Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The B.A. (Hons.) Political Science is a 4-year full-time undergraduate honours programme offered by the School of Social Sciences and International Studies at Pondicherry University, a NAAC A+ accredited Central University established in 1985. The programme provides rigorous training in political theory, Indian government and politics, international relations, comparative politics, public administration, and political thought, with an intake of 25 seats per year. The total programme fee is approximately Rs. 86,478 over 4 years (8 semesters), making it one of the most affordable political science honours programmes in a Central University. Admission is based on CUET (UG) scores in Political Science/Sociology/History/General Aptitude Test domain subjects, and the course is highly popular among students aspiring for careers in civil services, diplomacy, law, and public policy.

Admissions for 2026-27 are currently in progress. CUET (UG) 2026 applications closed on January 31, 2026, and the exam is scheduled from May 11 to May 31, 2026. University-level counselling and seat allotment are expected to begin after CUET results are declared in July 2026. Given the small intake of 25 seats, competition is high and students are advised to monitor the official admissions portal at admissions.pondiuni.edu.in closely.

Key Points

The programme is offered by the School of Social Sciences and International Studies, which has a strong focus on South Asian politics, international relations, and governance.
Pondicherry's unique status as a Union Territory with a French colonial heritage provides a distinctive perspective on comparative politics and governance.
The CUET domain subjects include Political Science, Sociology, History, and General Aptitude Test, giving students flexibility in subject choice.
The programme follows the NEP 2020 framework with multiple exit options: Certificate (1 year), Diploma (2 years), and B.A. (Hons.) (4 years).
Political Science is one of the most popular optional subjects for UPSC Civil Services Examination, and this programme provides a strong foundation for it.

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Scholarships
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FAQs

Pondicherry University Latest Updates and News

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03 Feb, 2026 Pondicherry University BA {Hons.} Political Science Fee Structure 2026 has been released. The total academic fee is ₹ 87,044 . Check details.

PU BA (Hons.) Political Science Fees

The B.A. (Hons.) Political Science programme falls under the Social Sciences fee category at Pondicherry University. The first-semester fee is Rs. 25,878, subsequent odd semesters (3rd, 5th, 7th) are charged at Rs. 16,200 each, and even semesters (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th) are charged at Rs. 3,000 each. The total programme cost over 4 years (8 semesters) is Rs. 86,478, making it highly affordable for a political science honours programme at a Central University.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Semester 1 (Rs.)	Even Semesters 2/4/6/8 (Rs. each)	Odd Semesters 3/5/7 (Rs. each)
Tuition Fee	3,000	3,000	3,000
Registration Fee	300	-	-
Matriculation Fee	100	-	-
Recognition Fee	400	-	-
Sports Fund	500	-	500
Medical Examination / Facilities Fund	600	-	600
Library Fund	1,500	-	1,500
Laboratory Running / Maintenance Fund	2,500	-	2,500
Amenities Development Fund	6,000	-	-
Students' Welfare Fund	600	-	600
Alumni Association Fund	500	-	-
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	1,000	-	-
Advanced Lab / Language Lab Fund	2,000	-	2,000
Facilities Upgradation Fund	10,000	-	10,000
Placement Activity Fund	500	-	500
Academic Activity Fund	2,000	-	2,000
Field Visit Fund	2,000	-	2,000
Industry-Institute Interface Fund	Nil	-	Nil
Digital Activity Fund	2,000	-	2,000
Group Medical Insurance	378	-	-
University Development Fund	2,000	-	-
Semester Total	25,878	3,000	16,200
Total Programme Fees (8 Semesters)	Rs. 86,478

Hostel Fees

Component	Amount
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	Rs. 3,000
Room Rent (Non-Refundable, per year)	Rs. 900
General Amenities Fund (per year)	Rs. 700
Establishment Charges (per year)	Rs. 300
Application Fee (one-time, at admission)	Rs. 75
Mess Fees (per semester, approx.)	As notified by hostel office

Caution Deposit of Rs. 1,000 is refundable upon leaving the university after deducting dues.
SC/ST students are exempted from all fees except refundable caution deposit and Group Medical Insurance premium.
Differently abled students are fully exempted from all fees including examination fees.
SC/ST students eligible for Post-Matric Scholarships may pay fees within 90 days of admission upon submission of an undertaking.
Late payment fine: Rs. 5/day for first 10 days; Rs. 10/day thereafter.
Hostel fees are separate and optional (not mandatory).
Hostel accommodation is not mandatory and is subject to availability.
Preference is given to students from distant places.
No room rent is charged from SC/ST students.
Mess dining is compulsory for hostel residents.

PU BA (Hons.) Political Science Admission 2026

Admission to B.A. (Hons.) Political Science at Pondicherry University is based on CUET (UG) scores. For 2026-27, CUET (UG) 2026 applications have closed and the exam is scheduled in May 2026. The university will conduct its own counselling and seat allotment process after CUET results are declared. With only 25 seats, this is a competitive programme and students should aim for high CUET scores.

University Admission Dates

Event	Date / Status
CUET (UG) 2026 Application Start	January 3, 2026
CUET (UG) 2026 Application End	January 31, 2026 (Closed)
CUET (UG) 2026 Admit Card	May 5, 2026 (Tentative)
CUET (UG) 2026 Exam	May 11 - May 31, 2026
CUET (UG) 2026 Answer Key	June 17, 2026 (Tentative)
CUET (UG) 2026 Result	July 4, 2026 (Tentative)
PU Counselling / Seat Allotment	July - August 2026 (Tentative, post-result)
Admission / Fee Payment	August 2026 (Tentative)
Batch Commencement	August / September 2026 (Tentative)

CUET (UG) Exam Dates

Event	Date
Registration Start	January 3, 2026
Registration End	January 31, 2026
Admit Card Release	May 5, 2026 (Tentative)
Exam Dates	May 11 - May 31, 2026
Answer Key Release	June 17, 2026 (Tentative)
Result Declaration	July 4, 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Must have passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent from a recognised board with a minimum of 50% marks.
SC/ST candidates are eligible irrespective of percentage in the qualifying examination.

Admission Process

Register and appear for CUET (UG) 2026 with any of the following domain subjects: Political Science, Sociology, History, or General Aptitude Test.
Apply to Pondicherry University through the official admissions portal (admissions.pondiuni.edu.in) after CUET results.
Participate in the university's online counselling and seat allotment process.
Submit required documents (mark sheets, community certificate, etc.) at the time of admission.
Pay the prescribed fees to confirm admission.

PU BA (Hons.) Political Science Scholarships 2026

Pondicherry University offers a range of scholarships and fee concessions for students of the B.A. (Hons.) Political Science programme. SC/ST students enjoy full fee exemption, while differently abled students receive completely free education. Government of India and state-level scholarships are also available for eligible students.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount / Benefit
SC/ST Fee Exemption	SC/ST students	Full exemption from all fees (except caution deposit and medical insurance)
Differently Abled Student Exemption	Differently abled students	Full exemption from all fees including examination fees
Post-Matric Scholarship (Govt. of India)	SC/ST students	Covers tuition and other fees; paid by state government
Merit-Cum-Means (MCM) Scholarship	PG students (20% of batch); parental income below Rs. 2.5 lakh p.a.	Rs. 750 per month
Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child	Single girl child pursuing PG	As per UGC norms
Government of Puducherry Merit / MCM Scholarship	Students from UT of Puducherry	As notified by Govt. of Puducherry
OBC / EWS Scholarship (Govt. of India)	OBC / EWS students	As per state/central government norms

A student is eligible for only one scholarship at a time.
MCM and Merit Scholarships are primarily for PG programmes; UG students should check with the university for applicable schemes.
SC/ST students must submit a community certificate from a Revenue Officer (not below Tahsildar rank) at the time of admission.
Students availing government scholarships are not entitled to the university's fee exemption simultaneously.

PU BA (Hons.) Political Science FAQs

Ques. Is B.A. (Hons.) Political Science at Pondicherry University good for UPSC preparation?

Ans. Yes, Political Science is one of the most popular and scoring optional subjects for UPSC Civil Services Examination. The B.A. (Hons.) Political Science programme at Pondicherry University covers Indian polity, international relations, political theory, and comparative politics, which directly aligns with the UPSC Political Science and International Relations optional syllabus. Many PU graduates have successfully cleared UPSC with Political Science as their optional.

Ques. What CUET subjects should I choose to apply for B.A. (Hons.) Political Science at Pondicherry University?

Ans. You can choose any one of the following CUET (UG) domain subjects: Political Science, Sociology, History, or General Aptitude Test. Choosing Political Science as your domain subject is the most relevant option and provides the best preparation for the programme.

Ques. What are the career options after completing B.A. (Hons.) Political Science from Pondicherry University?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers in civil services (UPSC/state PSCs), diplomacy (Indian Foreign Service), law, journalism, public policy, NGOs, think tanks, and academia. Many graduates proceed to M.A. Political Science and then Ph.D. for research and teaching careers. The programme also prepares students well for careers in international organisations.

Ques. What is the CUET cut-off for B.A. (Hons.) Political Science at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Based on 2025-26 data, the CUET (UG) cut-off for B.A. (Hons.) Political Science at Pondicherry University was in the range of 200-215 for General category. With only 25 seats, competition is significant. Cut-offs vary each year based on the number of applicants and exam difficulty.

Ques. Does Pondicherry University offer M.A. Political Science after B.A. (Hons.) Political Science?

Ans. Yes, Pondicherry University offers M.A. Political Science at the main Puducherry campus. Students who complete B.A. (Hons.) Political Science are eligible to apply for M.A. Political Science admission through CUET (PG), subject to meeting the eligibility criteria (minimum 50% in Bachelor's degree).

Ques. Does the Political Science department at Pondicherry University have any specialisation in international relations or South Asian politics?

Ans. Yes, the School of Social Sciences and International Studies at Pondicherry University has a strong focus on international relations, South Asian politics, and governance. The university's location in Puducherry, a Union Territory with a unique political history and proximity to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, provides a distinctive perspective on regional politics and international relations. Faculty members are actively engaged in research on these themes.