Delhi University has clarified that its decision to permit undergraduate admissions based on Class 12 board marks is a limited measure to fill vacant seats in selected programmes and colleges. The route is separate from the regular CUET-based Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) process.
DU Registrar Vikas Gupta said students who applied through CUET have already been allotted college and course choices according to their CUET performance and submitted preferences. Students who already hold admission in any DU college are not eligible to apply through the Class 12 marks-based route.
The update affects students who are still seeking admission to DU for the 2026-27 academic session. Interested applicants must check the permitted colleges, available programmes, eligibility conditions, application method and deadline with the concerned college because the admission opportunity is subject to vacant seats and merit.
Key Highlights
- DU has opened a separate Class 12 marks-based admission route for selected vacant undergraduate seats.
- The regular admission process for most DU undergraduate programmes continues to be based on CUET scores through CSAS.
- CUET applicants have been allotted college-course combinations based on merit and their submitted preferences, according to the Registrar.
- Students who already have admission in any DU college cannot take admission through the Class 12 merit route.
- Admissions under the alternative route will be made only for specified colleges and programmes where seats remain vacant.
- Applicants must satisfy the eligibility criteria for the programme concerned.
- The final selection will be based on Class 12 merit, eligibility and seat availability.
- DU has listed 11 colleges in the notice associated with this admission arrangement.
What Has Delhi University Announced?
Delhi University has allowed selected colleges to admit undergraduate students on the basis of Class 12 board examination marks instead of CUET scores. The decision applies only to certain programmes with vacant seats and does not replace the university’s regular CUET-based admission system.
The admission notice states that admissions have begun in certain colleges on the basis of Class 12 merit, subject to the prescribed eligibility criteria. The concerned colleges are responsible for inviting applications and preparing the merit list for the available seats.
The university has also made it clear that a candidate who already has admission in any DU college cannot use the new route to seek admission to another college or course.
Why Is DU Allowing Admissions Based on Class 12 Marks?
The measure has been introduced to fill a limited number of seats that remained vacant after the regular admission process. According to the Registrar, DU had completed nearly all admissions against its undergraduate capacity, but some seats continued to be available because of course-wise demand, category allocations and supernumerary seats.
The Registrar stated that DU had approximately 71,439 undergraduate seats and around 70,512 admissions had been completed. The remaining gap is being addressed through selected admission measures, including the Class 12 merit route for specified programmes.
This means the opportunity is not a general reopening of DU undergraduate admissions. It is a restricted vacancy-filling exercise and may not be available for popular courses or colleges.
Which DU Colleges Are Covered?
The public notice associated with the Class 12 marks-based admission route lists the following 11 colleges:
| Sl. No. | College |
|---|---|
| 1 | Kalindi College |
| 2 | Zakir Husain Delhi College (Evening) |
| 3 | Lakshmibai College |
| 4 | Rajdhani College |
| 5 | Shyama Prasad Mukherji College for Women |
| 6 | P.G.D.A.V. College (Evening) |
| 7 | Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce |
| 8 | Vivekananda College |
| 9 | Shyam Lal College |
| 10 | Aditi Mahavidyalaya |
| 11 | Bhagini Nivedita College |
The availability of a course is not the same across all colleges. Students must verify the specific programme-wise vacancy information released by each participating college.
Who Can Apply for DU Class 12-Based Admissions?
The route is intended for students who are still seeking a DU undergraduate seat and meet the eligibility criteria of a programme where vacancies are available.
Applicants should generally confirm the following before applying:
- They have passed Class 12 from a recognised board.
- They meet the minimum eligibility requirements of the selected programme.
- They satisfy any required subject combination or subject-specific condition.
- They do not already hold admission in any college of Delhi University.
- They apply only to a college and programme included in the applicable vacancy notice.
- They submit the documents and information required by the concerned college.
Course-specific eligibility must be checked separately. For example, science, commerce and language-based programmes may require particular subjects in Class 12. Students should not assume that meeting the overall Class 12 pass requirement is sufficient for every programme.
Who Cannot Apply Through This Route?
A candidate who already has admission in any DU college is not eligible to take admission on the basis of Class 12 marks under this arrangement. The route cannot be used as an upgrade or preference-change mechanism by a student who has already secured a DU seat.
Students admitted through CUET and CSAS should therefore not cancel their existing admission merely to apply for a different course through the Class 12 route unless they have independently confirmed the consequences with DU and the concerned college. The notice specifically excludes candidates who already have admission in a DU college.
How Does the Regular CUET-Based DU Admission Process Work?
For the regular 2026-27 undergraduate admission process, CUET scores are used to calculate merit for eligible programmes. Candidates also need to complete the DU CSAS process and submit their programme and college preferences.
College-course allocation is made by considering factors such as:
- Programme-specific eligibility;
- CUET performance;
- Candidate preferences;
- Category and applicable reservation rules;
- Seat availability; and
- Class 12 marks in the event of a tie, wherever applicable under the admission rules.
DU’s admission FAQs state that Class 12 marks do not carry general weightage in regular undergraduate admissions, except for tie-breaking. The Class 12 merit route announced for selected vacancies is a separate exception and should not be confused with the standard CSAS allocation process.
What Did the DU Registrar Say About CUET Applicants?
The Registrar explained that CUET applicants select their preferred programme and college combinations during the DU admission process. Allocations are then made according to CUET merit and the preferences submitted by candidates.
His clarification was intended to explain that the Class 12 marks-based admissions are not being introduced to offer CUET applicants another opportunity to change their allotted college or course. The new route is aimed at filling specific vacancies after the regular allocation process.
In practical terms, a CUET applicant who has already received and secured a DU admission should not treat the Class 12 option as a second counselling round or an additional upgrade window.
Important Dates and Current Status
| Event | Status |
|---|---|
| DU clarification on Class 12-based admissions | Issued on August 22, 2026 |
| Class 12 merit-based admissions | Open for selected colleges and programmes with vacancies |
| Application deadline | To be confirmed by the concerned college |
| Merit list or selection list | To be issued by the concerned college, where applicable |
| Fee payment and admission confirmation | As notified by the concerned college |
Delhi University has not provided one common deadline for every college and programme in the information currently available. Applicants must rely on the latest notice issued by the concerned college and should not wait for a university-wide deadline unless one is officially announced.
How Will Selection Be Made?
Selection under the non-CUET route will be based on the merit of Class 12 marks, subject to the eligibility conditions and the number of seats available in the programme.
The concerned college is expected to scrutinise applications, verify documents and prepare the merit order. If more students apply than the number of vacant seats, applicants with higher eligible Class 12 merit may receive preference in accordance with the college’s notified process.
Students should check whether the college has specified a calculation method, such as marks in particular subjects or an aggregate of eligible subjects. No single calculation method should be assumed for every programme.
What Students Should Do Now
- Identify whether the desired college and programme appear in the latest DU vacancy or Class 12 merit notice.
- Read the programme-specific eligibility requirements carefully.
- Confirm that you do not already hold admission in any DU college.
- Check the concerned college’s admission notice for the application method and deadline.
- Keep the Class 12 marksheet, identity documents, photographs and category certificates ready.
- Submit the application in the format and within the time specified by the college.
- Monitor the college’s merit list, document-verification notice and fee-payment instructions.
- Pay the admission fee only through the officially notified process after selection.
- Retain the application form, payment receipt and confirmation documents.
Documents Students May Need
The exact document list may vary by college and programme. Applicants should follow the list issued by the concerned college. Commonly required documents may include:
- Class 10 certificate or date-of-birth proof;
- Class 12 marksheet and passing certificate;
- Valid identity proof;
- Recent passport-size photographs;
- Transfer or migration certificate, where required;
- Category certificate, if admission is sought under a reserved category;
- Disability certificate, where applicable;
- Income or EWS certificate, where applicable; and
- Any undertaking or verification form required by the college.
Certificates must be valid and issued by the competent authority. An incomplete, invalid or inconsistent document can affect eligibility or delay verification.
Fees and Admission Confirmation
Delhi University has not announced one common fee amount for all Class 12-based admissions. Undergraduate fees differ by college, programme and applicable category. Students should check the fee instructions issued by the concerned college before making payment.
Admission should be treated as confirmed only after the college verifies the application and documents and the required fee is successfully paid. Submitting an application or appearing in a merit list does not by itself guarantee final admission.
What Happens If a Student Misses the Deadline?
A student who fails to submit the application, complete document verification or pay the fee within the notified time may lose consideration for the vacant seat. Whether a late application or an extension is allowed will depend entirely on the concerned college and any subsequent DU notice.
Students should not assume that the seat will automatically remain available. Vacancies may be offered to the next eligible candidate in the merit order after the deadline.
Is the Class 12 Route Available for Every DU Course?
No. The route applies only to specified programmes and colleges where vacant seats are available. It does not reopen admission for every undergraduate course at Delhi University.
Highly sought-after programmes may not be included, and the list of available courses can change as seats are filled. Students must check the latest programme-wise vacancy information rather than relying only on the college list.
Is CUET Still Mandatory for DU Admissions?
CUET remains the standard admission requirement for most regular DU undergraduate programmes for the 2026-27 academic session. DU’s official admission information states that CUET scores are used for regular undergraduate admissions, while exceptions include routes such as the School of Open Learning and the Non-Collegiate Women Education Board, apart from any specifically notified admission arrangement.
The newly announced Class 12 merit route is a limited, vacancy-based exception and does not change the general CUET policy for DU undergraduate admissions.
What Happens Next?
The next step is expected to be the publication or continuation of college-level application and merit processes for the listed vacant programmes. Participating colleges will determine the application schedule, eligibility verification procedure, merit preparation and fee-payment timeline.
DU may also continue to publish updates relating to vacant seats, spot admissions and the final admission deadline for the 2026-27 academic session. Students should monitor both the DU admission portal and the admission notice of the specific college they are considering.
Useful Links
Delhi University Admission Portal: https://admission.uod.ac.in/
DU Undergraduate CSAS Portal: https://ugadmission.uod.ac.in/
University of Delhi Main Website: https://www.du.ac.in/
Frequently Asked Questions
When did DU clarify the Class 12-based admission process?
The Registrar’s clarification was reported on August 22, 2026, after DU opened a separate route for selected vacant undergraduate seats based on Class 12 marks.
Can a student with a DU seat apply through the Class 12 merit route?
No. A candidate who already has admission in any DU college is not eligible for admission through this route.
Can CUET students use this process to change their allotted college?
No. The route is not an upgrade facility for CUET applicants. It is a separate admission process for specified vacant seats.
Are Class 12 marks used in regular DU CSAS admissions?
Regular DU undergraduate admissions are based on CUET scores, subject to programme eligibility. Class 12 marks may be used for tie-breaking where applicable, but they do not carry general admission weightage.
How many colleges are listed for the Class 12 admission route?
The notice associated with the Registrar’s clarification lists 11 colleges. Students must check the latest notice because the list of participating colleges or available programmes may be updated.
Is there a common application deadline for all colleges?
No common deadline has been confirmed in the available information. Each participating college may issue its own schedule, so applicants should verify the deadline directly through the college’s official admission notice.
Will every applicant who applies through Class 12 marks get admission?
No. Admission depends on eligibility, Class 12 merit and the number of vacant seats in the selected programme.
Are CUET scores considered for this route?
The route has been announced as admission based on Class 12 marks rather than CUET scores. However, applicants must still meet all programme-specific eligibility requirements notified by the concerned college.
Where can students check available courses and vacancies?
Students should check the latest DU admission notices and the official admission page of the participating college for programme-wise vacancies and application instructions.
What should a student do after being shortlisted?
The student should complete document verification and fee payment within the deadline specified by the college. Admission is confirmed only after all required formalities are completed.
