University of Calcutta - Courses, Admission, Fees & Ranking

University of Calcutta is the oldest and most reputable modern university of India, established in the year 1857 as the First university of the Western type in Asia. It was founded in the British colonial era, and since that time, it has been one of the leaders in the Indian education sector and intellectual awakening. The university was the first modern management school where the ancient pattern of learning was becoming rusty, and it opened a new era in Indian higher education.

Since its inception more than 165 years ago, the University of Calcutta has been a very important feature of the Indian independence movement and nation-building. The institution has produced numerous Nobel Peace Prize winners, including the name of Rabindranath Tagore, Sir C.V. Raman, Amartya Sen and Abhijit Banerjee, to name just a few, many freedom fighters, scholars, scientists and leaders who have left a tremendous impact on the state of India.

The University of Calcutta today is functioning with the help of 14 faculties, more than 140 affiliated colleges, and several research institutes and centres. It provides a full spectrum of undergraduate to doctoral level programs across a wide range of programs in Arts, Science, Commerce, Law, Engineering, Medicine, Education and Fine Arts. The distance education courses in the university have allowed quality higher education to Indian and overseas students.

The chancellor of the University of Calcutta is the Governor of West Bengal, and its chief executive officer is its vice-chancellor. The university has grown in leaps and bounds and changed its proposition, and now it has modern campuses and facilities with a vast area and expansive campuses built in a small structure on College Street.

The University of Calcutta is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), and it is accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with grade A. It has also been able to retain good academic standards through periodical updating of the curriculum, providing the faculty with development programs and the modernisation of the infrastructure. The university promotes research excellence based on the utilization of highly equipped laboratories, the availability of large libraries, and associations with national or international bodies.

Approval and Ranking University of Calcutta 

• NAAC A
• NIRF - 26th University Overall Ranking
• QS World Ranking - 771 - 780
• Center for World University Rankings- 22nd in India
• UniRank - 3rd (2020)

Why is the University of Calcutta the Best Choice?

• University of Calcutta is the first modern university in India and Asia, which was established in 1857.
• The university is the oldest multidisciplinary secular institution of learning in India.
• The university runs on 14 faculties, 140+ colleges affiliated to it, and scores of research institutes.
• The university has UG, PG, and PhD in Arts, Science, Commerce, Law, Engineering, Medicine, Education and Fine Arts.
• The university offers regular and distance learning curricula.
• The industry leaders like TCS, Infosys, Wipro, IBM, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Deloitte, among other government organizations, are top recruiters.
• In order to take admission to the different programs, the University of Calcutta carries out many entrance examinations.
• Relevant programs are also accepted in the university based on the national level exams such as JEE, NEET, CAT, MAT, XAT, GATE and NET.

Courses Offered by the University of Calcutta

Undergraduate	Postgraduate	Doctoral
B.Tech B.Sc BA B.Com B.Ed BBA	M.Sc MA M.Tech MCA M.Com MBA	PhD

University of Calcutta Eligibility Criteria

1. Undergraduate Courses Eligibility & Fees

Course	Eligibility Criteria	Entrance Exam	Total Fees (INR)
B.Tech	10+2 with 45% in PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics)	WBJEE/JEE Main	30,800 - 40,500
B.Sc	10+2 with 45–50% in the Science stream	Merit-based	877 - 6,34,000
BA	10+2 with 45% aggregate	Merit-based	900 - 4,18,000
B.Com	10+2 with 45% aggregate	Merit-based	720 - 3,43,000
B.Ed	Bachelor’s or Master’s with 50% (SC/ST/OBC/PWD: 45%)	Entrance (univ./state)	27,400 - 1,17,000
BBA	10+2 with 45–50%	Merit/Entrance (varies)	1,28,000 - 1,61,000

2. Postgraduate Courses Eligibility & Fees

Course	Eligibility Criteria	Entrance Exam	Total Fees (INR)
M.Sc	B.Sc. in a relevant field with 50%	Entrance/Merit	2,300 - 1,25,000
MA	Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, 50%	Entrance/Merit	2,400 - 2,55,000
M.Tech	B.E./B.Tech with 55%	GATE/Univ. Entrance	24,000 - 1,44,000
MCA	BCA/BSc/any bachelor’s with Math at 10+2/graduation	WBJEE JECA/Univ. Entrance	12,000
M.Com	B.Com with 50%	Entrance/Merit	2,400 - 1,38,000
MBA	Bachelor's degree with 50%	CAT/MAT/JEMAT	33,020 - 7,64,000

3. Doctoral Programs Eligibility & Fees

Course	Eligibility Criteria	Entrance Exam	Annual Fees (INR)
PhD	Master’s with 55% (relaxation for reserved)	RET/NET/JRF/SLET/GATE/M.Phil.	18,000

Note: The fees for the courses may vary according to the specialization.

University of Calcutta Admission Process Steps

The University of Calcutta admission process is an organized and not-so-tough process. Admission can be acquired by doing the following steps:

• Step 1: Visit the official site of the university to find out the requirements for availing of the desired program.
• Step 2: Take entrance examinations (where required) as well as complete the online application.
• Step 3: Upload the necessary documents that include mark sheets, certificates, photographs, and pay an application fee either online or by offline mode.
• Step 4: Show up at the entrance tests and counselling dates as the schedule will be released on the website of the university.
• Step 5: The course fee has to be paid to secure a seat as per the merit list.

University of Calcutta EMI Details

The University of Calcutta offers the facility of paying the fees flexibly so that education becomes affordable. Although full EMI facilities are not provided in all the courses, the university accepts payment of the fee in instalments in most of the programs. The university also provides different scholarships to students depending on their merit, financial need and category of the scholarships. The students are also able to access educational loans with attractive terms from other partner banks.

University of Calcutta Examination Pattern

At the University of Calcutta, the pattern of examination is mainly framed on a semester basis, which guarantees a close study of the progress of the student in academics. In undergraduate programs, the academic year is organized in two semesters, of which the continuous assessment is 25% of all the assessments based on internal examination (proofs, presentations, school tests), and the remaining 75% is the examination at the end of the semester. A similar pattern can be seen in postgraduate programs in terms of further accentuating research work, seminars, and submissions of projects. The university employs a grading system that allows improvement examinations and supplementary examinations to students who have backlogs.

University of Calcutta Documents required

Documents required during admission to the University of Calcutta include:

• 10th Standard Marksheet and Certificate
• 12th Standard Marksheet and Certificate
• Bachelor's degree marksheet and certificate (for postgraduate programs)
• Master's degree marksheet and certificate (for M.Phil/PhD programs)
• Entrance examination scorecard (if applicable)
• Valid Photo ID proof (Aadhaar Card/Passport/Driving License)
• Category and reservation certificates (if applicable)
• Income certificate for scholarship applications
• Recent passport-size photographs
• Migration certificate (if from another board/university)
• Character certificate from the last attended institution
• Medical fitness certificate (for specific courses)

University of Calcutta Payment Mode

For student convenience, the University of Calcutta accepts various payment modes:

• Credit Card
• Debit Card
• Net Banking
• UPI Payments
• Online Payment Gateway
• Bank Draft/Demand Draft
• NEFT/RTGS
• Cash payment (at designated centers)
• Instalment payment facility
• Semester-wise payment options

University of Calcutta Placement Partner

The University of Calcutta has established strong industry connections with leading recruiters:

• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
• Infosys
• Wipro
• Reliance
• Cognizant
• HDFC Bank
• ICICI Bank
• State Bank of India
• Deloitte
• Ernst & Young

The university's prestigious reputation and extensive alumni network across various fields help graduates secure positions in government, the private sector, academia, research, and entrepreneurship.

Still Confused and thinking

In case you are still not sure about whether the University of Calcutta would be the one to go to, look at the learning opportunities that may involve distance and online learning, which is flexible and affordable, but it also brings quality education. The universities in distance and online may be great for employed persons, those with mobility issues, or persons who might need to change their skills without the necessity to move.

Read these other ideas on online and distance learning:

1. Netaji Subhas Open University is the leading open university of West Bengal, formed in 1997 to democratize higher education in West Bengal. This is a state open university that has a mission to provide accessible, affordable and quality education to learners who are not able to take regular courses because of different constraints. The university has developed a large number of study centres in West Bengal as well as in the surrounding states, such that every student has geographical access to studying at the university. UGC recognizes the degrees issued by the university, and they are on par with the degrees available in traditional universities, so the university students are eligible to continue their higher studies and secure jobs.

2. Rabindra Bharati University Distance Education is an embellishment of cultural tradition and distant learning, evolved into a distinct spectrum of the performing arts, literature and humanities education. Being a branch of the parent university, which believes in retaining and propagating the Bengali culture and philosophy of education by Rabindranath Tagore, this distance education unit serves the needs of the students who are interested in arts, music, dance and literature. The program will comprise correspondence tools, audio-visual studies, hands-on workshops and regular contact meetings with established artists and researchers.

3. West Bengal State University Distance Learning has become a major contributor to the distance education in the state today in terms of modern, innovative and industry-relevant courses offered by the distance learning department. The university is centred on offering modern courses that are in line with the requirements of the modern market, among them being the computer applications program, business administration and other interdisciplinary programs. The distance learning programs offered by WBSU have a high orientation towards practical knowledge and skills building with an inclusion of case studies, project work and interaction with the industry bodies.

4. Kalyani University Directorate of Distance Education provides an across-the-board selection of programs having its a concentration on rural and semi-urban student groups of West Bengal. This directorate, which was formed to reach wider geographical locations with higher education, has come up with specialized programs in order to attend to the peculiar needs of the students who come from various social backgrounds. The distance learning department of Kalyani University has developed an innovative support network that comprises mobile learning facilities, community learning bases and Blending institutions, which are the local institutions to ensure the students in the distant locales. 

5. Jadavpur University, Distance Education is a symbol of excellence in distance learning, as it has the support of the reputation of the main university concerning the quality of education and research. The programs are well-designed in this school, and the standards and rigour of this school are the same as those of the regular courses; hence, distance education students also get the best of education. The solid industry links and alumni network associated with the university are also an added advantage to the distance learning students and candidates have good opportunities to develop career growth and professional development since the institution is close to any working person who wishes to upgrade their status.

Before Picking a Distance/Online College, Things to Look At:

1. Before choosing any of the institutes, one must ensure that the program is sanctioned by UGC-DEB when deciding on a distance and online education program.
2. The other quality indicator is NAAC accreditation, which indicates the drive of the institution in maintaining high academic standards and posts reinforced growth. 
3. Prospective students are highly advised to enquire about the placement support services available in the institution. 
4. The courses are taught live with direct contact with faculty, and in real-time, whereas recorded classes can enable one to complete learning at one's own pace. 
5. EMI guidelines and refund policy on fees are vital in the context of financial planning, especially targeted at working individuals or a student with a low socioeconomic profile. 
6. Reviews about the university compiled by students can give a good profile of what the students experience during their learning time, the quality of staff, and the level of satisfaction with the school.

Haven't Decided Yet?

In case you find yourself in the position to feel uncertain about whether to choose ordinary classroom learning, distance learning, or online studies, you need to complete a thoughtful self-analysis of personal and professional situations. Add the possibility of having to keep a job and continue studying at the same time, as it is a very important consideration in favour of attendance at regular classes over the option of flexible distance courses or online courses. Another important factor is your desire and capacity to change residence with the aim of education, especially when the course you wish to pursue is offered in some limited institutions or your family and work obligations are based in a certain area. Along with all this, the economic aspect is usually a determining factor in educational decision-making, with distance and online education generally providing less expensive alternatives compared to studying on campus, avoiding expenses in accommodation, transportation and campus services.

The University of Calcutta is an ideal example due to its history, excellence and network of scholars in case of people seeking a high standard of education, prestigious exposure and high prospects mainly in the Eastern Indian education culture. Distance learning and online universities, however, may suit better such individuals who require a flexible mode of study to adjust with the demands of their work and undertake a course at the same time, others with geographical restrictions, and others who prefer to control the pace at which education is taken with the rest of their life responsibilities.