Last Updated: April 2026
CUET 2027 | UNIVERSITIES
Delhi University | 78 UG Programmes | CUET + CSAS | India’s Most Sought-After University
Delhi University (DU) is India’s most prestigious central university, with over 300,000 students enrolled across 90+ colleges. Since 2022, DU has shifted all 78 undergraduate programme admissions entirely to CUET scores via the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS). This eliminated the old percentage-based cut-off system that disadvantaged students from non-CBSE boards. Understanding how DU uses CUET scores, which colleges have the highest cut-offs, and how to navigate the CSAS process is essential for every CUET 2027 aspirant.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Established | 1922 (Central University) |
| CUET Adopted From | Academic Year 2022-23 |
| Total UG Programmes | Approximately 78 |
| Affiliated Colleges | 90+ (including 12 autonomous) |
| Admission Platform | CSAS (Common Seat Allocation System) |
| Minimum Eligibility | Class 12 pass (no minimum percentage) |
| Score Considered | CUET UG — Domain + General Test |
DU’s CUET Adoption: What Changed and Why It Matters
Before CUET, Delhi University used percentage-based cut-offs that regularly crossed 100% for top programmes at premier colleges — an absurdity that disadvantaged brilliant students from state boards. With CUET’s adoption from 2022-23, DU levelled the playing field. Now, a student from Bihar Board, UP Board, or any other state board competes on the same standardised CUET score as CBSE students.
For students targeting DU in 2027, this means:
- Your Class 12 board marks do NOT directly determine admission (only eligibility)
- Your CUET score in the required domain subjects and General Test determines merit
- College and programme preference order in CSAS matters enormously
- A student with 650/800 in CUET can get a programme that was previously blocked by a 98% board cut-off system
Top Programmes and Approximate CUET Cut-offs (2026 Reference)
| Programme | Top Colleges | Approx. CUET Cut-off 2026 | Total Seats (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) English | LSR, Miranda House, Hindu | 735-750 / 800 | ~1,200 |
| B.Com (Hons) | SRCC, Hindu, Ramjas | 750-770 / 800 | ~1,800 |
| BA (Hons) Economics | Hindu, LSR, St. Stephen’s | 730-750 / 800 | ~900 |
| BA (Hons) Political Science | Hindu, Kirori Mal, IP College | 700-720 / 800 | ~1,500 |
| BSc (Hons) Mathematics | Hindu, St. Stephen’s, Ramjas | 720-740 / 800 | ~600 |
| BSc (Hons) Physics | Hindu, St. Stephen’s, Hansraj | 700-725 / 800 | ~550 |
| BA (Hons) History | Hindu, LSR, IP College | 680-710 / 800 | ~1,200 |
| BA (Hons) Psychology | LSR, Miranda House, Jesus and Mary | 720-740 / 800 | ~400 |
| B.Com (Pass/Programme) | Motilal Nehru, Deshbandhu | 640-680 / 800 | ~3,000 |
| BSc (Hons) Chemistry | Hansraj, Daulat Ram, Miranda House | 680-710 / 800 | ~500 |
| BA (Hons) Sociology | LSR, Miranda House, Hindu | 690-715 / 800 | ~800 |
Note: Cut-offs vary year to year based on applicant pool and seat availability. Figures above are approximate references from 2026 patterns. The actual 2027 cut-offs will depend on the CUET 2027 score distribution.
The CSAS Process: How DU Allocates Seats
What is CSAS?
CSAS (Common Seat Allocation System) is Delhi University’s centralised portal for admissions. After CUET results are declared, all DU admissions happen exclusively through CSAS. There is no separate college-wise application — all 90+ colleges are accessed through one portal.
CSAS Phase 1 — Preference Registration
- Students register on CSAS portal after CUET results
- Enter programme-college combinations in order of preference (up to 50+ preferences allowed)
- Order of preference is critical: your most-desired college-programme should be #1
- DU uses your CUET scores in the subjects required by each programme
CSAS Phase 2 — Seat Allocation and Upgrades
- DU releases multiple allocation rounds (typically 3-4 rounds)
- In each round, students are allocated the highest-preference seat they qualify for
- Students can accept the current allocation or wait for upgrade in the next round
- Upgrade means you could move to a higher-preference college if a seat opens
- Warning: If you reject an allocation without accepting a lower one, you lose that seat
CSAS Phase 3 — Final Confirmation
- Students confirm final seat after all rounds
- Document verification and fee payment complete the process
- Spot rounds may be conducted for remaining vacant seats
How DU Calculates CUET Merit
Unlike JEE or NEET, DU’s merit calculation varies by programme. The general formula involves combining CUET domain subject scores with the General Test score:
For Humanities Programmes (e.g., BA Hons)
- Typically: Best CUET score in the required domain subject(s) + General Test score
- For BA (Hons) English: English domain score + General Test
- For BA (Hons) Political Science: Political Science domain + General Test (or Languages domain as specified)
- For BA (Hons) History: History domain + General Test
For Commerce Programmes (B.Com Hons)
- Accountancy/Business Studies/Economics domain scores
- Best of 3 required subjects + General Test combination as specified by DU
For Science Programmes (BSc Hons)
- Domain subjects in the relevant sciences (Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics/Biology)
- Higher weight given to the principal subject of the programme
Key rule: DU specifies for each programme which CUET papers are mandatory, which are optional, and how scores are combined. Always check the DU admission bulletin for the exact formula for your target programme.
St. Stephen’s College: The Special Case
St. Stephen’s College, one of India’s most prestigious colleges, follows a slightly different admission process even within the CUET-CSAS framework:
- For Christian minority quota seats: CUET score carries 85% weight; Interview carries 15% weight
- For general category: CUET score carries 100% weight (same as other DU colleges)
- This makes St. Stephen’s the only DU college with an interview component for some seats
- Top programmes at St. Stephen’s: Economics, Mathematics, English, History, Chemistry
- Cut-offs at St. Stephen’s are typically among the top 3 in DU for any given programme
Eligibility: What You Actually Need
DU’s CUET-era eligibility is simpler than most students think:
- Must have: Passed Class 12 (or equivalent) from any recognised board
- Must not have: There is NO minimum percentage requirement from DU itself for CUET-based admission
- Subject eligibility: Some programmes require specific subjects in Class 12 (e.g., BSc Maths requires Maths in Class 12)
- Age: No age bar for most UG programmes
- Reservations: SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD reservations apply as per central government norms
Key Dates 2027 (Estimated)
| Event | Estimated Timeline |
|---|---|
| CUET 2027 Notification | December 2026 – January 2027 |
| CUET 2027 Application Window | January – February 2027 |
| CUET 2027 Examination | May – June 2027 |
| CUET 2027 Results | July 2027 |
| CSAS Registration Opens | July 2027 |
| CSAS Allocation Rounds | July – August 2027 |
| Classes Begin | September – October 2027 |
Documents Required for DU Admission
- Class 10 mark sheet and certificate (for age/name verification)
- Class 12 mark sheet and passing certificate
- CUET 2027 scorecard
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) if applicable — must be in central government format
- PwBD certificate if applicable
- Transfer/Migration certificate from previous institution
- Passport-size photographs
- Aadhaar card or any government-issued photo ID
- Character certificate from last attended institution
DU vs JNU vs BHU: Which Central University to Target?
| Parameter | Delhi University (DU) | Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | Banaras Hindu University (BHU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF Ranking (2025) | Top 10 | Top 5 | Top 15 |
| UG Programmes via CUET | ~78 (most diverse) | Primarily PG | ~100+ UG programmes |
| Campus Location | Delhi — multiple campuses | Delhi — one main campus | Varanasi — large single campus |
| Best For | Humanities, Commerce, Sciences | Research, Social Sciences, Languages | Sciences, Humanities, Sanskrit |
| Hostel Availability | Limited (most students find PG) | Majority on-campus housing | Large hostel infrastructure |
| Admission Process | CUET + CSAS portal | Primarily PG entrance exam | CUET + BHU UET portal |
| Placement Culture | Strong (SRCC, LSR, Hindu, St. Stephen’s) | Academic + Civil Services track | Growing corporate + civil services |
Top Colleges Within DU — Prestige Hierarchy
Tier 1 (National Reputation)
- Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC): India’s top commerce college; B.Com (Hons) and Economics (Hons)
- Lady Shri Ram College (LSR): Top women’s college; English, Psychology, Economics, Sociology
- Hindu College: Top co-ed college across streams; English, History, Political Science, Sciences
- St. Stephen’s College: Historic; top for Mathematics, Economics, Chemistry, English
- Miranda House: Top women’s college; NIRF rank 1 women’s college multiple years
Tier 2 (Excellent Programmes)
- Hansraj College, Kirori Mal College, Ramjas College, Dyal Singh College, Deshbandhu College
- Indraprastha (IP) College for Women, Gargi College, Kamala Nehru College, Janki Devi Memorial College
Tier 3 (Good Colleges, Accessible Cut-offs)
- Motilal Nehru College, Zakir Husain Delhi College, Kalindi College, Maitreyi College
- Advantages: More seats available, lower CUET requirements, similar DU infrastructure
Step 1 — Know your CUET papers: Identify which domain subjects are required for your target programme. For BA Hons, it is typically one domain subject + General Test. For B.Com Hons, you need Accountancy + Business Studies or Economics.
Step 2 — Aim for 720+ out of 800: A score of 720+ in CUET opens doors to Tier 2 colleges at DU. For SRCC and Hindu College top programmes, aim for 750+. General Test score above 180/250 is considered good.
Step 3 — CSAS preference strategy: List your dream college first. List multiple college-programme combinations. Never list only 2-3 preferences — list 15-20 combinations to maximise allocation chances across rounds.
Step 4 — Understand upgrades: In CSAS Phase 2, if you get a lower-preference allocation, wait for upgrade rounds. Statistically, students who list preferences carefully get upgraded in 60-70% of cases.
• CUET adopted by DU from: Academic year 2022-23 (remember “22 in 22”)
• CSAS full form: Common Seat Allocation System
• Highest B.Com cut-off college: SRCC (Shri Ram College of Commerce)
• Women’s colleges in DU: LSR, Miranda House, IP College, Gargi, Kalindi, Janki Devi, Kamala Nehru, Jesus and Mary
• St. Stephen’s interview: Only for Christian minority quota — 15% weight for interview
• CUET + DU merit: Domain subject(s) + General Test — board marks are NOT used
• NTA conducts CUET: National Testing Agency — same body that conducts JEE Main, NEET UG
• DU has no minimum percentage: Any Class 12 pass student can apply, merit is 100% CUET-based
Frequently Asked Questions
What CUET score is needed for admission to Delhi University top colleges in 2027?
For top DU colleges like SRCC (B.Com Hons), Hindu College, LSR, and Miranda House, CUET scores of 720-770 out of 800 are typically needed depending on the programme. B.Com Hons at SRCC is the most competitive, requiring 750-770+. BA (Hons) Political Science at mid-tier colleges like Kirori Mal requires around 680-700. These are approximate figures based on 2026 patterns and vary year to year.
Is Class 12 percentage considered for DU admissions under CUET?
No. Since DU adopted CUET from 2022-23, Class 12 board marks are NOT used to calculate merit for admission. Only the CUET score (in required domain subjects and General Test) determines merit. You only need to have passed Class 12 from a recognised board to be eligible — there is no minimum percentage requirement.
What is the CSAS process and how does it work for DU admissions?
CSAS (Common Seat Allocation System) is DU’s centralised admission portal. After CUET results, students register on CSAS and enter college-programme combinations in preference order. DU then runs multiple allocation rounds. In each round, students receive their highest qualifying preference. Phase 2 allows upgrades to better-ranked preferences. Phase 3 confirms the final seat. Students should list 15-20 preference combinations for maximum chance of a good allocation.
Does St. Stephen’s College conduct its own entrance exam separate from CUET?
No, St. Stephen’s College no longer conducts its own entrance exam. Admissions are based on CUET scores. However, for Christian minority quota seats, the college assigns 85% weight to CUET score and 15% weight to an interview. For general category seats, 100% weight is given to CUET score. This makes St. Stephen’s the only DU college with an interview component for some admissions.
Which CUET subjects should I take for BA (Hons) Programmes at DU?
For most BA (Hons) programmes at DU, you need to appear in the CUET domain subject corresponding to your programme (e.g., History for BA Hons History, Political Science for BA Hons Political Science, English for BA Hons English) plus the CUET General Test. DU uses the domain subject score + General Test score to calculate merit. Always verify the exact requirement in DU’s official admission bulletin for 2027 as it may vary by programme.
Practice Quiz — 10 CUET-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.
