University of Delhi, Department of Financial Studies (DFS) is a postgraduate department of the University of Delhi, situated at the South Campus in New Delhi. Established in 1987, DFS is a government-funded institution operating under the University of Delhi, which holds a NAAC A+ accreditation. The department is also a member of the CFA University Affiliation Program (USA), making it one of a small number of Indian institutions recognised under this programme.
As per NIRF University 2025, the University of Delhi is ranked among the top universities in India. DFS, as a specialist postgraduate department of Delhi University, is not independently ranked by NIRF.
The department is located within the University of Delhi South Campus complex in Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, and maintains a small cohort of 70 students per MBA Finance batch, enabling close faculty interaction and a tight-knit alumni network in the finance sector.
- MBA (Finance): 2-year full-time programme with a specialised finance curriculum covering investment analysis, derivatives, corporate finance, and financial modelling
- PhD (Finance): Research programme in finance and financial economics
The total fees for the MBA Finance programme are approximately INR 49,820 per year (INR 99,640 for the full two-year programme) under the University of Delhi fee structure. This is among the lowest fee bands for a Delhi-based finance MBA.
In the 2024-25 placement season, the highest offer was INR 32 LPA, with an average package of INR 19.1 LPA. Top recruiters include De Shaw, Arcesium, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and major banks such as Axis Bank and HDFC Bank.
DFS Delhi Admission Dates 2026
Admissions to the DFS Delhi MBA Finance programme for the 2026-28 batch were conducted via CAT 2025 scores followed by a Personal Interview in early 2026. The 2026-28 batch is now in session. The next cycle for the 2027-29 batch will open with CAT 2026 in November 2026.
| Event | 2026-28 Batch (Concluded) |
|---|---|
| CAT 2025 Exam | November 2025 |
| CAT 2025 Result | January 2026 |
| DFS Application Window | January to February 2026 |
| Personal Interview (PI) | February to March 2026 |
| Final Merit List | April 2026 |
| Session Commencement | July 2026 |
For the 2027-29 batch, the process restarts with CAT 2026. The table below shows the programme-wise entrance exams accepted at DFS Delhi.
| Programme | Exam Accepted | Selection Basis |
|---|---|---|
| MBA (Finance) | CAT | CAT score (60%) and Personal Interview (25%) plus academic weightages |
| PhD (Finance) | UGC NET / JRF or University Entrance Test | Research proposal and interview |
DFS Delhi Courses and Fees
DFS Delhi offers two programmes: the flagship MBA Finance and a research-oriented PhD in Finance. The MBA Finance is a full-time two-year programme with a cohort of 70 students, making it one of the most selective public-sector finance MBA programmes in India. Fee structure follows University of Delhi norms and is significantly below private B-school equivalents.
| Course | Duration | Intake | Eligibility | Total Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBA (Finance) | 2 years | 70 seats | Bachelor’s degree with 50% aggregate. Mathematics or Business Mathematics at Class XII required | INR 49,820 per year (approx. INR 99,640 total) |
| PhD (Finance) | 3 years minimum | Limited | Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Commerce, or Management with 55% | INR 21,390 per year |
The MBA Finance curriculum is aligned with CFA Institute Learning Outcome Statements across Level I, II, and III of the CFA programme, providing a rigorous finance education comparable to globally recognised standards. Hostel accommodation is available through University of Delhi South Campus hostels at annual fees between INR 38,990 and INR 71,668 depending on the hostel and room type.
DFS Delhi Admission Process
Admission to the MBA Finance programme at DFS Delhi is among the more competitive processes in the Delhi NCR MBA landscape. The CAT cutoff for the General Category typically falls at the 95th percentile, with candidates also screened via a Personal Interview for communication, finance aptitude, and academic background.
MBA Finance Admission
Eligibility requires a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. A pass in Mathematics or Business Mathematics at the Class XII level is compulsory. The final merit list uses the following weightage:
- CAT Score: 60%
- Personal Interview: 25%
- Class X Marks: 5%
- Class XII Marks: 5%
- Female Candidates: 2.5% additional weightage
- Relevant UG Degree (Finance/Economics/Commerce): 2.5% additional weightage
DFS Delhi reserves seats for SC, ST, and OBC candidates as per University of Delhi norms. The small batch size of 70 students means the interview stage is decisive; candidates with strong quantitative skills and finance academic backgrounds hold an advantage in the PI.
PhD (Finance)
PhD candidates must hold a postgraduate degree in Finance, Economics, Commerce, or Management with at least 55% marks. Candidates with a valid UGC NET or JRF qualification are exempted from the written entrance test. Admission is subject to the availability of a research supervisor and approved research topic.
DFS Delhi Placements
DFS Delhi placements are strongly skewed towards financial services, investment banking, consulting, and accounting, reflecting the programme’s finance specialisation. With a small annual cohort of 70 students, the placement process is boutique and recruiter-targeted rather than mass-campus.
In the 2024-25 placement season, the highest offer was INR 32 LPA and the average package was INR 19.1 LPA. The lowest offer on record for the season was INR 10.78 LPA, reflecting a competitive floor for all placed students.
| Sector | Key Recruiters |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Finance and Trading | De Shaw, Arcesium |
| Consulting and Professional Services | Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC |
| Banking and Financial Services | Axis Bank, SBI Capital Markets, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank |
The presence of De Shaw and Arcesium as recruiters distinguishes DFS Delhi from most Indian B-schools, as these firms typically recruit from a very small set of top-tier finance programmes. Alumni of DFS Delhi are spread across investment management, equity research, corporate banking, and financial consulting roles.
DFS Delhi Campus and Infrastructure
DFS Delhi operates from the University of Delhi’s South Campus complex in Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi. The South Campus is a well-established academic hub hosting several postgraduate departments and faculties of Delhi University. The DFS department has dedicated classrooms, a computing lab, seminar rooms, and access to the South Campus central library.
Hostel facilities for DFS students are available through University of Delhi residential hostels. Male students can access Aravali Hostel and Saramati Hostel, with annual fees between INR 38,990 and INR 49,500. Female students have access to Geetanjali Hostel, with annual fees between INR 52,885 and INR 71,668. Hostel allocation is subject to availability and university norms. The South Campus location provides convenient access to Dhaula Kuan metro station and the broader New Delhi transport network.
DFS Delhi vs IMI New Delhi vs FORE School of Management
MBA Finance aspirants in the 90 to 95 CAT percentile range frequently compare DFS Delhi with IMI New Delhi and FORE School of Management. All three are full-time two-year MBA programmes based in New Delhi with a mix of private and public-institution profiles.
| Parameter | DFS Delhi | IMI New Delhi | FORE School of Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Public (Delhi University Department) | Private | Private |
| Established | 1987 | 1981 | 1981 |
| Specialisation | Finance only | General Management | General Management |
| Total Fees | INR 99,640 (2 yrs) | INR 17 to 20 Lakhs (2 yrs) | INR 17 to 19 Lakhs (2 yrs) |
| CAT Cutoff (General) | 95th percentile | 90 to 92nd percentile | 85 to 90th percentile |
| Average Package | INR 19.1 LPA | INR 14 to 16 LPA | INR 12 to 14 LPA |
| Batch Size | 70 | 240 to 300 | 180 to 200 |
| CFA Affiliation | Yes | No | No |
DFS Delhi offers a dramatically lower total fee (INR 99,640 vs INR 17-20 Lakhs) combined with a higher average placement package, giving it the strongest ROI among the three on documented numbers. The trade-off is specialisation: DFS only offers Finance, while IMI and FORE offer broader MBA generalist tracks. Aspirants committed to finance careers and qualifying at the 95th percentile CAT level consistently cite DFS as the highest-value public MBA programme in Delhi.
DFS Delhi FAQs
Ques. What is DFS Delhi and is it a good college for MBA Finance?
Ans. The Department of Financial Studies (DFS) is a postgraduate department of the University of Delhi, established in 1987 and located at South Campus, New Delhi. It offers a two-year full-time MBA Finance programme to a cohort of 70 students per batch. Given its placement average of INR 19.1 LPA, government-level fees of INR 99,640 total, and recruiters including De Shaw and Big 4 consulting firms, it is widely regarded as the highest-ROI finance MBA in Delhi.
Ques. What CAT percentile is needed for DFS Delhi?
Ans. The CAT cutoff for the General Category at DFS Delhi is typically around the 95th percentile. Final selection uses a composite score with CAT at 60% weightage, Personal Interview at 25%, and academic marks accounting for the remaining 15%. Female candidates receive an additional 2.5% weightage.
Ques. What is the total fee for MBA Finance at DFS Delhi?
Ans. The MBA Finance programme at DFS Delhi costs approximately INR 49,820 per year under University of Delhi fee norms, totalling around INR 99,640 for the full two-year programme. This is significantly lower than private B-schools offering comparable placement outcomes.
Ques. What is the highest salary from DFS Delhi placements?
Ans. The highest package in the 2024-25 placement season was INR 32 LPA. The average package was INR 19.1 LPA and the lowest package recorded was INR 10.78 LPA. Key recruiters include De Shaw, Arcesium, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and major Indian banks.
Ques. Is DFS Delhi affiliated to IIM or IIT?
Ans. No. DFS Delhi is a department of the University of Delhi, not affiliated to any IIM or IIT. However, it is a member of the CFA University Affiliation Program (USA), which aligns its MBA Finance curriculum with the CFA Institute’s learning outcomes across all three levels of the CFA programme.
Ques. Does DFS Delhi have a hostel?
Ans. Yes. DFS students can access University of Delhi hostels at South Campus. Male students may apply to Aravali and Saramati Hostels (INR 38,990 to 49,500 per year). Female students may apply to Geetanjali Hostel (INR 52,885 to 71,668 per year). Hostel allotment is subject to seat availability under university norms.
Ques. Is DFS Delhi better than IMI New Delhi?
Ans. DFS Delhi and IMI New Delhi serve overlapping aspirant pools, but differ significantly on fees, specialisation, and placement outcomes. DFS Delhi’s total programme fee is around INR 99,640, compared to INR 17-20 Lakhs at IMI New Delhi. DFS’s average placement of INR 19.1 LPA also exceeds IMI’s documented average. The trade-off is that DFS offers only Finance specialisation, while IMI provides a broader general management MBA. For candidates committed to finance careers, DFS typically offers a stronger ROI.


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Comments
Found 16 Comments
Yes, there is Student Exchange Progam in DFS New Delhi. The exchange program is for registered students of the partner universities of Delhi University who want to study for one or two semesters and transfer credits to their home institutions.
All students registered with Central placement cell(CPC) will be Provided placement assistance, counseling for employment, and self/Social entrepreneurship. The CPC assures logistic support to the visiting companies at every stage of the placement process by making university infrastructure available to them. The CPC will act as an interface between the industry and the students, and will primarily enable the students to select from their career options. We shall facilitate the selection process of all the companies as per their requirement. The CPC will liaise with corporate organizations to provide suitable jobs and internships for the candidates completing their studies at the University of Delhi. The CPC also conducts seminars and workshops to enable the students of the University of Delhi to become successful professionals.
DU Department of Financial Studies provides industrial exposure to the students who want to become entrepreneurs. Also provides them practical learning so they can improve their intellectual and entrepreneurship skills.
DFS offers admission to its full-time two-year program through Common Admission Test, followed by group discussion (GD) and personal interview (PI). The final selection is based on CAT Scores, Marks scored in GD and PI, and Marks Scored in Class X and Class XII Examinations; and Weightage to female candidates. Candidates that holds a B. Com (Hons.), B. A. (Hons.) (Economics), B. A. (Hons.) (Business Economics), BBE, BBS/BMS or BFIA/BBA (FIA) receive additional weightage.
Yes, there are anti-ragging committees. If any does ragging the various strict provisions are there such as Withholding results, Debarring from representing the institution in any regional, national or international meet, tournament, youth festival, etc., Suspension/ expulsion from the hostel, Cancellation of admission, Rustication from the institution for period ranging from 1 to 4 semesters, etc.
The documents required during the Delhi University MBA admissions are listed as follows.
DFS Delhi Admission is based on the score obtained in the entrance examinations. You can apply online from the official website of the college. You can check here for the DFS Delhi Admission details.
The total course fee for MBA course at DFS New Delhi is around INR 26,000 for 2 years which is quite low as compared to current market scenario.
Admission to MBA course is done based on CAT exam and the same is to be held in November 2023.
Admission to all courses has already been over except for MBA course at DFS New Delhi.
No, admission to DFS New Delhi MBA is based on CAT and not CMAT.
You can check out the MBA program at UOD DFS New Delhi MBA webpage for further info on MBA program.
No, the Department of Financial Studies (DFS) New Delhi does not accept CMAT entrance test scores for Masters of Business Administration (MBA) You can only apply with a valid score in the CAT entrance examination.
The exam form release date is 3rd August 2023 and CAT 2023 exam will be conducted in 3 slots on November 26, 2023. Check here for CAT 2023 Exam Dates, Registration, Pattern, Syllabus, Preparation, Question Papers, and Cut off.
The fees for MBA in Business economics is INR 26,000.
No, it is not a residential institute but it has various hostel facilities available.