GetMyUni's Verdict on Deshbandhu University

Parvathy Krishnakumar

“With strong academic excellence and renowned faculty members, Deshbandhu College has an established reputation of being one of the best colleges in the country. Along with an intellectually stimulating learning environment, it's also known for its vibrant campus life.”

One of the constituent colleges of Delhi University, Deshbandhu College, is located in Kalkaji, South Delhi. It is among the region's oldest and most prominent educational institutions that promote Arts, Science and Commerce courses. The college continues to grow both in stature and size. The college is renowned for its solid academic excellence and well-facilitated infrastructure. 

Along with academics, students also have several opportunities at the college to pursue their interests in extracurricular activities through cultural and sports clubs and events. Apart from that, students who intend to pursue a career in Politics also have great opportunities that can help them get a good head start in the field through the various activities held on the campus.

The college's reputation is reflected in its exponential growth and its improvement in the NAAC ranking. The faculty members here are considered to be the best in the country. The college also has an active career counselling and placement cell that provides students suitable job opportunities through campus recruitment. While the college holds a solid academic reputation, the students' experience may vary depending on their program expectations and aspirations.

Table of Contents

• Multidisciplinary Academic Programs
• Excellent Faculty Members
• Well-Developed Infrastructure
• Absence of Hostels
• Well-Rounded Campus Life
• Satisfactory Placements
• Final Verdict on Deshbandhu College

Multidisciplinary Academic Programs

The college offers academic programs ranging from History, Economics, Commerce, and Languages to all the major disciplines of Science at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As it is one of the most reputed colleges under Delhi University, there are limited seats available for the major programs, and only those students who have obtained the required cut-off marks will be offered admission to their desired courses. The college, however, has seats reserved for students who belong to underrepresented categories to ensure they have more visibility and opportunities.

One of the major distinguishing features of the academic programs at the college is its combination of programs with specialisations in other disciplines. Though there are over 40 programs offered at the undergraduate level, the college has limited courses at the postgraduate level. Nevertheless, the students and academic experts have greatly appreciated all the courses offered.

Even though almost all courses at the college are recommended by current and former students, some programs are ranked among the best in the country. Some of those programs are listed below:

• BA (Hons) Economics
• BA (Hons) English
• BA (Hons) Political Science
• B.Sc (Hons) Mathematics
• B.Sc (Hons) Zoology
• B.Sc (Hons) Physics
• MA in English/ Hindi/ Sanskrit
• MA in Political Science
• M.Sc Mathematics
• Master of Commerce (M.Com)

The programs mentioned above are recognised for their strong focus on developing critical thinking and problem-solving. The course curriculum for relevant programs is designed to give equal weightage to theoretical and practical learning, which can help students gain the required knowledge and skills to excel in their respective fields.

Apart from the undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the college is also known for its research programs that enable students to perform cutting-edge research in their desired fields. The college's dedicated research and development cell ensures students have access to the necessary facilities and resources to assist them in their research endeavours. 

Course Fee Structure

The annual course fees at the college vary for each program depending on the requirements. However, it is comparatively lower than the private colleges in the country. In addition, there are differences in the annual fees for students who belong to the underprivileged categories.

The annual course fees at the college include tuition fees, university funds, and college funds. The college fund is a total of specific charges, like development fund and facilities and services charges. However, students who belong to the PwD category are exempted from the college fund.

According to the latest fee structure, the annual fees for B.Sc (Hons)/ B.Sc, BA, B.Com (Hons) and MA/ M.Com/ M.Sc programs are INR 19,405, INR 12,851, INR 15,851 and INR 12,087, respectively for students who belong to the General, OBC and EWS categories. 

Whereas for students who belong to SC/ ST categories, the course fees for the same programs are INR 18,705, INR 12,151, INR 15,151 and INR 11,387, respectively. The annual fee for PwD category students is INR 125 for all programs. In addition to the nominal course fees, the college offers multiple scholarships and other financial assistance based on the student's academic performance and categories.

Attendance Policy

As the college is affiliated with DU, the rules and regulations followed by the college are the same as those of the university. Based on the university policies, students are mandated to maintain a minimum of 66.67% attendance in the tutorials, lectures and practical sessions for all subjects to appear for the final examination.

Even though students with attendance between 40 and 66.67% attendance percentage can appear for the exam with the Principal/ Attendance Committee's permission, those whose attendance falls below 40% will not be allowed to appear in the exam.

Excellent Faculty Members

The college is renowned for its highly qualified and well-experienced faculty members in all central departments. Based on the students' reviews on online platforms, the professors at the college play a significant role in making it one of the best academic institutions in the country. 

The professors are said to be extremely helpful when clarifying doubts and discussing different concepts. It is safe to say that the professors in all departments are equally good, and only a tiny fraction of these faculty members are not up to the mark.

With immense experience in their respective fields and in the teaching arena, each professor is mentioned to devise both traditional and modern teaching methods to ensure all their students gain the required knowledge. They are willing to go the extra mile to thoroughly explain even the challenging concepts and topics.

As they are actively involved in the newest changes in their fields, the professors are equipped to provide relevant information and train their students to match the current industry standards. This gives the students a better chance of excelling in their chosen field.

However, while there are knowledgeable and dedicated professors in the college, some students have mentioned on online forums that they have encountered less active professors. Such members are more interested in completing their course syllabus rather than providing additional information and instilling valuable knowledge within the students. As mentioned before, there are fewer such professors, so the overall quality is maintained.

Well-Developed Infrastructure

Though the college's infrastructure is not as extensive as that of the private colleges and universities in the country, it is well-facilitated with consistent new improvements. It has a well-equipped academic infrastructure catering to the learning and research needs of the students. Additionally, the sprawling campus of the college is filled with lush greenery and numerous facilities that provide a conducive learning environment for its students. 

The college infrastructure consists of three main buildings with well-maintained and adequately equipped academic facilities for the main disciplines. The classrooms at the college are spacious, well-lit and adequately ventilated. Though the classrooms are of traditional design, the college has included modern facilities and audio-visual aids, such as projectors and smartboards, to enable interactive teaching and learning methods.

The relevant departments have dedicated laboratories well-equipped with the essential facilities and instruments to enhance the practical learning experience. The laboratories are constantly upgraded with the latest technology and equipment to match the ever-evolving academic needs of the students. These laboratories also have the necessary facilities to enable cutting-edge research.

The college library is regarded as one of the biggest and the best in Delhi and the entire country. The library houses an extensive collection of books, theses, research papers, journals and other essential educational materials. Along with the printed resources, the digital library also has a vast collection of electronic resources, such as e-books, e-journals and other online databases, which can be accessed through the computer systems available within the library. 

The library is spacious enough to hold large groups of students, with ample seating areas where students and professors can read and study peacefully. Another interesting fact about the library is that it is open past working hours, which makes it more convenient for students.

The college has a decently facilitated sports complex with sufficient facilities for sports like volleyball, basketball, badminton, etc. It encourages students to practise their favourite sports and maintain physical fitness while getting a quality education.

The college canteen is known to be one of the significant hangout places for students. It offers a variety of food and beverage options at affordable prices. The students appreciate the overall quality of food served and the general hygiene in the canteen premises.

In addition, the college has other facilities such as standard rooms, banking facilities, a web access centre and a spacious auditorium which assists the students in their different activities. Apart from the facilities mentioned above, the college boasts an accessible campus with ramps and elevators in all the buildings, making it easier for students with disabilities to move around the campus. 

In short, the college has a well-developed infrastructure with functional facilities catering to the student's academic and extracurricular needs. Though some areas require improvement compared to the country's private institutions, the college is actively making different changes and upgrades to make the campus more attractive to the students.

Absence of Hostels

The college does not provide on-campus housing facilities to its students. However, numerous PGs, private hostels and student apartments are available close to the college at different price ranges. Students can opt for these facilities based on their preferences and budgets. It is also different if the students select PGs with mess facilities.

However, the safety and security of students are assured by the PG owners, who have round-the-clock security personnel and CCTV cameras placed at all corners.

The monthly rents at these private housing facilities vary depending on the available facilities, amenities and luxuries. It is slightly higher for rooms with AC, and other added amenities. Typically, the monthly rent for PGs near the college ranges from INR 4000 to INR 32,500, depending on the room type, occupancy and facilities.

Well-Rounded Campus Life

Along with a long-standing academic reputation, the college offers a vibrant and engaging campus experience with numerous extracurricular and recreational activities available. Students can be part of various clubs, societies, and organisations available for different academic pursuits and cultural activities. Students can pursue their interests and hobbies while completing their academic studies. 

In order to promote academic excellence, the college organises various activities and events, such as seminars, guest lectures, and workshops, with famous personalities visiting the campus to talk to the students about their course possibilities and career prospects. Such academic events offer an enriching experience where students gain insight into their subjects and learn more about their fields of interest. 

Apart from academic activities, the college also has an active student union elected by the students. The college campus is vibrant with campaigns and other political activities during the student union elections.

Additionally, the cultural and sports clubs on campus help students keep themselves active, nurture their talents, and develop leadership and communication skills. Such activities help in their overall development, which in turn benefits them in the professional world.

Students are also encouraged to participate in different sports competitions and tournaments held between other disciplines as well as various colleges and universities. These competitions instil a sense of community and healthy team spirit within the students.

Furthermore, the college conducts annual cultural events and fests that offer students opportunities to showcase their talents and skills and celebrate their diverse student body. Overall, the college is dedicated to providing students with immense opportunities to ensure a holistic learning experience with ample possibilities to pursue their passion and academics.

Diversity on Campus

As it is one of the country's popular Arts and Sciences colleges with strong academic excellence, students from various regions are part of the student community here. The student body celebrates a highly diverse crowd of students from diverse cultures, regions, languages, and socioeconomic backgrounds. 

Owing to the nominal fee structure, the student body at the college is composed of students from all walks of life. It has a decently balanced gender ratio with almost equal male and female students.

To make quality education more welcoming and accessible to students from underrepresented categories, the college has dedicated cells for underrepresented students to raise awareness among the students and to ensure a safe learning environment. Moreover, the college celebrates diversity through different festivals, which exposes the students to the different cultures and traditions in the country.

Dress Code

While the college has no defined uniform, it mandates students to maintain a strict decent dress code fitting for an academic environment. There are no significant restrictions on the dress code, but students are refrained from wearing offensive or inappropriate clothing on campus.

Satisfactory Placements

According to the latest reports, the college has provided many students with successful placement opportunities at top companies and organisations within the country. Its dedicated placement cell is known for its career guidance and training programs that assist students to perform well in placement events.

As it holds an excellent reputation for its academic excellence, students from the college are recruited by industry leaders across various sectors. The placement cell also works with these companies to offer successful job opportunities to outgoing students. 

Based on the latest statistics, over 440 students were offered successful placements at different companies. According to the reports, the median placement salary package offered to the graduates was INR 4.15 LPA.

Final Verdict on Deshbandhu College

To answer the final question of whether Deshbandhu College is a wise choice, it can be concluded that it is one of the best academic institutions at Delhi University that can help students realise their academic potential and achieve their career goals. With a long-standing academic reputation, the college has seen exponential growth in its educational quality and infrastructure that match the current trends in academic standards. 

While it holds solid academic excellence, students must obtain the minimum cut-off marks to secure a seat in their desired course, which can be challenging. This also makes the educational environment at the college highly competitive, with a rigorous course curriculum and intelligent students.

Nevertheless, aspiring students are advised to connect with academic experts and current and former students to learn more about their desired courses and career prospects at the college. Some of the pros and cons of Deshbandhu College are listed below to get a better understanding.

*Source: Deshbandhu College, Delhi University Facebook and deshbandhucollege.ac.in