DUET 2026 Counselling Process

DUET as a standalone entrance test has been discontinued for the 2026 cycle. The Delhi University’s postgraduate (PG) admissions that were earlier clubbed under “DUET” will now (2026) happen through CUET PG followed by DU’s centralised CSAS (PG) admission portal. DU’s “counselling” for these programmes is therefore an online, algorithm-driven seat allocation system rather than a traditional, in-person counselling round. It is important for aspirants to understand this shift, because many coaching institutes and students still use the term “DUET 2026 counselling” for what, in practice, is “CUET PG + CSAS (PG) admission rounds”.

Big picture: How DUET 2026 counselling really works?

For 2026 PG intake, the process runs in two broad phases:

Phase 1 – Entrance exam:

• The candidate appears in CUET PG 2026 in the subject paper that corresponds exactly to the intended DU programme (for example, Commerce paper for M.Com, a relevant humanities paper for MA English, law paper for LLM, etc.).
• The exam is conducted in computer-based mode and results are published as scores and percentiles.

Phase 2 – University-specific admission via CSAS (PG):

• After CUET PG results, the University of Delhi opens its own PG admission portal (CSAS PG).
• Candidates register on this portal, link their CUET PG credentials, upload documents, and fill programme–college preferences.
• The “counselling” or allocation is then conducted online in multiple rounds based on CUET PG scores, eligibility, category, and seat availability.
• So, rather than a central physical counselling hall, students experience counselling as a series of online result and choice-based allocation rounds.

Step 1: CUET PG result and eligibility check

When CUET PG 2026 results are declared, each candidate receives:

• A marks statement and percentile for the chosen paper(s).
• Category-wise standing for that test.

Before moving to DU’s portal, a serious aspirant checks three things carefully:

• Whether the CUET PG subject paper taken matches the DU programme’s prescribed paper.
• Whether their bachelor’s degree stream and percentage fulfil DU’s minimum eligibility (for example, a specific discipline and minimum marks).
• Whether they hold valid category certificates (OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST, PwD, CW, etc.), if they plan to claim reservation.
• If any of these conditions is not satisfied, the candidate will be rejected at the DU portal or at verification, even if CUET PG marks are high.

Step 2: Registration on DU’s CSAS (PG) portal

Once DU opens the CSAS (PG) portal for the 2026 admissions:

• The candidate creates an account on the official DU PG admission website using an email ID and mobile number.
• They then enter CUET PG details (application number, roll number, paper code) so that the portal can fetch their scores.
• Personal details (name, parents’ names, date of birth, gender) must exactly match the Class 10 certificate and the CUET record to avoid mismatches.

During this stage, the candidate also declares category and sub-category (General, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD, CW, Sports/ECA if applicable).

Candidates need to upload basic documents as listed below.

• Class 10 marksheet/certificate (for date of birth).
• All relevant bachelor’s degree marksheets and, if available, provisional/degree certificate.
• Category certificates in the prescribed format and validity period.
• A recent photograph and signature (if required separately for DU).
• An application/registration fee (separate from CUET PG fee) is paid online. This fee is generally non-refundable and covers all PG programmes applied for within DU.

Step 3: Programme and college preference filling

This is effectively the heart of what used to be called “counselling”:

• DU publishes a list of all PG programmes and their participating departments/colleges.
• The candidate can choose among programmes for which they are both CUET-eligible (correct paper) and academically eligible (correct UG degree/marks).

Then they create an ordered preference list, which may look like the following:

• Com at Department of Commerce (North Campus).
• Com at a particular constituent college.
• MA in Economics at a specific department/college.
• Sc programme options if they have appeared in the relevant science paper.

Key points to Remember:

• Preferences are extremely important; the allocation algorithm will try to give the highest possible preference that the candidate qualifies for as per their CUET PG score and category.
• DU typically allows candidates to reorder preferences multiple times within a given window. Once the deadline passes, preferences are “locked” and used for all subsequent rounds.
• Some programmes may list additional requirements (for example, interviews or practical components), and candidates must ensure they meet those if applicable.

Step 4: Merit lists and allocation rounds

DU then uses the CUET PG scores and the registered candidates’ preference lists to run multiple allocation rounds. Conceptually, each round has:

• A programme-wise and category-wise merit list based on normalized CUET PG scores.
• A seat matrix indicating how many seats exist for each programme–college–category combination.

An allocation algorithm that:

• Moves down the merit list in each category.
• Checks each candidate’s preference list.
• Allots the highest-ranked available choice where seat, eligibility, and category conditions are satisfied.

Once a round is processed candidates log into the portal and see whether a seat has been allotted.

They typically get options like:

• Accept the allotted seat (with or without willingness for further upgradation).
• Decline the seat (which may remove them from subsequent rounds, depending on the rules).
• Do nothing (which is treated as non-acceptance and generally leads to lapse of the offer).

These rounds continue until most seats across programmes have been filled. After the main rounds, DU may announce “spot” or “mop-up” rounds for any remaining vacancies.

Step 5: Seat acceptance and payment

If a candidate decides to accept the allotted seat:

• They must confirm online within a stipulated window (often 24–72 hours).
• A partial admission fee or full first-semester fee is paid online through the portal. Non-payment within the deadline usually results in automatic cancellation of the allotment.
• Candidates may be asked to indicate whether they wish to be considered for upgradation in later rounds. If they opt for upgradation, their current seat can be replaced by a higher-preference seat if one becomes available.

It is essential to read carefully:

• The conditions about fee refunds in case of later withdrawal.
• Whether accepting an allotment locks out some other programmes.
• How many rounds of upgradation are allowed.

Step 6: Document verification by department/college

After online acceptance and fee payment, the concerned department or college verifies documents, usually in two modes:

Online verification:

• Checking uploaded documents for clarity, correctness and consistency.
• Verifying marks, degree titles, and category certificates.
• Using DigiLocker or other government verification services when available.

Physical verification (when required):

• Candidates may be called to submit original documents for inspection.
• Any discrepancy (for example, name mismatch, incorrect category claim, invalid degree) can lead to cancellation.
• In multi-campus setups, the verification is done by the admitting department or the principal’s office.

Only after successful verification and confirmation from the college/department is the admission considered final for that particular round.

Step 7: Upgradation, withdrawal, and spot rounds

Many candidates seek higher-preference programmes (for example, central departments or more sought-after colleges). DU’s system therefore allows for:

Upgradation:

• If a candidate opts in, they can be “moved” to a higher-priority choice in a subsequent round, provided their CUET PG score and category rank justify it and a seat becomes free.
• When upgraded, the earlier seat is automatically vacated and offered to someone else; there is no going back.

Withdrawal:

• Up to a certain date, a candidate can withdraw from their accepted seat.
• Fee refund is generally governed by a graded schedule (full refund minus charges if withdrawn early; partial or no refund if withdrawn late).
• Once withdrawn, re-entry may not be allowed for that cycle.

Spot rounds:

• DU may conduct spot rounds for remaining seats.
• Only candidates who either did not get a seat earlier or who explicitly apply for spot admission will be considered.
• In spot rounds, candidates often have to accept any seat offered immediately, with fewer upgradation options.

Important counselling-related nuances for DUET 2026 (PG)

There is no central CUET counselling because each CUET-accepting university runs its own process. For DU PG, CSAS (PG) is the authoritative counselling/admission mechanism.

For some specialised PG programmes (certain professional courses, interdisciplinary programmes, or those with practical tests), there may still be interviews, group discussions or portfolio rounds in addition to CUET PG. In such cases, the merit list may use a defined weightage (for example, 70% CUET + 30% interview).

Reservation policies (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD, CW, etc.) and supernumerary quotas (foreign nationals, sports/ECA where applicable) are implemented at the CSAS stage, not at CUET level.

DU may also run separate admission channels for distance education (School of Open Learning) or special categories that do not use CUET PG; these should not be confused with the main DUET-equivalent counselling.

FAQs

Q1. When does DUET 2026 counselling via CSAS PG begin?

Ans. CSAS PG registration opens mid-June 2026 post-CUET PG results, spanning 10-15 days for profile setup and preferences.

Q2. Must candidates register separately on DU portal after CUET PG?

Ans. Yes, CUET PG scores alone do not secure admission; separate CSAS PG registration with document uploads is mandatory for allocation.

Q3. How does seat allocation prioritize preferences?

Ans. Algorithms match highest viable preference using CUET normalized scores, category quotas, and seat matrix across rounds.

Q4. What options exist upon seat allotment?

Ans. Candidates choose Freeze, opt for Upgrade in future rounds, or Decline, with 48-72 hour deadlines per phase.

Q5. Are fees refundable if withdrawing from CSAS PG?

Ans. Partial refunds apply pre-final round (minus processing); post-verification withdrawals forfeit fees per policy.

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