Are students getting disillusioned with DU? 27 colleges of Delhi University are in top 100, yet applications are decreasing

Delhi University Counselling 2024: 27 colleges of Delhi University are included in the top 100 colleges of the country. In the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 of the Government of India, out of 3317 colleges, 6 colleges of DU are in the top-10 colleges. DU is at number 6 among the universities of the country. There has been a lot of demand for DU in institutions across the country, but in the last few years, the number of applications for undergraduate courses has also been decreasing. In such a situation, the question arises whether the students are getting disillusioned with studying in Delhi University or is there some other reason for this.

In fact, the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is a major reason for low applications in DU. In 2022, CUET came as a big change with the National Education Policy (NEP). The race of 12th marks was put on hold and an entrance platform was prepared for UG admission. But in three years, due to many irregularities and disturbances of the National Testing Agency along with delay in CUET and results, the sessions got delayed. Last year the classes started from 16 August, this time it will start from 29 August. Whereas before CUET, classes used to start in the middle of July.

More applications before CUET:

This year, 71 thousand seats are to be filled for admission in DU. The first admissions were done in the university through CUET in 2022, that year 2.17 lakh students applied. In 2023, 2 lakh students applied. In 2024, only 1.86 lakh students have filled the choice of course-college, while 2.4 lakh had registered. If we look at the data before CUET, the number of applications has decreased. 2.87 lakh students applied in 2021, a bumper 3.5 lakh in 2020 amid the Corona period and lockdown, 2.58 lakh in 2019, 2.07 lakh in 2018, 2.77 lakh in 2017, 2.50 lakh students applied in 2016.

‘Statistics are good for DU’

However, DU’s Dean Prof. Haneet Gandhi (Admissions) says that the craze for DU is still very high. Many of our colleges are on top in NIRF. We start the admission process as soon as possible after the CUET results. Those who want a seat in DU leave private universities and come here because they prefer to get quality education at a low fee instead of paying expensive fees for four years. The new figures are good.

They are showing only those students who actually want a seat. Earlier the figures were higher because those who appeared for NEET and JEE also applied to DU as a backup. Now admissions are being done in DU after engineering and medical and admissions are being done in all central universities simultaneously, so DU is not at a loss. This time the inclination of students is visible for all our colleges. 6 students have filled 1507 course-college combinations.

Many have secured seats in private colleges

Career counselors believe that the late session in DU is harming the students and DU. Career counselor Alok Bansal says that due to the delay, students go to state or private universities, where the admission process ends from May to July. Classes have started in all colleges from August 1. In some, it is mid-July. On the other hand, the first list of DU has not yet come. Students are afraid that if they do not get a seat in DU later, they will be left out of private universities as well.

Ritika Gupta, who is pursuing Psychology Honours in Delhi University, says that she has taken admission in a private university in Bangalore. If she gets admission in Miranda, Hindu University or Stephens University, she will cancel her seat there. However, the loss of money will be huge. Aditi Joshi, on the other hand, says that she wants admission in B.Com in Delhi University, but has taken admission in a state university due to the uncertainty of seats.