DU admissions 2026 likely from mid-may as CUET begins; university plans faster cycle, student-friendly portal

Admissions to undergraduate programmes at the University of Delhi are expected to begin in the third week of May, aligning closely with the commencement of the Common University Entrance Test (UG) 2026, officials told PTI on Monday.

The university will once again conduct admissions through its centralised Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) portal, which operates in multiple phases, starting with registration. The process is closely linked to CUET scores, which determine eligibility and subject selection through a structured mapping system.

Registration to open alongside CUET

DU Dean of Admissions Haneet Gandhi indicated that the registration window is likely to open as CUET begins. “The registration process for DU will begin once the CUET exams begin, so hopefully we will open the portal for registration around the third week of May. While details are still being confirmed, our primary focus, just like last year, will be on finishing the admission on time so classes can begin at the earliest,” Gandhi told PTI.

As per the National Testing Agency, the CUET-UG 2026 is tentatively scheduled to be held between May 11 and May 31, 2026.

Aim to shorten admission cycle

It is aimed at addressing long-standing concerns over delayed academic calendars, the university is looking to compress the duration of each admission round. “We will try to shorten the allocation period as much as possible. Even if one or two days are adjusted per round, that should be enough,” Gandhi told PTI.

The shift to CUET-based admissions in recent years has drawn criticism from sections of the teaching community, who argue that prolonged admission cycles have disrupted the academic schedule and delayed the start of classes.

More student-friendly CSAS portal in the works

Alongside timeline adjustments, DU is also working to improve the usability of the CSAS portal. Gandhi noted that the university plans to introduce additional prompts and guidance features to minimise errors during the application process.

“We will add more prompts to help guide the students along the process, so there are lesser mistakes,” she said to PTI.

Subject mapping key to admission

The university has reiterated the importance of subject alignment between Class 12 studies and CUET papers. Gandhi advised students to carefully select their CUET subjects, emphasising that at least 50 per cent similarity is required for successful subject mapping, a critical step in determining course eligibility.

With lakhs of aspirants expected to compete for limited seats, the coming admission cycle will test DU’s ability to balance efficiency with accuracy, even as it attempts to restore a stable academic calendar disrupted in recent years.

(With inputs from PTI)
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