University of Delhi
दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय
A collegiate central university of 91 colleges where Indian applicants are ranked on CUET (UG) scores through CSAS.
- Founded
- 1922
- QS World Ranking
- #322
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
About DU
The University of Delhi was founded in 1922 with three colleges and 750 students. According to its 2026-27 Bulletin of Information it now has 16 faculties, 86 academic departments and 91 colleges, with more than seven lakh (700,000) students across its regular colleges and open-learning programmes. Its oldest colleges, including St. Stephen's, Hindu College and Miranda House, sit on the North Campus, with a second hub on the South Campus.
DU is a collegiate university: you apply to a programme and a college, and teaching for most undergraduate degrees happens in the colleges, while the university sets the curriculum, runs examinations and awards the degree. Undergraduate admission for Indian applicants is almost entirely based on CUET (UG) scores, fed into the university's Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS). Popular programmes include B.A. (Hons.) Economics, B.Com. (Hons.), English, History and the sciences.
Foreign nationals follow a separate route: they apply through the Foreign Students' Registry (FSR), are exempt from CUET and are admitted on the merit of their Class XII (or equivalent) marks into supernumerary seats. DU suits students who want a large, inexpensive public university in India's capital and who are comfortable navigating a multi-round, rules-heavy admission system.
Niṣṭhā dhṛtiḥ satyam
“Dedication, Steadfastness and Truth” — university motto
Why students choose DU
You can choose among 91 colleges, from historic North Campus colleges such as St. Stephen's, Hindu and Miranda House to South Campus colleges such as Lady Shri Ram.
Admission for Indian students is transparent and score-based: CUET (UG) results decide allocation, not interviews or essays.
Foreign nationals do not need CUET: the Foreign Students' Registry admits them on Class XII merit into supernumerary seats of up to 10% per programme.
The university runs a very broad catalogue, with 540 approved programmes across the arts, commerce, sciences, law, music and education.
Admissions
Academic session 2027-28 (rules and dates shown are from the 2026-27 cycle)
Selectivity
DU does not publish an overall acceptance rate. Seats are allocated by CUET (UG) score, programme and category through CSAS rounds, and competition varies widely between colleges and programmes.
Typical entry requirements
| Indian Class XII (CBSE, state boards) | Pass from a single recognised board plus CUET (UG) in the programme's subject combination; for B.A. (Hons.) Economics, one language, Mathematics/Applied Mathematics, Economics and one more subject. You must take CUET in the subjects you studied in Class XII. |
|---|---|
| Foreign nationals (FSR) | Non-Indian passport and a Class XII-equivalent recognised by the Association of Indian Universities; at least 45% aggregate for humanities and commerce, 50% for science programmes; merit on the programme's subject combination of Class XII marks |
| Performance-based programmes | Bachelor of Fine Arts, B.A. (Hons.) Music and B.Sc. Physical Education combine CUET scores with practicals, auditions or trials |
| English language | The FSR bulletin does not set a general English test for undergraduate admission; foreign applicants to B.Tech programmes must have qualified TOEFL or IELTS (no minimum score stated). |
Deadlines
- FSR online admission form for foreign nationals (2026-27, reference) Non-binding Passed31 May 2026
Last date for the 2026-27 online form; later upgradation rounds were run for registered candidates.
- CSAS (UG) allocation rounds (2026-27, reference) Non-bindingJuly-August 2026
Round 1 allocations were published in July 2026, followed by further rounds, upgrades and spot rounds in August.
These are 2026-27 cycle dates. CUET (UG) 2027 and CSAS (UG) 2027 dates had not been published on the pages checked; CUET registration usually comes first, through the National Testing Agency.
How to apply
Indian applicants take CUET (UG), then apply to DU's Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS UG) in three phases: Phase I (application, fee ₹250 for UR/OBC-NCL/EWS or ₹100 for SC/ST/PwBD), Phase II (ranking programme and college preferences) and Phase III (allocation-cum-admission rounds). After paying the fee for an allocated seat you can choose Upgrade or Freeze. Foreign nationals apply online through the Foreign Students' Registry, listing at least three colleges, and verify documents in person at the FSR.
What admissions looks for
- For Indian applicants, a high CUET (UG) score in the exact subject combination the programme specifies.
- Eligibility in Class XII: a pass from one recognised board and any programme-specific minimum marks.
- For foreign nationals, strong Class XII marks in the programme's merit combination.
- For quota routes such as ECA and Sports, trial or certificate performance (75% weight) plus CUET (25%).
Tips for applying to DU
- 1 Check each programme's CUET subject combination before you register for CUET: you cannot be considered for a programme whose combination you did not take.
- 2 Fill as many realistic programme-college preferences as you can in CSAS Phase II; the order you give decides what you are allocated.
- 3 If you accept a seat, decide between Upgrade and Freeze carefully: candidates who get their first preference cannot upgrade.
- 4 Foreign nationals should list at least three colleges on the FSR form; no more than 25% of a course's international seats in a college can go to students from one country.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in INR
Fees for Indian students are set by each college: the CSAS (UG) 2026 guide tells applicants to check college websites for fee structures, fee waivers and hostels. Education loans are available through the government's collateral-free PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme. The most recent foreign-national fee structure published by the FSR is for 2023-24 (no newer schedule was found on the FSR site in September 2026); it combines a one-time FSR registration fee, an annual registration fee and the college course fee, so confirm current amounts with the FSR.
- ₹250 (UR/OBC-NCL/EWS), ₹100 (SC/ST/PwBD)
- CSAS (UG) 2026 application fee
- ₹40,000 one-time FSR registration fee + ₹18,000 annual registration fee + college course fee
- Foreign nationals, undergraduate (latest published FSR fee structure, 2023-24)
- Course fee of ₹1,94,000 a year, e.g. B.Sc. (Hons.) Computer Science, BMS, BBA (FIA)
- Foreign nationals from outside Tibet and SAARC, professional UG courses (2023-24)
Academics
B.A. (Hons.) Economics
Merit is based on one language plus Mathematics/Applied Mathematics, Economics and one more subject, and DU describes the training as comparable to leading universities.
B.Com. (Hons.)
Offered by many colleges, including Shri Ram College of Commerce, where former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley took the degree.
B.A. (Hons.) Business Economics
Combines economics with statistics, finance, marketing and econometrics.
B.Sc. (Hons.) Computer Science
A high-demand science programme; for foreign nationals from outside Tibet and SAARC it carries the professional-course fee.
Five-year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)
Integrated law degrees from the Faculty of Law, with a separate admission process.
B.A. (Hons.) Psychology
Offered alongside Applied Psychology among DU's social-science honours degrees.
Research
- The Delhi School of Economics is part of the university.
- The university runs its own Ph.D. admission scheme, including a pathway for four-year undergraduate students (2026-27 notification).
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Mathematical Sciences
- Faculty of Commerce & Business Studies
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Management Studies
- Faculty of Medical Sciences
- Faculty of Technology
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Music
- Faculty of Interdisciplinary & Applied Sciences
Student life
DU life is organised around colleges. North Campus, next to the Northern Ridge, holds the founding colleges and the Viceregal Lodge, which has housed the vice-chancellor's office since 1933; South Campus, opened in 1973, has more colleges and postgraduate departments. Each college has its own societies, festivals and sports teams, and students across the university vote in Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections. Supernumerary ECA and Sports quotas reward talent in the arts, NCC, NSS and sport. Hostel places are limited and allotted by individual colleges and university hostels.
- 91 colleges, each with its own societies and festivals.
- Supernumerary ECA (extra-curricular) and Sports admission quotas, with trials weighted 75%.
- Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections.
- The Viceregal Lodge, a former viceroy's residence, is the university's administrative seat.
Housing. Hostel places are limited and are offered by individual colleges and university hostels, so check the college's hostel facilities before filling CSAS preferences.
Location
DU is spread across Delhi, with the main North and South Campuses and colleges in other parts of the city. Delhi is India's capital and a huge metropolis, and the FSR advises international students to use the Delhi Metro, which it describes as the safest, most comfortable and best-connected way to travel. Digital payments by UPI are widely used.
Nearest airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
Notable alumni
- AS Aung San Suu KyiNobel Peace Prize laureate and Myanmar political leader; graduated from the University of Delhi in 1964
- AB Amitabh BachchanFilm actor; studied at Kirori Mal College
- ST Shashi TharoorPolitician, writer and former UN Under-Secretary-General; BA in history from St. Stephen's College
- AJ Arun JaitleyFormer Union Finance Minister; B.Com. (Hons.) from Shri Ram College of Commerce and LLB from the Faculty of Law
- GG Gita GopinathEconomist; BA from Lady Shri Ram College and MA from the Delhi School of Economics
- SD Sheila DikshitLongest-serving Chief Minister of Delhi; MA in history from Miranda House
Frequently asked questions
Is CUET compulsory for Delhi University?
Yes for Indian applicants to almost all undergraduate programmes: DU's 2026-27 admissions were based on CUET (UG) scores. Foreign nationals applying through the Foreign Students' Registry are exempt.
What is CSAS at Delhi University?
The Common Seat Allocation System: you apply to DU (Phase I), rank programme-college preferences (Phase II) and then take part in allocation-cum-admission rounds (Phase III), with Upgrade or Freeze options after each round.
How do international students apply to Delhi University?
Through the Foreign Students' Registry (fsr.du.ac.in), with a non-Indian passport and a Class XII-equivalent recognised by the Association of Indian Universities. Admission is on Class XII merit into supernumerary seats of up to 10% per programme; the 2026-27 form closed on 31 May 2026.
What are Delhi University fees?
Fees are set by each college, and DU tells applicants to check college websites. Foreign nationals also pay FSR charges: in the latest published structure (2023-24), ₹40,000 once plus ₹18,000 a year on top of the course fee.
What marks do I need for Delhi University?
Minimum Class XII aggregates are usually 45% for arts and commerce and 50% for science, but for Indian applicants the actual allocation depends on your CUET score and category.
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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