AUD says merit list is better than cut-offs for admissions

The Delhi University maintained its trend of releasing first cut-off list with 99 per cent this year, but the Ambedkar University went a step ahead by seeking 100 per cent for its top five courses. Only university mandated to focus on research and teaching in social science and humanities, the Ambedkar University is a state university with 85 per cent seats reserved for students of the national capital territory.

Instead of following traditional system of releasing cut-offs and then going ahead with the admissions, the Ambedkar University this year released its merit list, saying it was a better basis for admissions. The university does not release separate lists for SC, ST, and OBC category candidates.

“Till last year, we used to release cut-offs and then carry out the admissions like other universities. But this year, as a different strategy unlike other universities, we released the cut-offs based on the merit list. This means that when the applicant filled scores in the application we witnessed the highest percentage and it came out to be 100 for some students. It was only after that we declared the cut-off in order to maintain transparency,” said Arindam Banerjee, chairman of Ambedkar University’s admissions committee.

The varsity has no reservation for the other 15 per cent Non-NCT seats following which it receives applications from students on a pan India basis. “We cannot keep the cut off low because the way students are securing in 90s and the number of applications we receive, it would become a difficult task for us. And since we have established a new centre in Karampura this year, the applicants have also doubled, so even the merit list has been prepared keeping in mind the number of seats”, Mr. Banerjee said.

With an aim to re-conceptualise social sciences, Mr Banerjee maintained, the university tries to give every student an opportunity to explore the field. “Being the only social sciences university, the varsity would give advantage to students belonging to that stream, but like any other university it has to maintain a criteria for students from other streams. So, we always keep an additional 4 per cent for science students and 5 per cent for commerce so that we can avoid over-admissions too.”

At present, AUD is operates in Kashmere Gate, North Delhi, but will also operate from its new campus at Karampura, west Delhi, from the upcoming session. With the opening of its new campus, the varsity will be able to add 200 more seats.

Asked about the varsity’s different admissions strategy this year, AUD dean of students services Sanjay Sharma said: “In case of cut-off list, you have to admit everyone who meets the cut-off, but a merit list will be different. It will be a list of students, 20 per cent more than the number of seats allotted for a course. For instance, if a course has 50 seats, the university will release a list of students slightly more than 50 who will be called for admission. If some students drop out, those on the wait-list will get the seat. Students had selected their preference of campus in the registration form and now as the cut-off has been declared, the seats will be allotted on basis of merit. For M.A. courses, as per the policy, the university has to call students three times the number of seats for interview process.”

Unlike any other university, AUD offers a unique B.A. Honours programme with a dual major that can be completed in three years by earning extra credits.