Want a BA English seat in St. Stephen’s, Miranda or LSR? You’ll need 850+ CUET score after DU round 1 cut-offs

The first round of Delhi University’s undergraduate seat allocation for 2025 has confirmed what many had anticipated—BA (Hons) English remains one of the most competitive programmes across all streams. Released on July 19, the Round 1 data shows sky-high cut-offs, with St. Stephen’s College topping the charts at 926.93, closely followed by Hindu, Miranda House, LSR, and Hansraj College. These figures are not raw CUET scores, but normalised scores out of 1000, adjusted for shift-level variations and paper difficulty, making even a one-point gap significant. With thousands of students accepting their seats in Round 1 and fee payments closing on July 23, the next major milestone is Round 2 of admissions, scheduled for July 28, 2025. As students scramble to reorder their preferences and track vacant seats, here’s a closer look at some of the top DU colleges and their English Honours cut-offs for general category students after Round 1 of the 2025 admission cycle.

St. Stephen’s College – 926.93

St. Stephen’s continues to be the most exclusive gateway to a BA (Hons) in English at Delhi University. It not only boasts the highest Round 1 cut-off of 926.93 but also stands apart for its two-tier admission process. While 85% of the weightage comes from the CUET UG normalised score, the remaining 15% is based on a personal interview conducted by the college. A score in this range places a student in the top academic percentile nationally. The added interview round makes St. Stephen’s admission not just academically exacting but also selectively holistic—emphasising both merit and personality.

Hindu College – 885.76

At 885.76, Hindu College emerges as the most competitive CSAS-participating institution for English Honours. The admission is purely CUET-based, with no interviews involved. Hindu’s English department is renowned for its academic rigour, student-led discourse, and political engagement. This year’s cut-off underscores how even minor missteps in the English and General Test sections could cost aspirants a seat. For many, Hindu is a first-choice college that combines intellectual challenge with vibrant campus life.

Miranda House – 863.02

Miranda House, a consistent topper in NIRF rankings, has set its English Honours cut-off at 863.02. This suggests that it continues to be ranked among the top three preferences by high-scoring applicants.Miranda is known for its strong humanities foundation, deeply engaged faculty, and an emphasis on critical theory and interdisciplinary dialogue. The college attracts students aiming for academic depth and social context in their literature education.

Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) – 856.58

With a cut-off of 856.58, LSR remains firmly in the top tier of English Honours destinations. While slightly below Miranda House, it offers a compelling mix of academics and career-oriented opportunities.LSR’s English programme is supported by robust publishing clubs, a strong alumni network, and a curriculum that often intersects with policy, gender studies, and media studies—making it particularly attractive to students with broader liberal arts ambitions.

Hansraj College – 851.11

Hansraj rounds off the top five, with a cut-off of 851.11—still significantly above the median. Though its admission bar is marginally lower than its peers, Hansraj has steadily carved out a strong identity in the English Honours space.Its department is known for research output, creative writing societies, and postgraduate success, making it a solid pick for students seeking both academic rigour and a balanced student experience.

What these numbers mean for students

The CUET UG scores are normalised out of 1000, which means that a student’s performance is benchmarked not just against correct answers but also against:

So a student scoring 851.11 (Hansraj’s cut-off) has likely outperformed thousands of peers across multiple test parameters. With English Honours emerging as a prestige programme, the 850–950 CUET band has become the battleground for top admissions.Check the official Round 1 cut-off list here.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.