Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) at City College, Kolkata is a 4-year undergraduate programme (with exit options after 2, 4, or 6 semesters) offered under the Choice-based Credit Framework (CCF) as per NEP 2020, affiliated to the University of Calcutta. The programme is available in Honours (Major) mode across subjects including Bengali, English, History, Political Science, Philosophy, Sanskrit, and Economics, as well as a 3-year Multidisciplinary (General) mode. The total fees for the 3-year programme are approximately Rs. 8,495 to Rs. 13,055 depending on the stream and subject, making it one of the most affordable BA programmes in Kolkata. The college has a total BA seat intake of over 640 seats across all subjects and streams. City College is a NAAC-accredited institution with a rich legacy dating back to 1881, known for its strong academic tradition, distinguished alumni, and vibrant campus life.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year will be conducted through the West Bengal Centralised Admission Portal (WBCAP) at wbcap.in. Based on the 2025-26 schedule, the WBCAP portal is expected to launch in June 2026, with Phase-1 registration likely from mid-June to mid-July 2026. Admission is purely merit-based on HSC (Class 12) marks; no entrance examination is required. The current 2025-26 admission cycle has been completed.

Key Points

City College, Kolkata is one of the oldest and most prestigious colleges in West Bengal, established in 1881 by the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, affiliated to the University of Calcutta.
The BA programme is offered under the 4-year CCF (Choice-based Credit Framework) as per NEP 2020, with exit options after 2 semesters (Certificate), 4 semesters (Diploma), 6 semesters (B.A. with Major/Graduate with Major), and 8 semesters (B.A. Honours with Research).
Honours (Major) subjects available: Bengali, English, History, Political Science, Philosophy, Sanskrit, and Economics.
Admission is purely merit-based through the WBCAP portal; no entrance examination is required.
The college has a distinguished alumni network including notable personalities from academia, politics, and public life.
The library at City College received special praise from the NAAC peer team for its quality and resources.

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City College BA Fees

The fees at City College, Kolkata are among the most affordable for a BA programme in West Bengal, as the college is a government-aided institution under the University of Calcutta. The total fees for the 3-year programme (6 semesters) range from Rs. 8,495 to Rs. 13,055 depending on the subject and stream. The fees mentioned below are based on the latest available official fee structure (2022-23); current fees may be marginally higher due to annual revisions.

Fee Structure

Stream / Subject	Fees at Admission (1st Semester) (Rs.)	Total Fees for 3 Years / 6 Semesters (Rs.)
B.A. General (Multidisciplinary)	3,050	8,495
B.A. Honours (Bengali, English, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Sanskrit)	3,200	9,515
B.A. Honours (Economics)	4,210	13,055
Total Fees (Honours - General subjects)	3,200	9,515

Fee structure is as per the University of Calcutta and Government of West Bengal norms for government-aided colleges.
The above fees are based on the 2022-23 official fee structure; current fees for 2025-26 may be marginally higher.
Hostel facility is not available at City College, Kolkata.
No EMI or instalment facility is mentioned; fees are paid semester-wise at the time of admission/re-admission.
Refund policy is as per University of Calcutta and Government of West Bengal norms.

City College BA Admission 2026-27

Admissions to the BA programme at City College, Kolkata are conducted through the West Bengal Centralised Admission Portal (WBCAP) at wbcap.in. The process is entirely online and merit-based, with no entrance examination. For 2026-27, the WBCAP portal is expected to launch in June 2026 based on the previous year's schedule. The 2025-26 admission cycle has been completed.

BA Admission Schedule

Event	Date (Tentative for 2026-27)
WBCAP Portal Launch	June 2026
Phase-1 Registration and Application	Mid-June 2026 - Mid-July 2026
Phase-1 Merit List / Seat Allotment	August 2026
Physical Verification of Documents	August 2026
Phase-2 (Mop-up Round) Applications	September 2026
Phase-2 Allotment and Verification	September 2026
Standalone Portal (for remaining seats)	October - November 2026
Orientation Programme for New Students	August - September 2026
Commencement of Classes (Semester I)	August - September 2026

For official updates, visit: wbcap.in and citycollegekolkata.org

Seat Intake

Subject	Total Seats
B.A. Multidisciplinary (3-Year General)	134
Bengali (Honours)	81
English (Honours)	81
History (Honours)	81
Economics (Honours)	67
Philosophy (Honours)	67
Political Science (Honours)	67
Sanskrit (Honours)	67

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed 10+2 (Higher Secondary or equivalent) from any recognized board.
Minimum 50% aggregate marks in the best of four subjects (including English) for BA Honours admission.
For BA General (Multidisciplinary), minimum 50% aggregate in best of four subjects.
Candidates from SC/ST/OBC-A/OBC-B categories are eligible for relaxation as per Government of West Bengal norms.

Admission Process

Register on the WBCAP portal (wbcap.in) and create an applicant profile.
Enter academic details and upload required documents.
Prepare a preference list of colleges and subjects in order of priority.
Merit list is prepared based on HSC marks; no entrance examination is required.
Upon allotment, report to City College for physical verification of documents.
Pay the admission fee online/offline within the stipulated time to confirm admission.
Government reservation rules (SC/ST/OBC-A/OBC-B/EWS/PwD) are strictly followed as per West Bengal Government norms.

City College BA Scholarships 2026-27

Students admitted to the BA programme at City College, Kolkata can avail of several government and institutional scholarships. The most prominent is the Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship (SVMCM) offered by the Government of West Bengal. City College has a dedicated Students' Welfare Sub-Committee for SVMCM to assist students in the application process.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount
Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship (SVMCM)	60% or above in last qualifying exam; family income up to Rs. 2,50,000 per annum; domicile of West Bengal	Rs. 1,000 per month (Rs. 12,000 per annum) for UG Arts/Commerce students
SC/ST/OBC Scholarship (State Government of West Bengal)	SC/ST/OBC category students	As per Government norms (tuition fee waiver / stipend)
NSP (PM-USP) Yojana	80% in Class 12, UGC recognized UG courses, parental income up to Rs. 4.5 Lakhs	Up to Rs. 82,000 per annum
Minority Scholarship (State/Central)	Students from minority communities	As per Government norms
Student Credit Card Scheme (West Bengal)	Students enrolled in recognized institutions in West Bengal	Education loan up to Rs. 10 Lakhs at 4% interest

SVMCM applications are submitted online at svmcm.wb.gov.in; City College has a dedicated sub-committee to assist students.
Application deadlines for government scholarships are as per the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) and State Government notifications.
The Student Credit Card Scheme is a loan scheme, not a scholarship; repayment begins after completion of the course.

City College BA FAQs

Ques. Does City College, Kolkata offer BA Honours in all subjects, or only in select subjects?

Ans. City College offers BA Honours (Major) in Bengali, English, History, Political Science, Philosophy, Sanskrit, and Economics. A 3-year BA Multidisciplinary (General) programme is also available. The college does not offer Honours in subjects like Sociology, Geography, or Psychology at the UG level.

Ques. Is there any entrance examination for BA admission at City College, Kolkata?

Ans. No, admission to the BA programme at City College is purely merit-based through the WBCAP portal. There is no entrance examination. Selection is based on aggregate marks in the best of four subjects in the HSC (Class 12) examination.

Ques. What is the difference between the 3-year and 4-year BA programme at City College under NEP 2020?

Ans. Under the NEP 2020 CCF framework, the BA programme is structured as a 4-year programme with multiple exit options. Students can exit after 6 semesters (3 years) with a "Graduate with Major" degree, or continue for 8 semesters (4 years) to earn a "B.A. Honours with Research" degree. The 3-year exit is recognized as a full undergraduate degree by the University of Calcutta.

Ques. What is the total fee for the BA programme at City College, Kolkata?

Ans. The total fees for the 3-year BA programme (6 semesters) are approximately Rs. 8,495 for BA General (Multidisciplinary), Rs. 9,515 for BA Honours in most subjects, and Rs. 13,055 for BA Economics Honours. These are based on the 2022-23 fee structure; current fees may be marginally higher.

Ques. Is hostel accommodation available for BA students at City College, Kolkata?

Ans. City College, Kolkata does not have hostel facilities on campus. Students need to arrange their own accommodation. The college is located at 102/1, Raja Rammohan Sarani, Kolkata - 700009, which is well-connected by public transport.

Ques. What are the career options after completing BA from City College, Kolkata?

Ans. Graduates can pursue postgraduate studies (MA) at the University of Calcutta or other universities, appear for competitive examinations (UPSC, WBPSC, SSC, etc.), pursue B.Ed. for teaching careers, or enter fields such as journalism, law, civil services, social work, and management. City College's strong academic reputation and University of Calcutta affiliation are well-regarded by employers and institutions across India.