Zakir Husain Delhi College (ZHDC) is a constituent college of the University of Delhi and operates as a Private Aided institution. Its history began with a madrasa founded by Ghaziuddin Khan in 1709. It became an Anglo-Oriental college in 1824, took its modern form as a degree college in 1924, and joined the University of Delhi as a constituent college in 1929.

ZHDC holds NAAC Grade A accreditation and was placed in the 201-300 band under the College category of NIRF 2024. The college is known for teaching Urdu, Arabic, Persian, humanities, commerce and science. It is also the only DU constituent college whose associated Zakir Husain Memorial Trust is headed by the Prime Minister of India.

The college stands on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg near Ajmeri Gate in New Delhi's historic walled city. Its campus combines a heritage building with modern academic facilities. Undergraduate admission is based on CUET UG scores and completed through Delhi University's Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS). Programme fees include INR 57,309 for the three-year BA Hons, INR 77,170 to INR 77,580 for the three-year B.Sc Hons and INR 39,463 for the two-year MA.

  • Students can pursue BA Hons in 12 subjects: Arabic, Bengali, Economics, English, Hindi, History, Persian, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sanskrit and Urdu.
  • The commerce options are B.Com and B.Com Hons.
  • Science courses include B.Sc Hons in Botany, Chemistry, Electronics, Mathematics and Zoology, along with B.Sc in Life Sciences and Physical Sciences.
  • The BA Programme is available through 17 subject-combination tracks.
  • Postgraduate choices comprise MA in 12 subjects, M.Sc in five science subjects and M.Com.
  • Add-on certificate programmes are offered in Machine Learning and Russian Language.

Zakir Husain Delhi College Admission Dates 2027

The next undergraduate admission cycle is scheduled to begin with CUET UG registration in January 2027. Seat allotment for Zakir Husain Delhi College will take place through the DU CSAS portal.

EventDate
CUET UG 2027 registration opensJanuary 2027

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

Zakir Husain Delhi College Courses and Fees

ZHDC teaches undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in arts, humanities, commerce and science. Urdu, Arabic, Persian and South Asian linguistics are important academic areas at the college. Its science options include Electronics and Physical Sciences in addition to the traditional laboratory subjects.

CourseDurationFee
BA Hons in Arabic, Bengali, Economics, English, Hindi, History, Persian, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sanskrit or Urdu3 yearsINR 57,309
BA Programme with 17 subject combinations3 yearsINR 48,370 for the first year
B.Com or B.Com Hons3 yearsINR 59,109
B.Sc Hons in Botany, Chemistry, Electronics, Mathematics or Zoology3 yearsINR 77,170 to INR 77,580
B.Sc in Life Sciences or Physical Sciences3 yearsINR 77,580
MA in 12 subjects2 yearsINR 39,463
M.Sc in Botany, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Zoology2 yearsINR 51,720
M.Com2 yearsINR 51,720
Certificate in Machine Learning1 yearINR 10,444
Certificate in Russian Language1 yearINR 10,944

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

BA Hons in Urdu and Arabic attracts demand from Urdu-medium learners and Muslim minority applicants across Delhi. ZHDC also has one of the few active Persian departments among Delhi University colleges. Students from these language backgrounds can continue to MA programmes in Arabic, Persian and Urdu. B.Sc Hons Electronics and B.Sc Physical Sciences add science-based choices to the college's largely arts-focused course profile.

Zakir Husain Delhi College Admission Process

Delhi University's CSAS manages admission to every undergraduate programme at ZHDC using CUET UG results. Applicants do not need to take a separate test or attend an interview conducted by the college. Postgraduate applications are handled through the DU PG Admission portal, while certificate-course entry follows a college-level process and qualifying conditions.

Programme LevelAccepted Exam or CriteriaAdmission Platform
BA, B.Com and B.Sc programmesCUET UGDU CSAS at csas.samarth.ac.in
MA, M.Sc and M.Com programmesCUET PG or DU Entrance TestDU PG Admission Portal
Certificate programmesDirect admission or qualifying criteriaCollege-level process

UG Admission for BA, B.Com and B.Sc

Applicants must meet the following undergraduate admission conditions:

  • Pass Class 12 from a recognised board in the stream relevant to the selected course.
  • Obtain a valid CUET UG score in the required domain-specific subjects.
  • Register on the DU CSAS portal and submit the CUET score together with a preferred order of colleges and programmes.

The allocation procedure takes place in several rounds. A student first ranks the preferred DU colleges and courses. CSAS then offers seats according to CUET percentile and available capacity in each round. Students may choose the upgrade option for a later allocation. In the 2025 CUET data, programme scores at ZHDC ranged from 257 to 413. Economics Hons and English Hons were among the high-demand courses and needed scores closer to the top of this range.

PG Admission for MA, M.Sc and M.Com

Students seeking a postgraduate seat apply through the DU PG Admission portal. Depending on the subject, they must provide a CUET PG result or take a DU-level entrance examination. A relevant bachelor's degree is required, with at least 45% marks for general-category applicants and 40% for SC/ST applicants. Urdu, Arabic and Persian postgraduate seats are particularly popular with students from minority backgrounds.

Certificate Courses

The one-year Machine Learning and Russian Language certificates can be studied alongside a regular degree. Machine Learning costs INR 10,444 per year and is available to students currently enrolled in BA, B.Com or B.Sc at ZHDC. The Russian Language certificate has a fee of INR 10,944, is open to every enrolled student and is taught by the college's Modern Languages faculty.

Zakir Husain Delhi College Placements

As a traditional arts, science and commerce college, ZHDC does not treat conventional corporate placement drives as its main focus. Many graduates instead continue to postgraduate study, prepare for competitive examinations or enter professional courses after completing their undergraduate degrees.

Graduate PathwayDetails
Postgraduate education in MA, M.Sc or M.ComA large proportion of BA and B.Sc graduates continue their studies at DU or another central university.
UPSC, SSC and State PSC examinationsGraduates of arts, History, Political Science and Economics often prepare for civil services examinations.
Teaching and researchMany former students complete B.Ed, qualify for UGC NET and work towards academic careers.
Journalism and mediaEnglish, Hindi and Urdu graduates find opportunities in print, digital and broadcast media.
Commerce and financeB.Com and B.Com Hons graduates enter accounting, banking and finance, often after earning CA, CMA or MBA qualifications.
Language and translation servicesArabic, Persian and Urdu graduates move into diplomatic services, publishing and language teaching.

The Zakir Husain Memorial Trust contributes to alumni connections and student-development activities. Its association with national-level leadership also gives students access to certain mentoring and networking opportunities that are uncommon at most DU colleges.

Zakir Husain Delhi College Rankings

NIRF placed Zakir Husain Delhi College in the 201-300 band of its 2024 College ranking. This category assesses undergraduate teaching institutions throughout India and positions ZHDC among the middle group of Delhi University colleges at the national level.

Ranking BodyCategory2024 Rank
NIRFCollege201-300 band

ZHDC is accredited with NAAC Grade A. As a University of Delhi constituent college, it also shares DU's wider institutional standing among India's leading universities in NIRF and international university rankings.

Zakir Husain Delhi College Campus and Infrastructure

ZHDC occupies a central New Delhi site on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, close to the old walled city. A heritage main building represents the institution's history of more than 300 years, while modern lecture rooms, computer facilities and science laboratories support present-day teaching.

The central library contains a notable collection of books and manuscripts in Urdu, Arabic and Persian. Scholars studying South Asian Muslim intellectual history use it as an academic resource. Separate science facilities serve Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Physics and Electronics. Computer laboratories are used by B.Sc Electronics students and participants in the Machine Learning certificate course.

Student life includes an Urdu literary society, debating clubs and an annual cultural festival that attracts participants from Old Delhi and Central Delhi. ZHDC does not provide an on-campus hostel, so students generally travel from different parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region.

Zakir Husain Delhi College vs Ramjas College vs Deshbandhu College

Students considering ZHDC may also compare it with Ramjas College on North Campus and Deshbandhu College in South Delhi. Each institution is a constituent or affiliated DU college and admits students to BA, B.Sc and B.Com Hons courses through CUET UG.

ParameterZakir Husain Delhi CollegeRamjas CollegeDeshbandhu College
LocationCentral Delhi, JN MargNorth Campus, DelhiKalkaji, South Delhi
Established1924 in its modern form19171952
TypeConstituent, Private AidedConstituent, Government AidedConstituent, Government
NAAC GradeAA+A
NIRF College 2024201-300 bandTop 100 band201-300 band
Academic StrengthUrdu, Arabic, Persian, arts and sciencesBroad arts and science programmesScience and commerce programmes

Urdu, Arabic and Persian distinguish ZHDC from most other DU colleges. Ramjas generally has higher CUET cutoffs in popular subjects such as History and Economics. Deshbandhu offers a more convenient location for many students travelling from south and east Delhi. ZHDC's central site and language specialisation suit students interested in South Asian languages and the study of Muslim heritage.

Zakir Husain Delhi College FAQs

Ques. What is Zakir Husain Delhi College's relationship with Delhi University?

Ans. Zakir Husain Delhi College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi. It took shape as a modern degree college in 1924 and received constituent status in 1929. ZHDC is a Private Aided institution with NAAC Grade A accreditation.

Ques. Which CUET score range has been seen for ZHDC courses?

Ans. The 2025 CUET figures show a range of 257 to 413 across programmes at ZHDC. Applicants to high-demand options such as Economics Hons and English Hons generally needed scores near the upper limit. The exact cutoff changes each year according to applicant numbers, available seats and the relevant CSAS allocation round.

Ques. How much does the complete BA Hons programme at ZHDC cost?

Ans. The three-year BA Hons fee is INR 57,309. For B.Sc Hons, the total charge over three years is between INR 77,170 and INR 77,580. The college's aided status helps keep these fees among the lower charges at Delhi University.

Ques. Which Urdu, Arabic and Persian degrees can students study at ZHDC?

Ans. ZHDC offers BA Hons and MA programmes in Urdu, Arabic and Persian. These are leading academic areas at the college and are supported by specialist faculty. The library also maintains a well-stocked collection of Urdu, Arabic and Persian manuscripts.

Ques. Can students live in a hostel on the ZHDC campus?

Ans. No, Zakir Husain Delhi College has no on-campus hostel. Students usually commute from Delhi and the National Capital Region. Its Jawaharlal Nehru Marg location in central Delhi has metro and bus connections.

Ques. What ranking and accreditation does ZHDC hold?

Ans. In the NIRF 2024 College category, Zakir Husain Delhi College was listed in the 201-300 band. It also holds NAAC Grade A accreditation. Within DU, the college is particularly recognised for Urdu, Arabic and Persian and for its connection with Delhi's cultural history, which began in 1709.