DU Admission 2026 guide – CSAS dates, eligibility, cutoff trends, fees, and application steps for UG & PG courses at Delhi University.

Introduction

Getting into Delhi University isn’t just about scoring well in CUET — it’s about understanding a system that changes its rules almost every year. If you’re confused about the CSAS portal, worried about missing a deadline, or trying to figure out whether your CUET score is “good enough” for your dream college, you’re not alone.

This guide breaks down everything about DU Admission 2026 — the CSAS application process, eligibility criteria, expected cutoff trends, fee structure, and the exact dates you need to track. Whether you’re applying for a BA (Hons.) programme at Hindu College or a B.Tech seat, this article will help you navigate the process without missing a single step.

Table of Contents

1. What is DU Admission 2026 (Quick Overview)
2. CSAS Portal: How It Works
3. Eligibility Criteria for UG & PG Programmes
4. Important Dates for DU Admission 2026
5. DU Cutoff Trends 2026
6. Fee Structure
7. Step-by-Step Application Guide
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
9. Tips to Improve Your Admission Chances
10. Latest Updates & Trends
11. Key Takeaways
12. Conclusion
13. FAQs

What Is DU Admission 2026? A Quick Overview

Delhi University conducts all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions through the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS), hosted on the portal admission.uod.ac.in. Since 2022, DU has completely moved away from board-exam-based cutoffs and now admits students purely on CUET (Common University Entrance Test) scores, combined with category-wise reservation norms.

For the 2026-27 academic session, DU is offering admission to over 70 UG programmes and 150+ BA Programme subject combinations across more than 70 affiliated colleges, with total UG seats crossing 70,000+.

CSAS Portal: How It Works

The CSAS process runs in three distinct phases, and missing any one of them can cost you a seat.

Phase 1 – Registration

You register on the CSAS portal using your CUET application number. Your personal details (name, category, DOB, photo, signature) are auto-imported from the CUET database and cannot be edited later, so double-check your CUET form before this stage even begins.

Phase 2 – Preference Filling

Once CUET results are declared, you map your CUET subjects to eligible DU programmes and list your preferred colleges and courses in order of priority. This ranking matters a lot — DU allocates seats based on your preference order and merit rank, so put your most-wanted combination first.

Phase 3 – Allocation-cum-Admission

DU releases multiple seat allocation lists. If you get allotted a seat, you must accept it, get your documents verified by the college, and pay the admission fee within the given window — usually just a few days.

Eligibility Criteria for UG & PG Programmes

For Undergraduate (UG) Admission:

• You must have passed Class 12 (any recognized board) in a relevant stream.
• You must have appeared for CUET UG 2026 in the subjects required for your intended programme.
• Minimum qualifying marks vary by programme — generally in the range of 40–60% depending on the course and category.

For Postgraduate (PG) Admission:

• A relevant bachelor’s degree from a UGC-recognized university, typically with 45–60% marks (relaxation applies for reserved categories).
• A valid CUET PG 2026 score in the required test paper.
• Some professional courses (like certain MBA or specialized programmes) may also require a personal interview or group discussion round.

For PhD Admission:

• A master’s degree in the relevant discipline with the required aggregate marks.
• Qualifying score in the DU Entrance Test (or NET/JRF exemption, where applicable).
• Registration fee for PhD applicants is typically around ₹750 (non-refundable).

Important Dates for DU Admission 2026

While exact dates shift slightly each year, here’s how the 2026 cycle has generally progressed — useful as a reference for planning:

Important: DU typically runs 3–4 regular allocation rounds followed by an “upgrade round” and finally a Spot Round to fill leftover seats. If you don’t get your preferred college in the first round, don’t panic — upgrades happen automatically as higher-preference seats free up.

DU Cutoff Trends 2026

Since CUET scores replaced board percentages, cutoffs are now expressed as normalized CUET scores out of 800–1000 rather than simple percentages. Here’s what to expect:

• High-demand programmes like B.A. (Hons.) Political Science at Hindu College or B.Com (Hons.) at SRCC continue to see cutoffs well above 950 (on a 1000-point normalized scale) in the Unreserved category.
• Science programmes such as B.Sc. courses often show a much wider spread — cutoffs can range from the high 800s down to single digits for less popular combinations at certain colleges, depending on seat availability and subject demand.
• Cutoffs typically drop with each subsequent round as high-scoring candidates lock in top choices and vacate lower-preference seats.
• Reserved category (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwBD) cutoffs are noticeably lower than the Unreserved (UR) category, as per Government of India reservation norms.

Practical tip: Don’t fixate only on “top” colleges. Many lesser-known DU colleges offer excellent faculty and infrastructure at significantly lower cutoffs — a smart strategy if your CUET score is moderate.

Fee Structure for DU Admission 2026

Application and admission fees are relatively affordable compared to private universities:

• CSAS UG Application Fee: ₹250 for UR/OBC-NCL/EWS candidates; ₹100 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
• Additional programme fee: ₹400 for BFA, B.A. (Hons.) Music, and B.Sc. (PE, HE & Sports) applicants.
• Supernumerary quota fee: ₹100 each for ECA (Extra-Curricular Activities) and Sports quota applications.
• PhD registration fee: ₹750 (non-refundable).
• Actual college admission/tuition fees vary by college and programme, generally ranging from a few thousand rupees per semester for most UG courses to higher amounts for professional programmes like B.Tech or MBA.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

1. Appear for CUET 2026 in the subjects relevant to your intended programme.
2. Register on CSAS using your CUET application number and DOB.
3. Upload documents — Class 10 & 12 marksheets, category certificate (if applicable), photo, signature, and valid ID.
4. Pay the registration fee online.
5. Fill preferences in Phase 2 — list colleges and courses in your genuine order of priority.
6. Check allocation lists as they’re released and accept/upgrade as needed.
7. Complete document verification with your allotted college within the deadline.
8. Pay admission fee to confirm your seat.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Entering wrong CUET details: Since CSAS auto-imports data from CUET and locks it, any error carries forward and can’t be fixed later.
• Random preference ordering: Listing colleges without real intent wastes your merit rank on options you don’t actually want.
• Missing the acceptance/verification window: These windows are often just 2–3 days long — missing one can mean losing the seat entirely.
• Ignoring subject mapping rules: Not every CUET subject combination qualifies for every DU programme; check eligibility carefully before filling preferences.
• Waiting too long to decide on Spot Round: Spot Round has stricter, one-shot rules — once you accept, there’s usually no further upgrade.

Tips to Improve Your Admission Chances

• Apply to a realistic mix of high-cutoff and moderate-cutoff colleges rather than only “dream” institutions.
• Track official DU notifications directly on admission.uod.ac.in rather than relying solely on third-party sites.
• Keep all documents scanned and ready in the required format before Phase 1 opens.
• If your first-round allotment isn’t ideal, use the upgrade facility rather than immediately settling — many candidates get better allotments in rounds 2 and 3.

Latest Trends & Updates

DU admissions have become increasingly digital-first, with zero physical document submission now permitted — everything, including verification, happens online. The university has also expanded seat matrices for BFA, sports, and ECA quotas, and continues to fine-tune its subject-mapping rules each year based on CUET paper combinations. Keep an eye on official notices for programme-specific eligibility tweaks, as these can change from one admission cycle to the next.

Key Takeaways

• DU admission is entirely CUET + CSAS-based; there’s no separate DU entrance exam for UG.
• Three phases — Registration, Preference Filling, Allocation — followed by upgrade and spot rounds.
• Cutoffs are now CUET-normalized scores, not board percentages.
• Application fees are low (₹100–250), but tuition varies by college and course.
• Missing deadlines is the single biggest reason students lose seats — track dates closely.

Conclusion

DU Admission 2026 rewards preparation as much as performance. A strong CUET score matters, but so does understanding the CSAS process, filling preferences strategically, and staying alert to every deadline. Use this guide as your roadmap, keep checking the official portal for real-time updates, and approach the admission season with a clear, realistic strategy rather than chasing only the most competitive colleges.

FAQs

1. Is there a separate DU entrance exam for UG admission 2026?
No. All UG admissions are based entirely on CUET UG 2026 scores through the CSAS portal.

2. What is the CSAS application fee for DU 2026?
₹250 for UR/OBC-NCL/EWS candidates and ₹100 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates, with additional fees for specific programmes and quotas.

3. How many rounds of seat allocation does DU conduct?
DU typically conducts multiple regular allocation rounds, followed by an upgrade round and a final Spot Round to fill vacant seats.

4. Can I edit my personal details after CSAS registration?
No. Details like name, DOB, and category are auto-imported from CUET and locked — always verify your CUET application before registering on CSAS.

5. Are DU cutoffs the same every year?
No, cutoffs fluctuate based on the number of applicants, seat availability, and CUET paper difficulty each year.

6. What happens if I miss the seat acceptance deadline?
Your allotted seat is forfeited, and you become eligible only for later rounds like the Spot Round, which has fewer seats and stricter rules.

7. Is DU admission cheaper than private universities?
Yes, DU’s application and tuition fees are significantly lower than most private universities, making it a cost-effective option for quality education.