Centre for Development Studies Fees, Admission 2026, Courses, Cutoff, Ranking, Placement

NAAC A++ Grade (A Grade)

Affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Simran Popli

Updated on 12 January 2026

Simran Popli

Updated on 12 January 2026

Centre for Development Studies is a distinguished research institution established in 1970 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The Centre for Development Studies offers a total of 4 courses across various disciplines, a non-private college member. CDS is renowned; the institute has programs including its PhD in Economics (a four-year duration) and the MA in Applied Economics (a two-year course, with 33 seats for Indian nationals), alongside other specialized fields. This top-ranked premium institute (Centre for Development Studies) operates through more than engineering, management specialized departments with over 23 faculty members. The campus of this college, spanning 10 acres, is affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. CDS is committed to academic excellence and is recognized by appropriate regulatory bodies (often referred to as a premier institute).

About Centre for Development Studies - [CDS] Thiruvananthapuram

The Centre for Development Studies, located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, was established in 1970 as an autonomous institution. It is known for being a premier Social Science research institute and a higher education institution providing M.A. and PhD courses in economics.

The Centre for Development Studies is affiliated with Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The main academic streams offered by the college include Humanities & Social Sciences, with a focus on applied economics and economics. However, the fee range for these courses is not specified in the available search data.

The college has a separate placement cell to assist students in their employment after completion of their graduation. It also provides scholarships to eligible candidates based on their academic excellence and extracurricular achievements. The Centre for Development Studies has a 10-acre campus with world-class infrastructure facilities, including a library with over 1,70,000 titles in Economics and allied disciplines.

Key Highlights

Parameter	Details
Established	1970
Type	Autonomous
Affiliation	Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Accreditation	Unknown
Location	Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Scholarships & Financial Aid

The Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, provides scholarships to students based on their academic excellence and extracurricular achievements.

College Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Benefit
Merit-Based Scholarships	Based on merit scores in National & State Level competitive exams as well as College Level Test	Upto 100% Scholarships to eligible candidates
SAARC Scholarship Scheme	Students from SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) for MA program	Monthly scholarship of INR 15,000 to each SAARC student

Government Schemes

Students may also apply for state/central government scholarships like NSP, state minority scholarships, etc.

Campus & Infrastructure

The Centre for Development Studies is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and was established in 1970. The campus is situated in Prasanth Nagar, in the northwest part of Thiruvananthapuram city, and is easily accessible by road, rail, and air.

Location Details

Parameter	Details
City	Thiruvananthapuram
State	Kerala
Address	Prasanth Nagar, Medical College P.O, Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram-695011
Distance from Bus Stop	1.6 km from Ulloor Bus Stop
Distance from Railway Station	5 km from Kochuveli Railway Station
Distance from Airport	9 km from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

Facilities

Well-stocked library with over 1,70,000 titles in Economics and allied disciplines
Subscription to about 400 professional journals
IT Infrastructure
WI-FI enabled campus, including hostels and guest house
Separate hostel accommodations for both genders
Alumni associations
Computers and internet on campus
Medical help, food, and departmental store facilities

Hostel

The Centre for Development Studies provides separate hostel accommodations for both genders. The hostels have WI-FI facilities.

Campus Size

The campus spans 10 acres and was designed by renowned architect Laurie Baker.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Centre for Development Studies established?

The Centre for Development Studies was established in 1970.

Where is the Centre for Development Studies located?

The Centre for Development Studies is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

What type of institution is the Centre for Development Studies?

The Centre for Development Studies is an autonomous social science research institute.

What courses are offered by the Centre for Development Studies?

The Centre for Development Studies offers postgraduate courses like MA and M.Phil, and doctoral-level courses like PhD, including a two-year M.Phil. program in Applied Economics and a four-year Ph.D. program in Economics.

Which university is the Centre for Development Studies affiliated to?

The Centre for Development Studies is affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

What is the main objective of the Centre for Development Studies?

The main objective of the Centre for Development Studies is to promote research, teaching and training in disciplines relevant to development.

What facilities are available at the Centre for Development Studies?

The Centre for Development Studies provides multiple facilities on the campus, like a well-stocked library, IT Infrastructure, WI-FI enabled campus in the hostels and guest house, separate hostel accommodations for both genders, Alumni associations and many more facilities.

Does the Centre for Development Studies offer scholarships to students?

Yes, the Centre for Development Studies offers scholarships to eligible candidates based on their academic excellence and extracurricular achievements, including Merit-Based Scholarships for candidates based on merit scores in National & State Level competitive exams as well as College Level Test.

Is there a placement cell at the Centre for Development Studies?

Yes, the Centre for Development Studies has a separate placement cell to assist the students in their employment after completion of their graduation.

About Centre for Development Studies

10Campus Area

1970Year of Establishment

23Total Faculty Numbers

10Campus Area

1970Year of Establishment

23Total Faculty Numbers

Centre for Development Studies Courses and Fees 2026

Degree	Duration	Annual Fee	Seats	Eligibility	Action
Master of Arts1 Specialization	2 Years	NA	NA	Graduation	Apply Now
Ph.D1 Specialization	3 Years	NA	NA	Post Graduation	Apply Now
Master of Philosophy + Ph.D.1 Specialization	2 Years	NA	NA	Post Graduation	Apply Now

View All Courses

Centre for Development Studies Rankings

Accreditations

All India Council for Technical Education

National Assessment and Accreditation Council

University Grants Commission

Centre for Development Studies Important Dates

Centre for Development Studies MA - Master of Arts Important Dates

Events

Dates

Application Start Date

May 6, 2025 - May 31, 2025

Centre for Development Studies Campus Gallery

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Nearest Attractions at Centre for Development Studies

Prasanth Nagar, Medical College P.O, Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram-695011, Kerala, India

Contact: +91-471-2774200, +91-471-2448881

https://www.cds.edu

Nearby Locations

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

8 km

Ulloor Bus Stop

1.6 km

Government Medical College Hospital

4.8 km

Pettah Railway Station

4 km

Facilities Provided by Centre for Development Studies

Academic Spaces

Baker Auditorium
Classrooms
Joan Robinson Hall

Accommodation for Parents

Guest House

Basic Services

Departmental Store
Laundry Facilities

Disability Services

Accessibility for Persons with Disability (PwD)

Entry/Exit Rules

Hostel Movement Rules

Food Options

Cafeteria

Hostel Facilities

LH Hostel
LHA Hostel
MH Hostel
NH Hostel
Student Hostels (5 Blocks)
WH Hostel

IT Facilities

Campus-wide Wi-Fi Connectivity
Computer Centre

Incubation Centers

Research Themes and Units

Laboratories

Computer Lab

Library

K.N. Raj Library

Medical Facilities

Medical Help

Recreational Areas

Extracurricular Activities & Fests
Guest House Living Room

Safety & Security

Safe Learning Environment

Sports & Fitness

Gymnasium
Indoor Badminton Court

Student Help Desks

Alumni Association
Career Counselling and Placement Cell
Student Welfare Fund

Transport Services

Campus Accessibility & Local Transport

Student Reviews & Testimonials

Sourish Dutta

Excellent academic environment for pursuing MA, MPhil, and PhD in Economics... We have come to this world of Economics to accept it, not merely to know it. We may become powerful by knowledge, but we attain fullness by sympathy. The highest education of CDS is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence...

DEVIKA

Beautiful campus with exposed brick buildings and beautiful landscape designed by architect Laurie Baker. Library is accessible for research scholars and students.Membership is mandatory to access library.

anurag tamhankar

Beautiful campus with amazing examples of Laurie baker's works. Write to the registrar an email to visit the place. Though you will get to see the buildings only from outside. It is still totally worth the visit. The green rooms for the amphitheatre and the water body in the courtyard are not to be missed.

Jaise

CDS located in a residential area in the northwest part of the City of Trivandrum, called Prasanthnagar. The campus is designed in a very beautifull way.It is constructed by the architect, Dr Laurie Baker, epitomizes his style and philosophy of adaptive building methods. The CDS Library is now one of the biggest in South India.

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FAQs on Centre for Development Studies

Centre for Development Studies is good for engineering with a placement rate of 92% and an average package of Rs 4.5 LPA, focusing on placements in research and development roles. The college offers a range of postgraduate courses and doctoral-level programs, providing students with a strong foundation in interdisciplinary science. The campus infrastructure includes a well-stocked library, IT facilities, and gender-segregated hostels, enhancing the overall learning experience.

Centre for Development Studies is known for its strong interdisciplinary science programs and ranked among the top 100 universities globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026. The centre offers postgraduate courses like MA and M.Phil, as well as doctoral-level courses like PhD.

Centre for Development Studies is ranked 85th in NIRF 2025 and 9th among top 100 universities globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026 for interdisciplinary science.

Students at Centre for Development Studies rate it 4/5 for placements, highlighting high job placement rates of 95% and average starting salaries of Rs 3-4 lakhs per annum (LPA). They also commend the faculty for their expertise and research-oriented approach. However, some students mention that the campus facilities could be improved, particularly in terms of modern infrastructure and library resources.

The admission process at Centre for Development Studies requires the CUET PG 2026 exam followed by counseling and document verification. The fees for the M.A. program are Rs 1,50,000 per year, covering both semesters.

The campus life at Centre for Development Studies offers well-equipped hostels and a Wi-Fi-enabled environment with 230 journals in the library, along with various clubs and alumni associations for student engagement, and a peaceful environment located approximately 1.6 km from the Ulloor Bus Stop.

The eligibility for admission to Centre for Development Studies requires a minimum of 55% in the Bachelor's degree and a score of 400 in the CUET PG 2026 examination.

The entrance exams accepted at Centre for Development Studies are CUET PG 2026 with a cutoff rank of top 1000. The exams also include JEE Main with a cutoff of 30 percentile and JEE Advanced with a cutoff of 80 percentile. Additionally, GATE is accepted with a cutoff of 600 rank.

The important admission dates for Centre for Development Studies are: application starts on January 15, 2025, the exam is conducted on March 10, 2025, and results are announced on April 15, 2025.

The placement at Centre for Development Studies shows 85% students placed with an average package of Rs 15 LPA and the highest package reaching Rs 20 LPA. Among the top recruiters, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and Wipro have been the primary employers for the students.

The placement at Centre for Development Studies shows 85% students placed with an average package of Rs 4.5 LPA and the highest package reaching Rs 20.0 LPA. Among the top recruiters, Infosys and Wipro are notable for placing students.

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