Jawaharlal Nehru University

What JNU is

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), established in 1969, is a central public university in New Delhi and India’s leading institution for postgraduate study in the social sciences, humanities, and international studies. It is ranked second in the NIRF University Rankings 2024, behind only the Indian Institute of Science (NIRF University Rankings 2024).

JNU’s defining feature is its research culture. The university was built as a postgraduate and doctoral institution, undergraduate programmes are offered only in foreign languages through the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies. The bulk of JNU’s academic strength lies in its MA, MPhil, and PhD programmes across the social sciences, humanities, and policy.

The university operates on a public university model with extraordinarily low fees. The total tuition fee for a 2-year MA programme at JNU is approximately ₹432, not per year, but for the entire two-year programme (per JNU’s official fee schedule; JNU PG Prospectus 2025-26). Hostel accommodation is available at nominal rates. This makes JNU the most affordable high-quality postgraduate education in India for social science disciplines.

Who it’s for

JNU is relevant for students who:

• Want to pursue MA, MPhil, or PhD in Political Science, International Relations, History, Sociology, Economics, or English at a nationally respected institution
• Are interested in academic careers, research, civil services, foreign policy, journalism, or policy work
• Need affordable postgraduate education, total fees of under ₹500 for two years make JNU accessible to students regardless of family income
• Are comfortable with Delhi campus life, politically active student communities, and a research-heavy academic culture

JNU is not a placement-driven institution in the conventional sense. Students who choose JNU are typically choosing depth of study, peer intellectual environment, and long-term research or policy careers over immediate high-salary corporate roles.

Schools and Academic Centres

JNU is organised into Schools, each containing multiple Centres:

School of International Studies (SIS):

• Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament
• Centre for Canadian, US and Latin American Studies
• Centre for European Studies
• Centre for West Asian and African Studies
• Centre for South Asian Studies
• Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies
• Centre for East Asian Studies

School of Social Sciences (SSS):

• Centre for the Study of Social Systems
• Centre for the Study of Law and Governance
• Centre for Informal Sector and Labour Studies
• Centre for the Study of Discrimination and Exclusion
• Centre for Political Studies

School of Arts and Aesthetics

School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies (SLL&CS):

• BA and MA programmes in over 20 languages including French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Persian, and more

School of Environmental Sciences

School of Physical Sciences

School of Life Sciences

School of Biotechnology

School of Computer and Systems Sciences

Special Centre for Sanskrit Studies

Special Centre for Molecular Medicine

Programs offered

Undergraduate (limited):

• BA (Hons) in Foreign Languages, offered through SLL&CS. Admission via CUET UG.

Postgraduate (the core strength):

• MA Economics, Centre for Economic Studies and Planning
• MA Political Science, Centre for Political Studies
• MA International Relations, School of International Studies
• MA History, Centre for Historical Studies
• MA Sociology, Centre for the Study of Social Systems
• MA English, Centre for English Studies
• MA Development Studies
• MA Linguistics
• MSc programmes in sciences (Life Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Physics, etc.)
• MCA, MTech (Computer Science, Data Science, Nanoelectronics)
• MPH (Master of Public Health)

Admission to all PG programmes is via CUET PG scores followed by JNU’s own counselling process.

Doctoral (research-driven):

• MPhil/PhD across all schools and centres. JNU’s PhD programmes in social sciences and humanities have produced many of India’s leading academics, researchers, and civil servants.

Campus and infrastructure

JNU’s 1,000-acre campus in South Delhi is one of the largest urban campuses in India. It is a forested, largely car-free environment with extensive residential facilities, hostels, a large library (the JNUL), faculty residences, and a Student Union complex. The campus is known for its political culture and active student life.

Students from across India, particularly those from smaller cities and economically weaker sections, constitute a large proportion of JNU’s student body, which shapes the character of classroom discussions in social sciences.

Things to verify before applying

• CUET PG cutoffs by programme: CUET PG scores needed vary by programme and year. Economics and Sociology have historically been more competitive; check current year cutoffs on the JNU website.
• Hostel availability: JNU has limited hostel capacity relative to the number of admitted students. Confirm hostel allocation before finalising admission.
• MPhil status: MPhil programmes were discontinued at the all-India level following NEP 2020 reforms. Verify current programme availability at jnu.ac.in.
• Deprivation points: JNU’s admission process includes “deprivation points” for students from rural areas, non-English medium schools, and economically weaker backgrounds. These points are added to CUET scores and can significantly affect merit list outcomes.
• Research supervisor availability: For PhD programmes, verify that a faculty member is available in your area of research before applying.

Where to go next on this site

• CUET UG exam guide
• GRE guide, relevant for JNU graduates considering international PhD programmes
• MA Economics
• MA Political Science
• MA International Relations
• MA History
• MA Sociology
• MA English

Sources Used

• JNU Official Website
• NIRF University Rankings 2024
• JNU PG Prospectus 2025-26