Admission to Jadavpur University, though extremely competitive, is through a completely transparent and student-friendly process, from application to publication of admission test results; details are available to anyone who inquires. The process is reviewed annually and improvements implemented (e.g. making applications to all courses at the Faculty of Arts online) on a regular basis. Students from backward and disadvantaged sections of society, especially those from remote rural areas, are encouraged to apply and there are many schemes and programmes for such students.

All new students are made aware of the university's origins (as the patriotic and anti-imperial National Council of Education, Bengal, in the early 20th century), its heritage, mission and vision. They are briefed about facilities available for them (e.g. library and medical facilities, counselling services, special services for differently-abled students); the university's zero-tolerance policy with regard to ragging and sexual harassment, among others. All students are expected to abide by the values that Jadavpur University stands for, including devotion to the truth, the practice of virtue, selflessness and duty to others, and to take these as the guiding principles of their lives.

Students are encouraged to take an active part in curriculum development, not only through their formal feedback on teachers, course content and infrastructural facilities, but also through debate and discussion at the department-specific student-teacher committees; student representatives at various statutory bodies are provided a platform to make the student community's views known and to contribute to planning for the future.
Student Enrolment and Profile
Admission announcements are made in major newspapers; media houses also announce Jadavpur University's admission dates/policies. Jadavpur University ensures transparency at all stages of the admission process, from applications and the conducting of admission tests to the publication of results by making details available to anyone who wants to know them. No complaints regarding lack of transparency have been received from candidates so far.
Process of Admission
UG Admission
  • Admission to undergraduate programmes in the FET is through the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination, conducted by an independent body, followed by counselling.
  • For admission to the undergraduate programmes in the Faculty of Arts, a combination of merit (i.e. results at the +2 level) and entrance test is used. Departments have autonomy to decide upon admission criteria.
  • In the Faculty of Science, admission at the undergraduate level is based on merit.
PG Admission
  • In the FET, GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) results and scholarships become important for admission; in addition, students sponsored by industry as well as self-sponsored students are admitted. For GATE applicants, their GATE score is given a 70% weightage, while for the others their BE or BTech scores receive 50% weightage; the balance percentage is determined through tests, with 10% weightage being given to experience in industry for students sponsored by industry.
  • In the Faculty of Science, admission to postgraduate programmes is on the basis of merit (BSc results) with entrance test, conducted by individual departments.
  • In the Faculty of Arts, the BA (Honours) results and admission tests conducted by individual departments determine admission.
Rules & Regulations for Ph.D. Admission
Review of the Admission Process and Student Profile
Every faculty has an Admission Committee which periodically reviews the admission process and student profile, and suggests measures to improve the same. Further, changes to admission criteria, modalities, and so on are suggested by the university's Executive Council as and when necessary. Feedback from students is reviewed and suggestions incorporated whenever possible.