Jawaharlal Nehru University

Jawaharlal Nehru University or JNU was established by an act of Parliament in 1966 which eventually started functioning 3 years later in 1969. Adventure, experimentation and unceasing quest, and that diversity of opinions are the basis for intellectual exploration. JNU is the place for the intellectually restless, the insatiably curious, and the mentally rigorous, giving them the space to grow amidst the calmness of an oasis, a green lung within the hustle and bustle and the crowds of the capital city of India.

The excellent teacher-student ratio at 1:10, the mode of instruction which encourages students to explore their own creativity instead of reproducing received knowledge, and of exclusively internal evaluation, were also new to the Indian academic landscape and have stood the test of time. 

The very Nehruvian objectives embedded in the founding of the University – ‘national integration, social justice, secularism, the democratic way of life, international understanding and a scientific approach to the problems of society’, had built into them constant and energetic endeavour to renew knowledge through self- questioning.

JNU was one of the first in India to depart from the well- trodden path by emphasizing the continuity of the learning process rather than isolating the final exam as the only tool of measuring achievement. Grading is done throughout the semester, ensuring students’ participation and involvement in curricular work, and re-animating the collaborative process of generating knowledge in the class room. Even at the M.A. level, students are encouraged to carry out independent research projects in limited areas which result in short term paper.  

Apart from its regular faculty, JNU has over the years established specially designated ‘Chairs’ – Rajiv Gandhi Chair, Appadorai Chair, Nelson Mandela Chair, Dr. Ambedkar Chair, RBI Chair, SBI Chair, Sukhomay Chakravarty Chair, Environmental Law Chair, Greek Chair, Tamil Chair, and Kannada Chair.

Centres of Excellence in JNU

Several academic Centres of the university have been declared by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to be ‘Centres of Excellence’. These are the Centre for Historical Studies, the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, the Centre for Political Studies, the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, the Centre for the Study of Regional Development, and Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, all in the School of Social Sciences. In addition, three Science Schools – School of Physical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and School of Environmental Sciences – have also received UGC’s recognition as Centres for Excellence. The Centre for English Studies, School of Language, Literatuer & Culture Studies, has also been identified for Departmental Research Support under the Special Assistance Programme of the UGC. JNU itself has been given the status of the ‘University of Excellence’ by the UGC.

Schools in JNU

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Academic Programmes in JNU


Undergraduate Programme
  • B.A.(Hons.)1st year in Arabic(ARBU)
  • B.A.(Hons.)1st year in Chinese(CHNU)
  • B.A.(Hons.)1st year in French(FRNU)
  • B.A.(Hons.)1st year in German(GERU)
  • B.A.(Hons.)1st year in Japanese(JAPU)
  • B.A.(Hons.)1st year in Korean(KORU)
  • B.A.(Hons.)1st year in Persian(PERU)
  • B.A.(Hons.)1st year in Pushto (PUSU)
  • B.A.(Hons.)1st year in Russian(RSNU)
  • B.A.(Hons.)1st year in Spanish(SPNU)
  • B.A.(Hons.)2nd year in Arabic(ARBS)
  • B.A.(Hons.)2nd year in Chinese(CHNS)
  • B.A.(Hons.)2nd year in French(FRNS)
  • B.A.(Hons.)2nd year in German(GERS)
  • B.A.(Hons.)2nd year in Japanese(JAPS)
  • B.A.(Hons.)2nd year in Korean(KORS)
  • B.A.(Hons.)2nd year in Pashto(PUSS)
  • B.A.(Hons.)2nd year in Persian(PERS)
  • B.A.(Hons.)2nd year in Russian(RSNS)
  • B.A.(Hons.)2nd year in Spanish(SPNS)
  • Integrated M.Sc-Ph.D programme in Computational & Integrative Sciences(CISM)
  • Integrated M.Sc-Ph.D programme in Molecular Medicine(CMMM)
For details, click here 

Postgraduate Programme
  • Integrated M.Sc-Ph.D programme in Computational & Integrative Sciences(CISM)
  • Integrated M.Sc-Ph.D programme in Molecular Medicine(CMMM)
  • M.A. in Ancient History(ANCM)
  • M.A. in Arabic(ARBM)
  • M.A. in Arts & Aesthetics(SAAM)
  • M.A. in Chinese(CHNM)
  • M.A. in Development and Labour Studies(DLSM)
  • M.A. in Economics(ECOM)
  • M.A. in Economics(with specialisation in World Economy)(EILM)
  • M.A. in English(ENGM)
  • M.A. in French and Francophone Studies(FRNM)
  • M.A. in Geography(GEOM)
  • M.A. in German Literature(GRLM)
  • M.A. in German Translation/Translation & Interpretation(GRTM)
  • M.A. in Hindi(HNDM)
  • M.A. in International Relations and Area Studies(IRAM)
  • M.A. in Japanese(JAPM)
  • M.A. in Korean(KORM)
  • M.A. in Linguistics(LINM)
  • M.A. in Medieval History(MEDM)
  • M.A. in Modern History(MODM)
  • M.A. in Persian(PERM)
  • M.A. in Philosophy(SPHM)
  • M.A. in Political Science(POLM)
  • M.A. in Politics(with specialisation in International Studies)(PISM)
  • M.A. in Russian(RSNM)
  • M.A. in Sanskrit(SANM)
  • M.A. in Sociology(SOCM)
  • M.A. in Spanish(SPNM)
  • M.A. in Urdu(URDM)
  • M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences(SESM)
  • M.Sc. in Life Sciences(SLSM)
  • M.Sc. in Physics(SPSM)
For details, click here 

MPhil/PhD
  • M.Phil. in Portuguese(PRTP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in African Studies(AFSP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Ancient History(ANCP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Arabic(ARBP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Canadian Studies(CANP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Chinese Studies(CHIP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Chinese(CHNP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Cinema Studies(CNSP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Comparative Politics And Political Theory(CPTP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Computer & Systems Sciences(SCSP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Diplomacy and Disarmament(DADP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Discrimination and Exclusion Studies (SDEP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Economic Studies & Planning(ECOP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Economics(ECNP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Educational Studies(EDUP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in English(ENGP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in European Studies(EUPP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in French(FRNP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Geography(GEOP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in German(GERP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Hindi Translation(HTLP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Hindi(HNDP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Indo-Pacific Studies (South-East Asia/South-West Pacific)(IPSP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Inner Asian Studies(IASP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in International Legal Studies(ILGP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in International Organisation(ORGP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in International Politics(INPP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in International Trade & Development(ITDP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Japanese Studies(JPIP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Japanese(JAPP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Korean Studies(KOIP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Korean(KORP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Latin American Studies(LAMP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Law & Governance(CLGP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Life Sciences(SLSP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Linguistics(LINP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Media Studies (CMSP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Medieval History(MEDP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Modern History(MODP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in North East India Studies(NESP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Persian(PERP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Philosophy(SPHP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Political Geography(POGP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Political Studies(POLP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Population Studies(POPP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Programme in Social Sciences in Health(CSMP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Research Area I(ONEP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Research Area II(TWOP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Research Area III(THRP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Research Area IV(FORP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Russian & Central Asian Studies(RCAP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Russian(RSNP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Sanskrit(SANP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Social Systems(SOCP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in South Asian Studies(SASP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Spanish(SPNP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Studies in Science Policy(SSPP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Tamil(TAMP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Theatre and Performance Studies(TPSP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in United States Studies(USSP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Urdu(URDP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Visual Arts(VSAP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in West Asian Studies(WASP)
  • M.Phil./Ph.D. in Women Studies(WSPP)
  • M.Tech/Ph.D. in Computer & Systems Sciences(MTCP)
  • Master of Computer Applications(MCAM)
  • MPH/Ph.D. in Programme in Community Health(MPHP)
  • Pre-Ph.D./Ph.D. in Nanosciences(NNSP)
  • Pre-Ph.D/Ph.D. in Biotechnology(SBTP)
  • Pre-Ph.D/Ph.D. in Chemical Science(CHEP)
  • Pre-Ph.D/Ph.D. in Computaional Biology & Bioinformatics(CBBP)
  • Pre-Ph.D/Ph.D. in Mathematical Science(MATP)
  • Pre-Ph.D/Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine(CMMP)
  • Pre-Ph.D/Ph.D. in Physical Science(PHYP)
  • M.Sc Biotechnology
For more information, click here 

Certificate and Diploma Programmes

Apart from the above programmes, JNU also offers the following certificate and diploma programmes :
  • Advance Diploma in Mass Media in Urdu
  • Advance Diploma in Pushto
  • Diploma in Bhasha Indonesia
  • Certificate programme in Mongolian
  • Certificate Programme in Bahasa Indonesia
  • Certificate programme in Urdu
  • Certificate programme in Pali
  • Certificate programme in Computational Linguistic
For more information, click here

JNU Contact Details

New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi, Delhi 110067
Phone : 011-26742575, 26742676, 26741557
Fax: 011-26741586
4000 to 4799 – Prefix:  2670
8701 to 8899 – Prefix:  2673
Website: https://www.jnu.ac.in

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