Delhi gives students more choice than almost any other Indian city: a central university with about 90 colleges, JNU and Jamia, IIT Delhi, several state engineering universities, and a large job and internship market. The catch is that each route has its own entrance exam and counselling process. Most Delhi University undergraduate seats go through CUET-UG, engineering seats at DTU and NSUT go through JEE Main and JAC Delhi, and IIT Delhi uses JoSAA. This guide explains how admission works, what Delhi costs, where students live and how to plan your year. Last reviewed on 11 November 2026.
Why Students Choose Delhi
- Range of institutions. Central universities, IIT Delhi, state engineering universities and specialist institutes sit in one metro area, so you can compare arts, science, commerce, engineering, law and design without leaving the city.
- Internships and jobs. Delhi and the wider NCR, including Gurugram and Noida, offer internships in technology, finance, media, policy and the public sector, many of which you can do alongside your course.
- Connectivity. The Delhi Metro links most major campuses and student areas, and the city is a rail and air hub for trips home.
- Peer group. Students come from every state, which makes it easier to find a network, coaching for competitive exams, and people from your own region.
Top Universities and Colleges in Delhi and How You Get In
| Institution | Known for | Usual admission route |
|---|---|---|
| University of Delhi (DU) | Arts, humanities, science, commerce, economics; about 90 colleges | CUET-UG score, then the CSAS portal |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | Social sciences, international studies, languages, sciences | Entrance-based; check JNU’s current notice |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | Mass communication, architecture, education, engineering | Varies by course; B.Tech through JEE Main |
| IIT Delhi | Engineering, computing, sciences | JEE Advanced and JoSAA counselling |
| DTU, NSUT, IGDTUW, IIIT-Delhi, DSEU | Engineering and architecture | JEE Main rank through JAC Delhi counselling |
| Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) | Management, law, technology, health sciences | Varies by course; check the university’s notice |
| Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD) | Liberal arts, psychology, social sciences | Check AUD’s current notice |
Selection is competitive at the best-known institutions, so apply to a mix of options rather than one. Entrance routes and quotas change each year, so confirm them on each institution’s own website.
How Admission Works: Four Main Routes
1. Delhi University undergraduate: CUET-UG and CSAS
DU admits undergraduates through the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) using CUET-UG scores. You must appear in CUET-UG and then register separately on the CSAS portal to take part in seat allocation. For the 2026–27 session, registration opened on 27 June 2026, and the one-time CSAS fee was ₹250 for general candidates and ₹100 for reserved categories. Choose your CUET subjects to match the courses and colleges you want, as each programme sets its own subject combination.
2. State engineering universities: JEE Main and JAC Delhi
DTU, NSUT, IGDTUW, IIIT-Delhi and DSEU fill B.Tech and B.Arch seats through the Joint Admission Committee (JAC) Delhi, based on JEE Main ranks. There is no separate JAC entrance exam. Importantly for students from other states, 85% of seats are reserved for the Delhi region and only 15% for candidates from outside Delhi, so closing ranks are much tougher for outside-Delhi applicants. In 2026, registration ran from 28 May to 9 June with a ₹1,500 fee. Check each institute’s Class 12 eligibility on the JAC notice.
3. IIT Delhi and NIT Delhi: JoSAA
IIT Delhi admits through JEE Advanced and JoSAA, and NIT Delhi through JEE Main and JoSAA. Treat these as separate counselling systems from JAC Delhi, with their own registration and choice-filling steps.
4. Medicine, law, management and other courses
Medical courses use NEET-UG and counselling. Law, management, design and postgraduate courses use their own entrance tests or national exams, and many institutions announce details only a few months ahead. Read the admission notice for the exact year you plan to apply.
Cost of Studying and Living in Delhi
Tuition at public institutions is far lower than at private universities, but fees vary by course and institution, so check the official fee schedule. For engineering through JAC Delhi, reported first-year fees run from roughly ₹1.7 lakh at IGDTUW to ₹4.5 lakh at IIIT-Delhi, with hostel and mess charges extra. Living costs are driven mainly by accommodation.
| Accommodation type | Typical monthly cost (estimate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus hostel | ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 | Cheapest, but seats are limited and allotment rules vary |
| Shared PG | ₹10,000 to ₹25,000 | Meals are often included; price depends on sharing and area |
| Shared rented flat | About ₹8,000 to ₹15,000 per person | Common in Laxmi Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar and parts of NCR |
These are estimates drawn from housing and student-accommodation sources, and rents have risen in popular student areas in recent years. Many students budget roughly ₹10,000 to ₹18,000 a month for rent, food, transport and basics in a modest set-up, and more for air conditioning, single rooms or south Delhi locations.
Ways to keep costs down:
- Apply for a hostel seat as soon as the institution opens allotment.
- Compare PGs that include meals with a flat share plus your own food costs.
- Choose a place close to a Metro station to cut daily transport costs.
- Ask exactly what is included in the rent: electricity, water, Wi-Fi, laundry and meals.
Where Students Live
- North Campus area (Kamla Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar, GTB Nagar, Vijay Nagar). The densest student hub, close to DU’s North Campus colleges, with many PGs, eateries and coaching centres.
- South Delhi (Malviya Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Saket, Hauz Khas, Munirka). Convenient for South Campus, IIT Delhi and JNU, with a mix of budget and managed options and generally higher rents.
- Jamia Nagar and Okhla. Practical for Jamia Millia Islamia students.
- East and west Delhi (Laxmi Nagar, Nirman Vihar, Dwarka). More budget-friendly areas with Metro access to several campuses.
Check safety before you pay a deposit. Reports on cramped and unsafe PGs in several student areas, including after a building collapse in Satya Niketan, have led to inspections and proposals for mandatory PG registration. Visit in person, check fire exits and ventilation, ask whether the PG is registered, get a written agreement and avoid paying large advance amounts to brokers. Our student accommodation page explains how we can help.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
- National Scholarship Portal. Many central and state scholarships, including post-matric schemes for eligible categories, are applied for through the portal. Eligibility, income limits and deadlines change each year.
- Institution-level aid. Some colleges and universities offer fee waivers or merit-cum-means support. Ask the admissions office.
- Education loans. Banks offer loans for approved courses. Compare interest rates, moratorium periods and collateral rules before you decide.
Student Life and Practical Tips
- Getting around. A Metro smart card, plus buses and shared autos, covers most daily travel.
- Weather and air quality. Summers are very hot, and air quality is often poor in winter, so plan for masks or air purification and check forecasts.
- Food. Canteens, street food and tiffin services keep daily food costs manageable.
- Documents. Keep copies of your admission letter, ID and rent agreement, and register your details with your hostel or PG.
Internships and Careers
Delhi and NCR employers recruit for technology, finance, consulting, media, policy research and the public sector. Platforms such as Internshala and LinkedIn list internships, and many universities run placement and internship cells. Start building your profile in your first year with projects, societies and short internships during breaks.
A Planning Timeline for Delhi Admissions
Exact dates change every year. This timeline follows the pattern seen in 2026.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Class 11 to early Class 12 | Choose your target exams (CUET, JEE, NEET or institution tests) and shortlist colleges |
| Before the exam registration windows | Register for the entrance exams you need and pick CUET subjects that match your target courses |
| May to June | Board and entrance results; JAC Delhi registration opened on 28 May in 2026 |
| Late June to July | DU CSAS registration, seat allocation rounds, and JAC Delhi and JoSAA counselling |
| July to August | Fee payment, document verification, hostel or PG booking and the start of classes |
FAQs About Studying in Delhi
For undergraduate programmes, yes. DU admits through CUET-UG scores and the CSAS portal. Postgraduate and some specialised courses follow their own routes.
Yes, but only 15% of seats in JAC Delhi institutions go to candidates from outside Delhi, so the closing ranks for outside-Delhi applicants are much tougher.
Many students budget roughly ₹10,000 to ₹18,000 a month for a modest set-up, with higher costs for single rooms, air conditioning or south Delhi locations. Rents have been rising in popular student areas.
A hostel is usually cheaper and safer from a regulation point of view, but seats are limited. A PG is easier to get and often includes meals, so check safety, registration and what the rent covers.
JEE Advanced, followed by JoSAA counselling. NIT Delhi admits through JEE Main and JoSAA.
Yes. Our counselling is free for students and covers admission in India and abroad. Start with the free profile assessment.
Get Help Choosing a Delhi College
Eduvisor’s counselling is free for students. We are paid by partner universities and colleges once a student enrols and pays tuition fees, and we still show you options that suit your profile, including ones that are not with our partners. Start with the free profile assessment or contact us. You can also read about our career counselling services or compare other cities, such as Mumbai.
Sources: University of Delhi admission announcement (26 June 2026) and CSAS portal reports; JAC Delhi 2026 counselling notices; housing and student-accommodation guides. Rents, dates and quotas change each year, so confirm them with the official portals.
