Established in 1969, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has, in the quarter century of its existence, carved out a distinctive niche for itself in the academic and intellectual life of India. JNU attracts students from all over the country and abroad and from diverse strata of society. JNU departs from the beaten path in both, its academic structure as well as in its teaching process and evaluation methodology, by emphasizing the continuity of the learning process rather than isolating the final exam as the only tool of measuring achievement.

Grading is done throughout the semester, ensuring the students' participation and involvement in curricular work, and reanimating the collaborative process of generating knowledge in the classroom. Even at the M.A. level students are encouraged to carry out independent research projects in limited areas, which result in short term papers. At the M. Phil and Ph. D levels, the close relationship between the student and the supervisor that adds an edge excitement to research is made possible by the high student-teacher ratio in the University - roughly 400 teachers to 4000 students.

The JNU campus is a microcosm of the Indian nation, drawing students from every nook and corner of the country and from every group and stratum of society. To make sure that this is so, annual admission tests are simultaneously held at 37 centres spread across the length and breadth of the country, and special care is taken to draw students from the underprivileged castes and ethic groups by reserving 22.5 per cent of seats for them. Overseas students form some 10 percent of the annual intake. Students' hostels and blocks of faculty residences are interspersed with one another, underlining the vision of a large Indian family.

Several Centres in these Schools have been declared by the UGC to be Centres of 'Excellence'. These are Centre for Historical Studies, Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Centre for Political Studies, Centre for Economic Studies and Planing, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, all in the School of Social Sciences. In addition three Science Schools--School of Physical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and School of Environmental Sciences have also received the UGC recognition as Centers for Excellence.

At the graduate level the University offers courses only in the Arts stream which comprise its very popular Language courses including languages like Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, etc. These courses are very popular with the students and there is usually a huge rush for them at admission time. More details can be obtained from the University’s website (www.jnu.ac.in) or by visiting the campus in person. (Located near the IIT in South Delhi)