Pondicherry University BA + MA Social & Economic Administration and Law: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

Pondicherry University (PU), a NAAC A+ accredited central university established in 1985, offers a unique 5-Year Integrated M.A. SEAL (Social and Economic Administration and Law) programme under the Department of Politics and International Studies. This is a full-time, on-campus regular dual degree programme, developed in collaboration with the University of Paris-1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, France, under an MoU signed in April 2019. The programme is an interdisciplinary blend of Social Sciences, Economics, Commerce, Management, and Law. The seat intake is 25 seats, and admission is based on CUET (UG) General Test scores. The total programme fee is approximately Rs. 97,678 over 10 semesters. The programme is popular among students aspiring to pursue careers in public administration, law, international relations, social policy, and higher studies in social sciences.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are based on CUET (UG) 2026. The CUET UG 2026 application window has closed (registration was open from January 3 to February 26, 2026). The exam is scheduled from May 11 to May 31, 2026, with results expected around July 4, 2026 (tentative). Following the results, Pondicherry University will conduct its own counselling process, expected in July 2026 (based on the 2025 pattern), with classes commencing in the second week of July 2026.

Key Points

The M.A. SEAL is a unique dual degree programme: students earn a B.A. SEAL from Pondicherry University and a Licence AES (Administration Economique et Sociale) from the University of Paris-1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, France, if they exercise the exit option after Year 3.
Students from PU spend their third year at the University of Paris-1 in France, and Paris-1 students spend their third year at PU, making this a genuine international exchange programme.
The programme is interdisciplinary, covering Social Sciences, Economics, Commerce, Management, and Law.
Completing all 5 years leads to an M.A. SEAL degree from Pondicherry University.
The programme is offered at the Puducherry (main) campus.
70% attendance is mandatory to appear for semester examinations.
Hostel accommodation is available on campus (limited seats; preference given to outstation students).

130 Views Last Year

9 Studentsshown interest in the last 30 days

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Cutoff
FAQs

PU M.A. SEAL Fees

The 5-Year Integrated M.A. SEAL programme at Pondicherry University is highly affordable as a central government-funded institution. The fee structure follows the Humanities/Social Sciences category. The first semester has a higher fee due to one-time charges, while subsequent semesters are significantly lower. The total programme fee over 10 semesters amounts to Rs. 97,678.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Semester I (Rs.)	Semester II/IV/VI/VIII/X (Rs.)	Semester III/V/VII/IX (Rs.)
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	-	-
Facilities Upgradation Fund	10,000	-	10,000
Placement Activity Fund	500	-	500
Academic Activity Fund	2,000	-	2,000
Field Visit Fund	1,000	-	1,000
Digital Activity Fund	2,000	-	2,000
Group Medical Insurance	378	-	-
University Development Fund	2,000	-	-
Semester Total	24,878	3,000	15,200
Total Fees (10 Semesters)	Rs. 97,678

Caution Deposit of Rs. 1,000 is refundable upon leaving the university after deducting dues.
Differently-abled students are fully exempt from all fees (except caution deposit and group medical insurance).
SC/ST students eligible for Post-Matric Scholarships may defer fee payment until receipt of scholarship, subject to submission of an undertaking.
Fees must be paid within 90 days of admission.
Late payment fine: Rs. 5/day for the first 10 days; Rs. 10/day thereafter.
Note: During the third year at Paris-1 (for PU students), additional costs for travel, accommodation, and living expenses in France will apply and are not covered by PU fees.
Hostel Fees (Non-Refundable, paid annually): Room Rent - Rs. 900/year; General Amenities Fund - Rs. 700/year; Establishment Charges - Rs. 300/year.
Caution Deposit (Refundable): Rs. 3,000 (one-time).
No room rent is charged from SC/ST students.
Hostel accommodation is not mandatory; it is subject to availability and preference is given to outstation students.

PU M.A. SEAL Admission 2026

Admissions to the 5-Year Integrated M.A. SEAL programme at Pondicherry University are conducted through CUET (UG) 2026 using the General Test. The application for CUET UG 2026 has already closed (January 3 - February 26, 2026), and the exam is scheduled from May 11 to May 31, 2026. Following the declaration of CUET results (expected around July 4, 2026), Pondicherry University will release its own merit list and conduct counselling, typically in July 2026. Based on the 2025 pattern, classes are expected to commence by the second week of July 2026.

College Admission Dates

Event	Date
CUET UG 2026 Application Start	January 3, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Application End	February 26, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Admit Card Release	May 5, 2026 (Tentative)
CUET UG 2026 Exam	May 11 - May 31, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Answer Key Release	June 17, 2026 (Tentative)
CUET UG 2026 Result Declaration	July 4, 2026 (Tentative)
PU Counselling / Admission	July 2026 (Tentative, based on 2025 pattern)
Commencement of Classes	Second week of July 2026 (Tentative)

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Accepted For	Exam Date	Result Date
CUET (UG) 2026 - General Test	5-Year Integrated M.A. SEAL	May 11 - May 31, 2026	July 4, 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed 10+2 (or equivalent) from a recognised board with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
Candidates must appear in the CUET (UG) General Test.
SC/ST candidates are eligible to apply irrespective of the percentage of marks obtained in the qualifying examination.

Admission Process

Register and appear for CUET (UG) 2026 General Test.
Apply separately on the Pondicherry University admissions portal (pondiunivadmission.samarth.edu.in) after CUET results.
Shortlisted candidates are called for in-person counselling at the university campus.
Candidates must report in person on the specified counselling date with all original documents.
Admission is granted based on CUET General Test score merit, category-wise seat availability, and document verification.
Fees must be paid online on the same day of counselling to confirm admission.
Application fee: Rs. 250 for UR/OBC/EWS; Rs. 150 for SC/ST; PWD and transgender candidates are exempt.

Pondicherry University: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 3 Reviews

The course offers a balanced faculty-to-student ratio of 1:25, fostering personalized interaction. Each semester includes three exams, with a grading distribution of 15:15:60, plus 10 points for assignments, and requires a 75% attendance rate. The French department stands out for its skilled faculty, unlike the sociology and history departments, which face staffing challenges and rely on less effective PhD scholars. Students generally have a positive relationship with faculty, and grades follow a letter grade and credit system, with only a few students failing due to negligence or attendance issues.

Placement eligibility starts in the 10th semester, but many students prefer to exit after the 6th semester with a BA degree to pursue further studies. The recent batch did not engage in placements, opting instead for master's programs abroad. The tuition fee for the first year is approximately 16,000, complemented by a hostel fee of 1,000 and a daily mess fee totaling around 11,000 per semester. The first semester's total fees, including a security deposit, were 18,000, with the second semester at 3,000 plus a mess fee of 10,000.

For the following four years, odd semesters cost 11,000 in tuition and 16,000 for the mess, while even semesters cost 3,000 for tuition and 10,000 for the mess. The exam fee is 400 per semester. The overall yearly fee is about 53,000 for the first year and 45,000 for the subsequent years, with girls exempt from hostel fees. Merit-based scholarships are available each semester, with the first semester relying on CUET results and the second semester on top students' marks.

Total fees for the first semester are 20,778 for humanities and 22,778 for science, including a registration fee of 300.

By Collegedunia’s Personal AI

PU M.A. SEAL Scholarships 2026

Pondicherry University and various government bodies offer a range of scholarships to M.A. SEAL students, making the programme financially accessible. Students can benefit from central and state government scholarships. Students from SC/ST/OBC/EWS categories and differently-abled students have additional financial support options.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount	Provider
Government of India SC/ST/OBC Post-Matric Scholarship	SC/ST/OBC students	As per state/central norms	State/Central Government
EWS Scholarship	EWS category students	As per government norms	Central Government
Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child	Single girl child pursuing UG/PG	Rs. 3,000 - 36,200 per year	UGC
PG Merit Scholarship (for PG years)	Top 3 students in PG entrance/semester	Rs. 1,000 - 2,000 per month	Pondicherry University
Merit-Cum-Means (MCM) Scholarship (for PG years)	20% of PG students; parental income below Rs. 2.5 lakh/year	Rs. 750 per month	Pondicherry University
Government of Puducherry Merit/MCM Scholarship	UT Puducherry residents enrolled at PU	As per UT norms	Govt. of Puducherry
Fully Free Education	Differently-abled students	Full fee waiver	Pondicherry University

Students are eligible for only one scholarship at a time.
PG Merit and MCM scholarships apply from the PG years (Years 4 and 5) of the integrated programme.
SC/ST students with Post-Matric Scholarship eligibility may defer fee payment until receipt of scholarship (within 90 days of admission).
Puducherry UT government scholarships are available only to residents/natives of the Union Territory of Puducherry.

PU M.A. SEAL FAQs

Ques. What is the M.A. SEAL programme at Pondicherry University?

Ans. M.A. SEAL (Social and Economic Administration and Law) is a unique 5-year integrated dual degree programme offered by Pondicherry University in collaboration with the University of Paris-1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, France. It combines Social Sciences, Economics, Commerce, Management, and Law in an interdisciplinary curriculum.

Ques. What is the dual degree benefit of the M.A. SEAL programme?

Ans. Students who exercise the exit option after completing Year 3 receive a dual degree: B.A. SEAL from Pondicherry University and Licence AES (Administration Economique et Sociale) from the University of Paris-1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, France. Students completing all 5 years receive the M.A. SEAL degree from PU.

Ques. Do all M.A. SEAL students go to Paris for their third year?

Ans. PU students enrolled in the M.A. SEAL programme are expected to spend their third year at the University of Paris-1 in France. Similarly, Paris-1 AES students spend their third year at PU. This international exchange is a core feature of the programme. Students should be prepared for the additional costs of living and studying in France during Year 3.

Ques. What CUET subject is required for admission to M.A. SEAL at PU?

Ans. Admission is based on the CUET (UG) General Test score. No specific domain subject is required; the General Test assesses general aptitude and reasoning.

Ques. What are the career prospects after completing M.A. SEAL from Pondicherry University?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers in public administration (IAS/IPS/IFS), law, international organisations, NGOs, social policy, corporate management, and academia. The dual degree with Paris-1 also opens doors to opportunities in France and Europe. Students can also pursue Ph.D. in Social Sciences, Economics, or Law.

Ques. Is hostel accommodation available for M.A. SEAL students at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Hostel accommodation is available but not guaranteed. PU provides accommodation to approximately one-third of admitted students, with preference given to outstation students. Students must apply separately through the department head after admission. Note that during the third year in Paris, students will need to arrange their own accommodation in France.