New Delhi, August 24, 2026: The University of Delhi (DU) has expanded its undergraduate admission route based on Class 12 marks, allowing eligible students to seek admission to specified programmes without using their CUET UG scores.

With the addition of nine more colleges, the number of DU colleges offering this alternative admission route has increased to 35 for the 2026-27 academic session.

The development is significant for students who either did not appear for CUET UG 2026, did not obtain the CUET score they expected, or are still looking for an undergraduate seat at Delhi University.

Admission possible without CUET in selected courses

DU has clarified that the Class 12 marks-based route does not replace CUET for all undergraduate admissions.

Instead, the facility applies only to specific programmes and colleges listed by the university. Candidates must also satisfy the eligibility requirements prescribed for the particular course.

Therefore, students should not assume that any DU course can be accessed through their Class 12 marks.

The initiative has primarily been introduced to help colleges fill seats that remained vacant after the regular CUET-based admission rounds.

Nine more colleges added

The latest expansion announced by DU includes nine additional colleges and a range of programmes in humanities, science and applied sciences.

The newly added institutions and programmes include:

College	Programmes offered through Class 12 marks
Indraprastha College for Women	BA (Hons) Sanskrit; BA (Hons) Hindi
Mata Sundri College for Women	BSc (Hons) Mathematics
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College	BA (Hons) Punjabi; BSc (Hons) Mathematics; BA (Hons) Hindi; BA (Hons) Hindi Patrakarita
Sri Aurobindo College (Evening)	BA (Hons) Hindi; selected BA Programme combinations
Motilal Nehru College (Evening)	BA (Hons) Hindi; selected BA Programme combinations
Shyam Lal College (Evening)	BA (Hons) Hindi; selected BA Programme combinations
Ramanujan College	BA (Hons) Hindi
Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences	BSc (Hons) Electronics; Instrumentation; Polymer Science
Gargi College	BA (Hons) Sanskrit

The latest nine-college expansion was announced on August 23.

Route expanded to 35 colleges

DU had previously announced Class 12 marks-based admissions in 26 colleges. The addition of the latest nine institutions has taken the total to 35 colleges.

Earlier announcements included colleges such as Kalindi College, Lakshmibai College, Rajdhani College, Shyama Prasad Mukherji College for Women, P.G.D.A.V., Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, Vivekanand College, Aditi Mahavidyalaya and Bhagini Nivedita College, among others.

The courses and eligibility conditions vary from one college to another.

Who can apply?

The alternative admission route is aimed at candidates who have not yet secured admission to a DU college and who meet the eligibility requirements for one of the specified programmes.

Students who already hold a confirmed DU admission cannot simply use the Class 12 marks-based route to obtain another DU seat.

Candidates should therefore check their individual circumstances carefully before applying.

Why has DU introduced this route?

The decision comes amid continuing efforts to fill vacant undergraduate seats at Delhi University.

Several colleges, particularly some off-campus institutions, have experienced vacancies following the regular CUET-based admission rounds. DU has consequently allowed selected colleges to use Class 12 merit for specific programmes.

Reports indicate that some colleges had significant vacancies even after multiple admission rounds, prompting the university to introduce alternative mechanisms to improve seat utilisation.

For students, this creates an additional pathway into DU without having to depend on a CUET score.

Good opportunity for students with strong Class 12 marks

The move could particularly benefit students who performed strongly in their Class 12 board examinations but did not secure a competitive CUET score.

For example, a student with strong Class 12 marks who missed the CUET examination or did not obtain the desired CUET score may now be able to compete for selected DU programmes, provided the student meets the relevant eligibility conditions.

However, admission will still depend on the college’s merit process, available seats and programme-specific requirements.

Students should check college-wise eligibility

One of the most important points for applicants is that the Class 12 marks-based admission system is not uniform across all 35 colleges.

Students should check:

• Which colleges are participating
• Which courses are available
• Minimum Class 12 subject requirements
• Minimum marks, where prescribed
• Category-specific requirements
• Application deadline
• Documents required
• Fee and admission procedure

DU has advised candidates to check the respective college websites and official notices for detailed information.

Class 12 marks instead of CUET scores

The biggest difference between the two admission routes can be summarised simply:

Regular DU admission:
CUET UG score → CSAS → college/course allocation

Alternative route:
Class 12 marks → college-specific merit process → admission

Students should remember that the second route applies only to the specified college-course combinations.

What students should do now

Students interested in this opportunity should act quickly because the admission process is being conducted by individual colleges under the university’s approved framework.

Candidates should:

1. Check whether they meet the eligibility criteria.
2. Identify participating colleges and courses.
3. Visit the respective college’s official website.
4. Check the application procedure and deadline.
5. Keep their Class 12 marksheet and other documents ready.
6. Submit the application as instructed.
7. Monitor the college website for merit lists and admission announcements.

Students should not pay fees or submit documents through unofficial websites or agents.

A significant change in DU’s admission landscape

The expansion to 35 colleges represents a notable change in Delhi University’s 2026-27 undergraduate admission process.

For several years, CUET has been the principal route for DU undergraduate admissions. The introduction of a Class 12 merit-based pathway for selected programmes demonstrates the university’s willingness to adopt additional mechanisms where vacant seats remain.

At the same time, the limited nature of the scheme means students need to examine the exact college-course combination rather than assuming that DU has generally returned to Class 12-based admissions.

DU Class 12 marks-based admission 2026: Key facts

Particular	Details
University	University of Delhi
Academic year	2026-27
Admission basis	Class 12 marks
CUET required	No, for specified courses
Participating colleges	35
Latest expansion	9 additional colleges
Courses	Selected UG programmes
Eligibility	Varies by college/course
Application	Through respective college process

What this means for DU aspirants

The expansion gives students another opportunity to enter one of India’s most sought-after university systems during the current admission cycle.

However, candidates should view this as an additional admission opportunity, not a blanket alternative to CUET. The list of participating programmes is limited, and admission remains subject to individual college eligibility criteria and available seats.

DU admissions 2026: A second route for some students

With 35 colleges now offering selected undergraduate programmes based on Class 12 marks, students who have not secured admission through the regular CUET-based process have another option to explore.

For candidates with strong board-examination results, the initiative could prove particularly valuable. But students should act only on information published by Delhi University and the respective colleges, and carefully check the course-specific eligibility and application deadlines before applying.