Delhi University

What Delhi University does

University of Delhi (DU) is a public central research university founded in 1922 and headquartered in Delhi, India. It operates four campuses (North, South, East, and West) housing 16 faculties and 86 departments, and oversees 91 affiliated/constituent colleges that collectively deliver undergraduate, postgraduate, M.Phil., and Ph.D. programs across disciplines including Arts, Science, Commerce, Law, Education, Medical Sciences, Technology, Management Studies, and Mathematical Sciences. Its student base is primarily Indian undergraduates and postgraduates, supplemented by an international cohort served through a dedicated Foreign Students Registry.

DU's core educational delivery runs through three modalities: traditional on-campus instruction, distance education via the Campus of Open Learning (SOL, formerly School of Correspondence and Continuing Education), and the Non-Collegiate Women's Education Board (NCWEB) for women's education through weekend teaching centers. The technology stack supporting these includes the Samarth@DU admissions portal, the DU eLibrary and DU Library System, an Open Book Examination (OBE) portal, an online grievance redressal system, and the Research Information Management System (IRINS). Specialized units include the Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council, the Central Placement Cell, DU Radio (DUCR 90.4 FM), the Competence Enhancement Scheme, and a Certificate Course on Patents.

Revenue mechanics combine tuition/academic fees (recurring, set by government norms), examination and re-evaluation fees (transactional), and central government funding from the Ministry of Education (the dominant funding source). The institution carries NAAC A++ accreditation and the Government of India "Institution of Eminence" designation, and operates under a Strategic Plan covering 2024–2047 aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed; operations are funded primarily through government grants supplemented by fees across its large affiliated college network.

Name

Delhi University

Legal name

University of Delhi

Website

https://du.ac.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Delhi University is a public central research university (est. 1922) operating four Delhi campuses and 91 affiliated colleges, delivering undergraduate through Ph.D. programs via on-campus, distance (SOL), and non-collegiate (NCWEB) modalities, funded primarily by the Indian government and tuition fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Urban/Metropolitan Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate programs
• Postgraduate programs
• Distance learning
• Research and development

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Registration and tuition fees from undergraduate and postgraduate programs across 16 faculties and 86 departments
2. Examination Fees: Revenue generated from conducting semester examinations, re-evaluation, and degree certifications
3. Government Funding: Central university funding from Ministry of Education, Government of India

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

University of Delhi (Delhi University or DU) is a public central research university delivering higher education through undergraduate, postgraduate, M.Phil., and Ph.D. programs across 16 faculties and 86 departments, supplemented by 91 affiliated colleges. The university offers multiple learning modes including on-campus instruction, distance education through the Campus of Open Learning (SOL), non-collegiate education for women via NCWEB, and online learning platforms.

Product overview

Delhi University operates as a comprehensive public research university with a multi-modal educational platform consisting of traditional on-campus programs across 16 faculties and 86 departments, distance education through its Campus of Open Learning (SOL), digital learning via NCWEB for working women, and online education through virtual learning platforms. The university's core offerings are supplemented by specialized units including the Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council, the DU Library System with its eLibrary portal, the Central Placement Cell, and professional certification programs like the Certificate Course on Patents. The institution's digital infrastructure includes Samarth@DU for admissions, comprehensive radio broadcasting (DUCR 90.4 FM), and skill development initiatives through the Competence Enhancement Scheme.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DU: Abbreviated common name for Delhi University used across communications and branding
• Institution of Eminence (IoE)
• NCWEB

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Undergraduate degree programs across Arts, Science, Commerce, Law, Medical Sciences, Technology, and other faculties delivered on-campus at North, South, East, and West Campuses and 91 affiliated colleges for Indian and international students.
• Postgraduate Degree Programs Postgraduate degree programs across faculties for students seeking advanced education and specialization in various academic disciplines.
• Ph.D. and M.Phil. Research Programs Doctoral and pre-doctoral research programs across 86 departments supporting advanced research and academic scholarship.
• Campus of Open Learning (SOL) Distance and continuing education programs for working professionals and students unable to attend regular classes, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs through open learning mode.
• Non-Collegiate Women's Education Board (NCWEB) An educational initiative enabling women to pursue undergraduate degrees through non-collegiate mode with weekend classes at designated teaching centers.
• Online Education Platform (CELP) Comprehensive digital learning management system offering online education through the Computer Education and Learning Programme, enabling remote access to academic resources and coursework.
• Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council Central research council supporting research initiatives, innovation projects, entrepreneurship development, and technology transfer across the university and its affiliated colleges.
• Central Placement Cell University-run placement services facilitating recruitment drives, career counseling, and industry connections for students across affiliated colleges.
• Certificate Course on Patents Specialized certification program under the Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council focused on intellectual property rights and patent filing procedures, now in its seventh batch.
• DU Radio (DUCR 90.4 FM) University radio station broadcasting at 90.4 FM frequency, serving as a community radio service for the DU campus and surrounding areas.
• DU Library System The central library network of Delhi University offering physical and digital library services across multiple campuses and affiliated colleges, including access to electronic journals, e-books, and research databases.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 July 2026University of Delhi and I4C signed MoU to strengthen cyber safety and capacity building. The partnership focuses on cyber security awareness, protection of students from cyber fraud, and building digital safety capacity within the university community.
• HSE University (Russia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025Collaboration to establish Space Mirror Lab for academic research. The partnership involves work on data storage, processing, and transmission in the space spectrum for academic research purposes.
• Foreign Institutions (Various)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2016Gazette Notification of July 2016 regarding MoU with Foreign Institutions for international collaboration in academic and research activities.
• Udhmodya FoundationminorOthersFoundation supporting university through Faculty Incubation Executives program for startup and innovation support within the university ecosystem.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Madras: A historic public state university with multiple campuses, large affiliated college network, and UG/PG/research programs. Comparable to DU in legacy, federated college structure, and broad multi-faculty scope.
• Aligarh Muslim University: AMU is a historic central public university offering UG, PG, and research programs across multiple faculties with a large affiliated college network, directly comparable to DU's federal structure and scope.
• Jamia Millia Islamia: Jamia is a central public university in Delhi with multi-faculty UG/PG programs, distance learning, and a School of Open Learning comparable to DU's SOL. It draws from the same Delhi student pool and competes for faculty and research funding.
• University of Mumbai: A major state public university with extensive affiliated college network, multi-faculty UG/PG programs, and distance learning. Comparable to DU in scale, urban setting, and the affiliated-college model.
• University of Calcutta: One of India's oldest public universities (1857), with multiple campuses, large affiliated college network, and UG/PG/research programs. Directly comparable to DU in legacy, scale, and public central university governance.
• University of Hyderabad: A central public research university with strong PG/Ph.D. focus, NAAC A++ accreditation, and Institution of Eminence status. Comparable to DU in research intensity, accreditation tier, and federal funding model.
• Jawaharlal Nehru University: JNU is a central public research university in Delhi offering UG, PG, M.Phil., and Ph.D. programs with strong research output. It competes directly with DU for top students, faculty, and research grants in the same metropolitan catchment.
• Indira Gandhi National Open University: IGNOU is India's central open and distance learning university with massive pan-India enrollment. Comparable to DU's School of Open Learning and the NCWEB model, and a direct competitor for non-traditional and working-student segments.
• Banaras Hindu University: BHU is a central public research university with 16+ faculties, multi-campus structure, NAAC A++ accreditation, and a century-old legacy, mirroring DU's scale, governance model, and Institution of Eminence positioning.

Broad incumbents

• IIT Delhi: Premier Delhi-based central public technical institution with strong research output, IoE status, and global rankings. Comparable to DU in metropolitan public research positioning but specializes in STEM rather than comprehensive multi-faculty delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/univofdelhi
• Facebookfacebook.com/officialunivofdelhi

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Delhi University