is best known for the School of International Studies, the School of Social Sciences, and the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, and also has schools of life sciences, physical sciences, environmental sciences, computer and systems sciences, biotechnology, engineering, arts and aesthetics, management, and Sanskrit and Indic studies. JNU describes its teacher-student ratio as about 1:10 and uses exclusively internal evaluation.
Undergraduate entry is narrow: four-year B.A. (Hons.) programmes in foreign languages such as French, German, Russian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Persian, Pashto and Arabic, and a B.Sc. in Ayurveda Biology, all admitted through CUET (UG), plus B.Tech degrees in the School of Engineering admitted through JEE (Main) and JoSAA. Most students are master's and PhD candidates, so JNU suits undergraduates who want to master a language in a research-heavy, politically engaged environment.
Why students choose JNU
Four-year B.A. (Hons.) programmes in ten foreign languages, from Korean and Japanese to Persian, Pashto, Arabic and Russian, at the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies.
Very low fees for Indian students: the B.A. tuition fee is Rs 216 a year.
A strong route into postgraduate study: the NIRF 2026 data show most UG graduates going on to higher studies.
A 1,000-acre residential campus in Delhi where teachers and students live on site.
Admissions
2027-28 entry through CUET (UG) 2027 (details shown are from the 2026-27 prospectus)
Selectivity
JNU does not publish an acceptance rate. Undergraduate seats are few and allocated on CUET (UG) merit by category; in 2026-27, individual B.A. (Hons.) language programmes had between 19 and 68 seats, and the B.Sc. in Ayurveda Biology had 20. 80% of B.A. seats are earmarked for candidates who finished or are finishing school in the current or previous year.
Typical entry requirements
| Indian Senior School Certificate (Class XII) or equivalent | Eligibility for the chosen B.A. (Hons.) or B.Sc. programme plus a strong CUET (UG) score in the specified test papers; then a separate JNU application after CUET results |
|---|---|
| Foreign nationals applying from abroad ('in absentia') | Qualifications equivalent to JNU's minimum eligibility, sent with the in-absentia application form and a US$50 processing fee; admission is subject to a student visa, original documents, a medical certificate and Rs 1 lakh insurance |
| Foreign nationals already in India | Must take the entrance examination route like Indian students, with a student or research visa |
| ICCR scholars | Apply through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations under the Government of India's Cultural Exchange Fellowship Programme |
Deadlines
JNU's 2026-27 undergraduate admissions (through CUET (UG) 2026) have closed, with final rounds for vacant seats held in autumn 2026. Dates for 2027-28 depend on the CUET (UG) 2027 schedule, which NTA had not announced on the pages checked; JNU opens its own application after CUET results are declared.
How to apply
Indian applicants register for CUET (UG) on the NTA website, sit the required test papers, and then apply separately to JNU after CUET results; JNU draws merit lists by category and runs further rounds for vacant seats. Foreign nationals abroad download the 'in absentia' form from the JNU website and post it with copies of certificates and the processing fee (also emailing a scanned copy to the admissions section), or apply through ICCR.
What admissions looks for
- A strong CUET (UG) performance in the test papers specified for your programme; admission is on merit with no interview.
- Eligibility in the relevant school subjects for the chosen programme.
- For foreign applicants, qualifications equivalent to JNU's minimum eligibility and complete supporting documents.
Tips for applying to JNU
- 1 Check the e-Prospectus for your language: some B.A. (Hons.) programmes have fewer than 40 seats, so category merit cut-offs can be steep.
- 2 If you finished school more than a year ago, note that only 20% of B.A. seats are open to you; 80% go to recent school-leavers.
- 3 Remember to apply to JNU separately after CUET results; sitting CUET alone does not put you in JNU's merit list.
- 4 Foreign applicants who are already in India cannot use the 'in absentia' route and must take the entrance test.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in INR
Fees for Indian students are among the lowest anywhere: B.A. tuition is Rs 216 a year, and B.Tech tuition is waived for economically backward students with family income below Rs 1 lakh. Foreign nationals pay in US dollars: for humanities and social sciences, US$200 per semester (SAARC), US$300 (Africa and Latin America), US$500 (West Asia) or US$1,000 (other countries), plus a one-time US$500 registration fee; science fees are higher. JNU states no fee waivers are considered for foreign nationals, but ICCR scholarships are available.
- US$200-1,000 per semester by region, plus US$500 one-time registration
- Foreign nationals, humanities and social sciences tuition
- US$300-1,250 per semester by region, plus US$500 one-time registration
- Foreign nationals, science disciplines tuition
- 297 of 1,345
- UG students with full tuition reimbursement from government (NIRF 2026)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (monsoon and winter)
B.A. (Hons.) Russian
The largest B.A. language intake in 2026-27, with 68 seats in the Centre of Russian.
B.A. (Hons.) Korean
Taught at the Centre for Korean Studies, where Korean has been a full-time B.A. since 1995.
B.A. (Hons.) Chinese
An intensive four-year modern Chinese programme that has run for over four decades.
B.A. (Hons.) French and German
48 seats each; German becomes the medium of instruction after the first year.
B.Sc. in Ayurveda Biology
A 20-seat programme at the School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies, admitted through CUET (UG).
M.A. and research programmes in International Studies and Social Sciences
JNU's core strength: most of its students are master's and PhD candidates in these schools.
Research
- JNU reported 3,286 full-time PhD students and 919 PhD graduates in 2024-25 in its NIRF 2026 data.
- Special centres cover molecular medicine, nanoscience, disaster research, national security studies and the study of North East India.
- Research clusters cut across schools and centres, reflecting JNU's interdisciplinary structure.
Schools & faculties
- School of International Studies
- School of Social Sciences
- School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies
- School of Life Sciences
- School of Physical Sciences
- School of Environmental Sciences
- School of Computer and Systems Sciences
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences
- School of Biotechnology
- School of Engineering
- School of Arts and Aesthetics
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship
NIRF 2026 data: most JNU undergraduates continue to further study; of 467 students exiting 4-year UG programmes in 2024-25, 12 were placed and 391 went on to higher studies.
Student life
JNU is a residential university where students and teachers live on the 1,000-acre campus, which keeps rocky, wooded terrain inside Delhi. Hostels are allotted to outstation students subject to availability, so admission does not guarantee a room. The university's own description stresses a culture of open debate and diversity of opinion, and its interdisciplinary schools mean undergraduates in language centres share the campus with thousands of master's and PhD researchers. Foreign students receive medical facilities on the same basis as Indian students but must hold insurance of at least Rs 1 lakh.
- Fully residential campus with hostels and teachers' residences.
- Rocky, wooded ridges such as Parthasarathy Rocks within the campus.
- A campus culture that JNU itself describes as built on diversity of opinion and debate.
- Language centres that attract both Indian and international students.
Housing. Outstation students are considered for hostel accommodation subject to availability; admission does not guarantee a hostel place.
Location
JNU sits in south Delhi, India's capital, on a large, green 1,000-acre campus that JNU calls a 'green lung' within the crowds of the city. It is within reach of Delhi's jobs, embassies, research institutions and cultural life, and Indira Gandhi International Airport serves the city.
Nearest airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (DEL)
Notable alumni
- AB Abhijit BanerjeeEconomist; 2019 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences; MA in Economics from JNU
- NS Nirmala SitharamanIndia's Minister of Finance; MA and MPhil in Economics from JNU
- SJ S. JaishankarIndia's Minister of External Affairs; MA, MPhil and PhD from JNU
- BB Baburam BhattaraiFormer Prime Minister of Nepal; PhD from JNU (1986)
- AZ Ali ZeidanFormer Prime Minister of Libya
Frequently asked questions
How do I get into JNU for a bachelor's degree?
Sit CUET (UG), then apply separately to JNU once CUET results are out. Admission to B.A. (Hons.), B.Sc. and COP programmes is on CUET merit, with no interview.
What undergraduate programmes does JNU offer?
Mainly four-year B.A. (Hons.) programmes in foreign languages (French, German, Russian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Persian, Pashto and Arabic), a B.Sc. in Ayurveda Biology, and B.Tech degrees in Computer Science and in Electronics and Communication Engineering (admitted through JEE (Main), not CUET); most of JNU's other programmes are postgraduate.
How much are JNU's fees?
For Indian students, B.A. tuition is Rs 216 a year plus small annual charges. Foreign nationals in humanities pay US$200-1,000 per semester depending on region, plus a US$500 one-time registration fee.
Can international students apply to JNU from abroad?
Yes, through the 'in absentia' category: download the form from JNU's website and post it with certificates and a US$50 processing fee, or apply for an ICCR scholarship. Foreign nationals already in India must take the entrance test.
Is hostel accommodation guaranteed at JNU?
No. Outstation students are considered for hostels subject to availability.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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