Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), located in New Delhi, is one of India's premier research-focused universities known for its strong academic programs and competitive admission process. The university primarily offers postgraduate and research-level programs such as MA, MSc, MCA, and PhD, with admissions conducted mainly through the CUET PG examination. Undergraduate admissions at JNU remain limited and are offered only for a select group of foreign language programs, making entry highly competitive for interested candidates.
This article provides a complete overview of the JNU Admission 2026 process, including eligibility requirements, program-wise CUET cutoff trends, detailed fee structure, available courses, and all important admission dates to help students plan their applications effectively.
Table of Contents
CUET JNU Cutoff 2026: Overview
Parameter
Detail
Location
New Delhi (Vasant Kunj area)
Type
Central University (Act of Parliament)
NAAC Grade
A++ (4th cycle)
NIRF Ranking 2025
2nd (Universities category)
Annual tuition (MA/MSc)
~₹376/year
Hostel room rent
₹120–₹240/year
UG programs
Foreign language BA (Hons) — very limited
PG programs
45+ MA/MSc/MCA programs via CUET PG
PhD admission
NET/JRF + Viva voce
Application portal
jnuee.jnu.ac.in
Programs Offered at JNU
Undergraduate (UG) Programs
JNU's UG intake is very narrow — almost entirely language programs under the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies (SLL&CS). Admission is through CUET UG.
Program
Seats
BA (Hons) Russian
68
BA (Hons) French
48
BA (Hons) German
48
BA (Hons) Japanese
48
BA (Hons) Chinese
44
BA (Hons) Persian
39
BA (Hons) Arabic
39
BA (Hons) Korean
39
BA (Hons) Spanish
39
BA (Hons) Pashto
19
Certificate of Proficiency (COP)
Hebrew, Mongolian, Bahasa Indonesia, Uzbek, Sanskrit, Urdu
JNU does not offer mainstream B.Sc, B.Com, BBA, or B.Tech. It is fundamentally a postgraduate and research institution.
Postgraduate (PG) Programs — School-Wise
School
Programs
Approx. Seats
School of Social Sciences (SSS)
MA Economics, MA Sociology, MA Geography, MA Development & Labour Studies, MA Women's Studies, MA Political Studies
~300
School of International Studies (SIS)
MA Politics (International Studies), MA Economics (World Economy)
~101
School of Language, Literature & Culture Studies (SLL&CS)
MA Hindi, MA English, MA Urdu, MA Linguistics, MA in 10 foreign languages
PhD is available in all disciplines across 13 schools and 55 centres. Admission is via NET/JRF + Viva voce (changed from 2024–25 as per UGC guidelines). JRF holders can directly appear for interview; NET-qualified candidates are ranked by NET score + interview.
JNU Admission Process
For MA / MSc / MCA Programs (CUET PG)
Appear in CUET PG conducted by NTA. JNU accepts CUET PG scores for 45 programs.
After CUET PG results, register on the JNU admissions portal jnuee.jnu.ac.in.
Selection is 100% CUET score-based + deprivation points. No interview or written test is conducted for MA/MSc programs.
Merit lists are released in rounds (typically 4–5 main lists + spot rounds).
Candidates on the merit list complete pre-enrolment on the JNU portal and pay the semester fee.
Physical document verification at JNU campus (can also be done online in some years).
JNU Deprivation Points System
This is unique to JNU. Deprivation points (up to 12) are added to the CUET raw score to correct social and geographical imbalances. A candidate with a lower CUET score may rank above someone with a higher raw score if they have higher deprivation points.
Deprivation Category
Points Added
Female/Transgender candidates
+5 points
Candidates from Quartile 1 & 2 (most underdeveloped) districts
Points based on district classification
Kashmiri migrants
+5 points
Wards/widows of defence personnel killed in action
+5 points
Maximum deprivation points possible
12 points
For PhD Programs
Qualification
Admission Process
JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)
100% Viva voce — JRF qualification itself is sufficient for shortlisting; interview determines merit
NET (Assistant Professorship eligible)
70% NET score + 30% Viva voce
GATE (for science/engineering)
70% GATE score + 30% Viva voce
NET scores are valid for only 1 year for JNU PhD admission. JNU conducts its own entrance only for disciplines where UGC/CSIR NET is not held.
JNU CUET PG Cutoffs 2024 — Course-Wise (First Merit List, Score out of 100)
MA Programs — List 1 (2024)
Program
School
General
OBC
SC
ST
MA Hindi
SLL&CS
92.67
~85
~75
~70
MA Sociology
SSS
97.67
~80
~70
~65
MA Political Science
SSS
85
~72
~65
~60
MA International Relations/Politics (SIS)
SIS
83.67
~72
~62
~58
MA Economics (SSS)
SSS
84
58.6
56.9
65
MA English
SLL&CS
71
~62
~55
~48
MA History
SSS
70.67
~60
~52
~45
MA Urdu
SLL&CS
77
67
37
54
MA Development & Labour Studies
SSS
55
45
42
46
MA Geography
SSS
46.06
39.08
38.11
38.09
MSc Programs — List 1 (2024)
Program
School
General
Seats
MSc Life Sciences
SLS
76.67
38
MSc Molecular Medicine
SLS
72.66
10
MSc Mathematics
SPS
76.33
15
MSc Geology
SPS
~72
37
MSc Physics
SPS
72
41
MSc Chemistry
SPS
70.33
25
MSc Biotechnology
SBT
~59
30
MSc Environmental Sciences
SES
~59
39
MCA
SC&SS
75.33
~40
2025 Notable Cutoff Changes (List 1)
Program
2024
2025 (List 1)
MA Hindi (General)
92.67
99 (highest ever)
MA Sociology (General)
97.67
97.67
MA Political Science (General)
85
85–89 range
JNU Fee Structure
JNU is among the most affordable universities in India for higher education. Fees have been kept largely unchanged for decades.
Annual Academic Fees
Program
Annual Tuition
BA (Hons)
₹376
MA (all disciplines)
₹376
MSc (all disciplines)
₹376
MCA
₹432/year (₹216/semester)
MTech (CS)
₹240/year
MPhil/PhD
₹240–₹720/year
MBA (ABVSME)
~₹12,00,000 total (market-rate)
Additional annual charges: Library ₹6, Sports ₹17, Medical ₹9, Examination ₹50. Total academic charges are under ₹500–₹800 per year for most programs.
Hostel Fees
Component
Amount
Room rent — single room (per year)
₹240
Room rent — double sharing (per year)
₹120
Hostel admission fee (one-time)
₹5
Hostel security deposit (refundable)
₹50
Mess security deposit (refundable)
₹750
Establishment charges (per year)
₹400
Mess charges
~₹2,200–₹3,500/month (at actuals)
SC/ST/PH students from families with annual income below ₹75,000 are fully exempt from room rent. Total annual cost (hostel + tuition + mess): approximately ₹28,000–₹45,000 — one of the cheapest in India for a top-ranked university.
JNU has 18 hostels accommodating approximately 5,500 students. Key hostels include Koyna (544 capacity), Shipra (544), Kaveri, Godavari (women), Sabarmati, Tapti, Mahanadi (married students), and Yamuna (working women).
Reservation Policy at JNU
Category
Reservation
OBC-NCL
27%
SC
15%
ST
7.5%
EWS
10%
PwD
5% (horizontal)
Foreign Nationals (FN)
Supernumerary seats in many programs
JNU also maintains a distinct deprivation points system that supplements the standard reservation policy (see above). This means a female OBC candidate from an underdeveloped district receives both OBC reservation benefit and additional deprivation points — making JNU uniquely accessible compared to most central universities.
Important Dates — JNU Admissions 2025
Event
Date
CUET PG 2025 Exam
March–April 2025
CUET PG 2025 Result
June 2025
JNU PG Application Opens
May 23, 2025
JNU PG Application Closes
June 18, 2025
JNU 1st Merit List (PG)
June 27, 2025
Counselling Begins
June 24, 2025
Pre-enrolment Registration & Fee Payment Deadline (Merit List 1)
July 18, 2025
JNU 3rd Merit List
July 16, 2025
Spot Booking Round
August 8, 2025
JNU 4th Merit List
August 21, 2025
Physical Verification Deadline
August 29, 2025
Final Merit List
August 19, 2025
For the 2026 admissions cycle: CUET PG applications are expected February–March 2026, exam April–May 2026, JNU counselling June–August 2026.
Documents Required for JNU PG Admission
Document
Purpose
CUET PG scorecard
Mandatory for all
Bachelor's degree certificate/provisional
Eligibility proof
Bachelor's degree marksheets (all years)
Eligibility proof
Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC)
Category reservation
EWS certificate
EWS reservation
Disability certificate (if applicable)
PwD reservation
Domicile certificate (for certain deprivation points)
Deprivation points
Aadhaar card
Identity verification
Bank account details (Aadhaar-linked)
For fellowship disbursement (PhD)
READ MORE
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is JNU right for me if I want to study BSc Physics or BCom?
No. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) does not offer BSc Physics or BCom programs. JNU mainly offers BA (Hons) Foreign Languages and BSc-MSc Integrated in Ayurveda Biology at the UG level. For BSc Physics or BCom, consider universities like:
University of Delhi
Banaras Hindu University
University of Hyderabad
Do I need to clear a separate JNU entrance exam, or is CUET UG enough?
For undergraduate courses, National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate score alone is sufficient. JNU does not conduct a separate entrance exam for UG admission.
What is the total cost per year at JNU for a hostel student (UG)?
Approximate annual cost:
Tuition fees: Below ₹400/year
Hostel rent: ₹120–₹240/year
Mess charges: ₹2,200–₹3,500/month
Total yearly expense: ₹28,000–₹45,000
JNU remains one of the most affordable central universities in India.
How do deprivation points work in JNU admissions?
JNU awards deprivation points based on factors like:
Gender
District development level
Social background
These points are added to the CUET score to improve the final merit position.
Example: If your CUET score is 74 and you get 12 deprivation points, your effective score becomes 86.
I scored 78 in CUET UG. Which courses can I get at JNU?
This question is not reliable, because CUET UG marks alone do not predict admission without:
Subject combination
Percentile
Category
Course applied (e.g., Foreign Languages)
Most JNU UG seats are highly competitive, especially BA (Hons) Foreign Languages.
Can students from outside India apply to JNU UG programs?
Yes. Foreign nationals can apply through:
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), or
Direct application to JNU under the Foreign National (FN) category
