Lady Irwin College: Admission 2026, Courses, Fees, Ranking & Delhi Campus Life

About Lady Irwin College New Delhi

Lady Irwin College, established in 1932, is a government constituent women’s college located in New Delhi, Delhi. It is a premier institution under the University of Delhi, situated on Sikandra Road near Mandi House, offering higher education primarily in Home Science and related disciplines.

The college holds an NAAC A+ grade and is ranked 31st in the NIRF 2025 India Rankings under the College category. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in Home Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, Human Development, Resource Management, Fabric & Apparel Sciences, and B.Ed. programmes, supported by strong research and practical training facilities.

Key Highlights

Admission Dates 2026

Lady Irwin College New Delhi admits students to its B.Sc, B.Ed and M.Sc programmes for 2026 through the University of Delhi’s CSAS portal based on CUET UG and CUET PG scores conducted by the National Testing Agency. Candidates must first apply for CUET UG/PG NTA schedule and then participate in DU CSAS 2025-26 counselling for seat allocation.

Admission Process

Lady Irwin College New Delhi admits students to all UG and PG programmes through CUET (UG/PG) conducted by NTA with centralised counselling on the University of Delhi CSAS portal; the one-year PG Diploma is merit-based, and PhD admission follows DU’s PhD entrance/NET and interview DU guidelines.

Undergraduate (B.Sc / B.Sc (Hons) / B.Ed) Admission

Steps to Apply

1. Register for CUET-UG on the NTA portal and select University of Delhi and relevant Lady Irwin College subjects.
2. Download CUET-UG admit card and appear for the test in the chosen subject combinations.
3. After CUET-UG results, register on DU CSAS (UG) portal and fill Lady Irwin College and course preferences.
4. Check CSAS seat allocation, accept the allotted Lady Irwin College seat within the deadline.
5. Upload required documents on the portal, pay the admission fee online, and report to the college for verification.

Postgraduate (M.Sc / B.Ed Special Education / PG Diploma) Admission

Steps to Apply

1. Register for CUET-PG on NTA portal for M.Sc and B.Ed Special Education, choosing University of Delhi and relevant papers.
2. Appear in CUET-PG and keep the scorecard ready after result declaration.
3. Register on DU CSAS (PG) portal and give programme and Lady Irwin College preferences.
4. For PG Diploma in Diabetes and Public Health Nutrition, apply as notified in the college prospectus on the Lady Irwin College website and submit required documents.
5. For PG and PG Diploma, follow DU/college allotment list, pay fees, and complete verification at the college.

PhD Admission

Steps to Apply

1. Check DU PhD Bulletin of Information and ensure eligibility in the relevant Home Science / Education specialisation.
2. Apply through the University of Delhi PhD admission portal, selecting Lady Irwin College as preferred research centre.
3. Appear for DU PhD entrance test or use valid NET qualification DU rules.
4. Attend interview and research proposal presentation before the DU/Lady Irwin College PhD admission committee.
5. On selection, complete registration, pay fees, and submit approved research proposal through the college.

Eligibility Criteria & Fees

Documents Required

• Class 10 mark sheet and certificate
• Class 12 mark sheet and certificate
• Graduation and postgraduation mark sheets and degrees (for PG, B.Ed, PG Diploma, PhD)
• CUET-UG / CUET-PG scorecard, as applicable
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) issued by competent authority, if applicable
• PwBD certificate, if applicable
• Government photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport/Voter ID)
• Recent passport-size photographs
• Migration/Transfer certificate for students from boards/universities other than Delhi University
• Undertakings or affidavits required by DU (gap year, anti-ragging, etc.)
• Fee payment proof/receipt generated from DU CSAS portal

Cutoff 2025

Lady Irwin College admissions in 2025 show high competition in CUET-based entries, with B.Sc. (Hons.) Food Technology and Home Science registering some of the highest cutoffs among UG programs. CUET PG-based M.Sc. and B.Ed courses also reflect strong demand, with Food Science and Nutrition and Human Development & Child Counselling attracting the highest scores across categories.

Placements 2025

For Lady Irwin College, the latest verified placement figures come from the NIRF 2025 report for the 2023–24 graduating batch. UG 3-year programmes recorded very low on-campus placements but a steady median salary, while PG 2-year programmes showed significantly higher placement rates and better median packages.

Placement Statistics

Top Recruiters

IT: IBM

Consulting: KPMG

Core: Nestlé, Perfetti, TQS Global, Sudha Dairy, MoolChand Hospitals, AIIMS, Max Healthcare, Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Healthcare, UNICEF, FICCI, Piramal Healthcare, 99acres.com, Asian Paints, Teach For India

Branch-wise Placement

Rankings & Accreditations

Lady Irwin College, New Delhi is a top-ranked constituent college of the University of Delhi, placed among the leading colleges in India. In NIRF 2025 it stands at rank 31 in the College category with a score of 62.88/100, continuing its strong performance after rank 23 in NIRF 2024.

NIRF 2025

Other Rankings

Accreditations

• NAAC: A+ (Granted in 2018; valid 5 years from date of accreditation)
• NBA: Not accredited by NBA for programme-specific accreditation

Comparison

Lady Irwin College New Delhi is a premier women’s institution in Home Science and allied disciplines under the University of Delhi. It is typically compared with Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) and Gargi College, which are also top Delhi University colleges with strong NIRF standings, NAAC A+ accreditation and similar academic reputation for women-centric and science–social science programmes.

Key Strengths

• Lady Irwin College New Delhi: Nationally reputed Home Science and allied disciplines hub with strong research and policy linkages in nutrition, child development, community development and education, backed by consistent top-30 NIRF rankings and NAAC A+.
• Lady Shri Ram College for Women: Elite liberal arts, commerce and social sciences college with very high cut-offs, excellent faculty and placement record, and consistently top-20 NIRF performance.
• Gargi College: Well-regarded multi-disciplinary women’s college with strong science and arts programmes, robust student support and steady NIRF top-40 presence within University of Delhi.

Campus & Infrastructure

The Lady Irwin College campus is a compact, green, heritage campus with iconic white buildings and lawns in the Mandi House area, close to Delhi’s cultural hub and central administrative zone. It has an urban setting with academic blocks, hostel, and recreational spaces integrated within walking distance of each other. Lady Irwin College has an urban campus spread over 16.5 acres at Sikandra Road, Mandi House, in central New Delhi, with heritage-listed academic buildings and landscaped lawns. The location places it close to key metro, rail and cultural landmarks in the heart of the city.

Campus Details

Hostel

Other Facilities

• Hostel with 22 rooms (20 rooms with 6 beds, 2 union rooms with 3 beds each)
• Hostel TV room and common room
• Hostel study room
• Hostel Wi‑Fi
• Hostel garden area

Frequently Asked Questions

Is admission to Lady Irwin College for B.Sc. and B.Ed strictly through CUET now?

For all undergraduate programs, including B.Sc (Hons) Home Science and B.Sc (Hons) Food Technology, admission is based on CUET-UG scores followed by seat allocation through Delhi University’s CSAS portal. For B.Ed and B.Ed Special Education, admission follows the University of Delhi PG/Professional admission process.

What are the main undergraduate courses offered at Lady Irwin College?

The college offers three key UG programs in Home Science: B.Sc (Hons) Home Science, B.Sc (Pass) Home Science and B.Sc (Hons) Food Technology. All are women-only programs and are run as a constituent college of the University of Delhi.

Can students with a gap year apply for UG courses at Lady Irwin College?

Yes. The college explicitly allows applicants who have taken a gap year after Class 12 to apply for its undergraduate Home Science courses, provided they meet eligibility and DU admission norms and complete the University-level application process correctly.

What is the approximate annual fee for B.Sc (Hons) Home Science at Lady Irwin College?

The B.Sc (Hons) Home Science fee is approximately ₹35,000 per year, while the B.Ed program fee is around ₹40,000 per year. Total fees for most three-year UG courses generally fall in the range of ₹1.0 lakh–₹1.2 lakh, excluding hostel and personal expenses.

Does Lady Irwin College offer hostel facilities and how many students can stay?

Yes. The college has on-campus hostel facilities in two buildings for UG and PG students, together accommodating about 200 women students. Rooms have fans, individual wardrobes, desks, chairs and beds, with solar-heated hot water and purified drinking water.

How are hostel seats at Lady Irwin College allotted?

Hostel accommodation is allotted on merit through an online application via the college’s official website. Priority goes to outstation students who secure admission to Lady Irwin College, and residents must follow hostel rules including prescribed timings and participation in hostel life.

What kind of scholarships or financial aid are available for Lady Irwin students?

Students can access college-level need-based aid via the student aid fund, merit-based endowed scholarships for toppers, and central or state government schemes applicable to University of Delhi colleges. These collectively support tuition and, in some cases, living expenses for eligible students.

How good are placements for Food Technology and Nutrition students at Lady Irwin College?

For 2025, packages for professional programs range roughly from ₹4.5–₹5.5 LPA on average, with top offers around ₹8–₹10 LPA. Recruiters include food and FMCG companies like Nestlé, ITC and Britannia, as well as hospitals and healthcare organisations for nutrition profiles.

Does the college provide internships or practical training as part of the curriculum?

Yes. Mandatory internships are built into programs: Food & Nutrition and Food Technology students intern in hospitals and food industries, while Child Development students work with NGOs and institutions. B.Ed students undergo supervised school teaching practice across Delhi schools.

Is it true that some courses at Lady Irwin College have very limited or no campus placements?

Student reviews indicate that while professional programs like Food Technology and Nutrition see regular recruiter visits, some general Home Science courses receive limited formal campus placements and students often rely on internships, higher studies and independent job applications.

How strong is the faculty and research environment at Lady Irwin College?

The college runs UG, PG, PG Diploma in Dietetics & Public Health Nutrition and PhD programmes in five Home Science specialisations, indicating a strong research focus. Faculty are involved in research and outreach across Food & Nutrition, Textile Science, Human Development and Extension.

What are the class sizes and learning facilities like?

Large classrooms can seat about 80–100 UG students, with smaller rooms for electives and PG teaching. The campus hosts specialised labs for Food & Nutrition, Food Technology, Textile Science, Child Development, a computer resource centre, and a large central library with discipline-specific collections.

How is campus life at Lady Irwin College in terms of fests and student societies?

The college has around 14 active societies operating from the Enabling Centre and student spaces like Seth Ram Lal Hall and the amphitheatre. The annual cultural fest “Quintessence,” SPICMACAY events, national-day celebrations and multiple departmental activities shape a vibrant co-curricular calendar.

What facilities does the hostel provide in terms of comfort and recreation?

The hostel is Wi‑Fi enabled and has a spacious common room called Travancore with a plasma TV, music system and indoor games. Residents also access lush lawns, a basketball court for outdoor activities and jogging, and an all-purpose common area used for festivals and exam-time study.

How is safety on campus and in the hostel, especially for outstation students?

The college designates the hostel and key student spaces as Zero Ragging and No Smoking zones, and runs specific safety and security measures for women. Hostel entry is regulated, and common areas like the hostel common room and amphitheatre are supervised, offering a secure environment.

What is the food quality and daily routine like in the Lady Irwin hostel?

Resident reviews describe four meals a day with changing menus, regular cleaning and an in-house canteen. While students appreciate the community environment, some mention issues with washroom facilities and internet speed, which vary by block and room location.

Is Lady Irwin College well connected by public transport for day scholars?

The campus is on Sikandra Road in central Delhi, close to Mandi House and other cultural hubs, and is accessible by Delhi Metro and DTC buses. This central location makes daily commuting relatively convenient for students from multiple parts of the city.

How does Lady Irwin College compare with other Home Science and Food Technology colleges in Delhi University?

Founded in 1932 and focused exclusively on women’s education in Home Science, Lady Irwin is widely regarded within DU as a premier institution for Home Science, Food & Nutrition and Child Development, with a long-standing alumnae network and vertically integrated programs up to PhD level.

What are typical career paths for Lady Irwin Home Science and Nutrition graduates?

Graduates work as clinical and public health nutritionists, food technologists in FMCG and food-processing companies, special educators, school teachers, researchers, extension workers and development professionals in NGOs and government programs, often combining internships with higher studies like M.Sc or B.Ed.