In 30 Seconds
What changed: DU now lets 35 colleges admit UG students on Class 12 marks, not CUET.
Who it affects: Students who missed CUET or want a vacant seat in a low-demand course.
The catch: Anyone already admitted to DU through CUET cannot apply.
What to do: Check the college website, apply on the DU admission portal.
Delhi University now allows 35 colleges to admit undergraduate students on the basis of Class 12 board marks, not CUET scores, to fill seats that stayed empty after regular rounds. The University admitted about 66,000 students through CUET this year. It is now trying to fill more seats this way. Only students not already admitted to DU can apply.
The University’s Admission Branch listed the colleges in a public notice titled “Undergraduate Admissions 2026-27 based on Class XII Marks (Not CUET)”. CUET is the Common University Entrance Test. It has been DU’s main admission route since 2022.
Here is the part the “relief” framing hides. The vacant seats sit mostly in off-campus colleges, evening shifts and low-demand courses. This is not a second shot at a top campus college. The honours seats students actually want are already full.
Which DU colleges admit on Class 12 marks?
DU reached 35 colleges in stages. It started with five colleges early in August. On August 21, the count rose to 11. The University then added 15 more, and on August 25 it added nine more.
The list includes Kalindi College, Lakshmibai College, Rajdhani College and Shyam Lal College. It also includes Ramanujan College, Gargi College and Indraprastha College for Women. Most seats are in Hindi, Sanskrit, Mathematics and applied science honours.
What decides who gets a seat?
Seats go by merit of Class 12 marks in the qualifying subjects. One language subject is required. A college can open this route for a course only when many seats in it stay vacant.
No extra seats are created for this round. The one exception is the quota for persons with benchmark disabilities. Students should read each college’s course rule before they apply.
Who cannot apply in this round?
The rule is strict. A candidate already admitted to any DU college through CUET cannot take a seat here. The notice states this plainly.
So this route is for students still outside DU. That means those who skipped CUET, or scored too low for a seat, or did not get their course.
Why are DU seats vacant?
The University says it is not CUET’s fault. Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh said the courses with empty seats are low in demand. He said seats stayed vacant in these courses in earlier years too.
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| Admission route | Basis of selection |
|---|---|
| Regular DU admission | CUET score, then CSAS allocation |
| This vacant-seat round | Class 12 board marks, no CUET |
CSAS is the Common Seat Allocation System. It is the portal that places CUET candidates into colleges and courses.
What do teachers say about it?
Not everyone at DU agrees with the move. Biswajit Mohanty, associate professor of Political Science, said the exam structure favours urban, English-medium and CBSE students over state-board and rural ones.
Mithuraj Dhusiya, an elected member of DU’s Executive Council, warned that delayed CUET results push students toward private universities. He said some students leave for a college near home before DU’s process ends.
Is Rs 5 to 7 Lakh enough for a full DU degree in a safe area?
For most of these colleges, yes. DU college fees for arts and science courses are usually well under Rs 1 Lakh a year, far below private universities. Hostel or rent in Delhi is the bigger cost. A day-scholar seat near home keeps the total low, which is why many students pick a nearby college over a distant DU seat.
Key dates for this admission round
| What | When | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CUET-based regular admission | Completed for 2026-27 | Closed |
| Class 12 marks route, 35 colleges | Opened August 2026 | Open |
| Per-college application window | Varies by college | Check portal |
Application windows differ across the colleges added in each wave. Check the DU admission portal and the college website for the exact last date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a DU seat on Class 12 marks without CUET in 2026?
Yes, but only in select courses at 35 DU colleges with vacant seats. Delhi University opened this route for the 2026-27 session to fill seats left empty after CUET rounds. You must not already hold a DU admission through CUET.
Which DU colleges are admitting on Class 12 marks?
Colleges admitting on Class 12 marks include Kalindi College, Lakshmibai College, Rajdhani College, Ramanujan College, Gargi College and Indraprastha College for Women, among 35 in total. Most seats are in Hindi, Sanskrit, Mathematics and applied science honours. Check each college website for its course list.
Can I apply if I already took admission in a DU college through CUET?
No. A candidate already admitted to any DU college through CUET cannot apply in this Class 12 marks round. The University’s notice states this clearly. This route is only for students not yet admitted to Delhi University.
Why does DU have vacant seats after CUET?
DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh said the seats are vacant because certain courses are low in demand, not because of CUET. He said such seats stayed empty in earlier years too. The empty seats are mostly in off-campus colleges and evening shifts.
What subjects decide the Class 12 marks admission?
Seats go by merit of Class 12 board marks in the qualifying subjects for that course, with one language subject required. No extra seats are created except under the quota for persons with benchmark disabilities. Read the specific rule on each college website before applying.
Last verified: September 14, 2026
Disclaimer: Dates, fees, cutoffs and eligibility can change without notice. Check with Delhi University before you act.
