Delhi University (DU) is a prestigious collegiate public central university located in New Delhi, India. It was established in 1922 through an act of the Central legislative assembly.
One of India’s largest and most sought-after institutions for higher education is Delhi University.
The admission process at DU commences in the first week of June. After their 12th exams, a significant number of students apply for undergraduate studies due to the university’s brand value and relatively low fee structure, as it is government-financed.
Delhi University comprises 16 faculties, 86 academic departments spread across the north and south campuses of Delhi, 77 affiliated colleges, and 5 other institutes. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral courses.
The NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) rankings for 2021, published by the Education Minister of India, Dharmendra Pradhan, include Delhi University among the top colleges in the country. Here are the top 10 colleges of Delhi University according to NIRF 2021:
- Miranda House College, New Delhi
Miranda House is a renowned college for women under the University of Delhi. It was founded in 1948 and is located in the north campus of Delhi University. The college offers a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in arts, commerce, science, and foreign languages. With a robust placement cell, it provides excellent placement opportunities for its students. The college also offers various facilities like a digital course center at the library, fitness center, etc. Admission to Miranda House is based on the merit of class 12th marks, and it has been ranked 1st among the best colleges in India by NIRF 2021.
Notable alumni include:
- Meira Kumar
- Mouni Roy
- Neeti Mohan
- Shonali Bose
- Mira Nair
- Jalabala Vaidya
- Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi
Established in 1956 by the late Sir Lala Shri Ram, Lady Shri Ram College for Women is another prestigious college affiliated with the University of Delhi. It is located in Lajpat Nagar, South Delhi. The college is renowned for providing excellent education for women and has a vibrant campus life. The BA program offered by LSR College is highly sought after, but seats are limited, making the competition tough. The college offers international exposure to its students through short-term courses. TARANG, a cultural festival, is popular among students from various colleges. LSR College is ranked 2nd among the best colleges in India by NIRF 2021.
Notable alumni include:
- Aditi Rao Hydari
- Sakshi Tanwar
- Nidhi Razdan
- Meenakshi Gopinath
- Indu Malhotra
- Sanjana Sanghi
- St. Stephen’s College, Delhi
Established in 1881, St. Stephen’s College is one of the oldest institutions in Delhi and is affiliated with the University of Delhi. The college offers various undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including language courses with distinct specializations. Known for its excellent library and academic standards, admission to St. Stephen’s College is highly competitive due to its high cut-offs and interview-based admission process. The college has a remarkable placement record and has been ranked 8th among the best colleges in India by NIRF 2021.
Notable alumni include:
- Shashi Tharoor
- Rahul Gandhi
- Kabir Bedi
- Barkha Dutt (journalist)
- Richa Chadha
- Shaktikanta Das
- Hindu College, Delhi
Established in 1899, Hindu College is affiliated with the University of Delhi and is one of its oldest colleges. It is renowned for its arts and science courses. The college campus is located in the north campus of the University of Delhi. Hindu College offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in sciences, arts, commerce, and social sciences. The college’s department of biotechnology has been awarded “star college” status by the Ministry of Science and Technology. Hindu College is known for its vibrant cultural festival called Mecca. It is ranked 9th among the best colleges in India by NIRF 2021.
Notable alumni include:
- Imtiaz Ali
- Arnab Goswami
- Pema Khandu
- Arjun Rampal
- Manoj Kumar
- Meenakshi Lekhi
- Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi
Established in 1926, Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) is popularly known as SRCC and is affiliated with the University of Delhi. The college is located on the north campus of the university. SRCC was ranked as the best commerce college in India by India Today in 2020 and has an impressive placement record with an active placement cell. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in economics and commerce fields. SRCC is known for its well-built infrastructure and friendly environment, but its admission requirements are relatively high compared to other colleges at the University of Delhi. It is ranked 10th among the best colleges in India by NIRF 2021.
Notable alumni include:
- Arun Jaitley
- Rajat Sharma
- Gulshan Grover
- Anshuman Jain
- Arjan Kumar Sikri
- Sri Venkateswara College (SVC), New Delhi
Established on August 20, 1961, Sri Venkateswara College is a co-ed college affiliated with the University of Delhi. It is situated in Dhaula Kaun, New Delhi. SVC offers thirty-one undergraduate, diploma, certification, and postgraduate courses in arts, science, and commerce, with B.Com (Hons) being the most popular degree course. The college provides scholarship aids to its students, including post-matric scholarships and merit-cum-means scholarships. SVC’s placement cell is active, and the college hosts an annual fest called Nexus, which is quite popular among students. It has been ranked 11th among the best colleges in India by NIRF 2021.
Notable alumni: (Not available in the previous paragraph)
- Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College
Formerly known as Sanatan Dharma College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College was established in 1959. It is a co-educational institute located in Dhaula Kaun, New Delhi, and is financed by the government. The college offers twenty-one undergraduate and postgraduate courses in various fields like arts, commerce, and science. It is known for its active debating society, Nimbus, which helps students learn the art of debating. Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College has been ranked 12th among the best colleges in India by NIRF 2021.
Notable alumni: (Not available in the previous paragraph)
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi established in 1990. It is situated in sector-3 Dwarka, south campus, New Delhi, and is financed by the government of Delhi. The institute offers several undergraduate courses in arts, science, commerce, and management studies. It also organizes an annual fest named Klarav every year in the month of February-March. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College has been ranked 13
9. Hansraj college
Hansraj College, part of Delhi University, is a prestigious institution. Founded in 1948, it is located in Malka Ganj, New Delhi. The college offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in liberal arts, science, and commerce. Additionally, it provides practical, job-oriented add-on certificate courses, such as radio jockeying, anchoring, TV journalism, acting, filmmaking, mass communication, advertising, and marketing. Moreover, students have the opportunity to obtain foreign language certificates in German, Spanish, and French.
When it comes to placements, the college has decent connections with companies like DE Shaw and United Airlines. For undergraduate boys, accommodation facilities are available. Notably, NIRF 2021 ranked Hansraj College 14th among the best colleges in India.
Several well-known individuals have graduated from this institution. Some notable alumni include Shah Rukh Khan, Anurag Kashyap, Ranvijay Singh, Richard Rekhy (chief executive officer of KGMP), and Munish Chandra Puri (a mathematician).
10. Gargi College
Gargi College, affiliated with the University of Delhi, was founded in 1967. As a prominent women’s college, it is located in the south campus of the University at Siri Fort. The College has received the prestigious star college status from the Department of Biotechnology, an honor bestowed by the Indian government. Offering a diverse range of courses, Gargi College provides undergraduate and postgraduate programs in arts, science, commerce, and education streams. Notably, it has been ranked as the 16th best college in India by NIRF 2021.
Several well-known personalities have attended Gargi College, including:
- Sanya Malhotra
- Urvashi Rautela
- Huma Qureshi
- Sonal Chauhan
- Alankrita Sahai
