Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The BA (Hons.) Political Science programme at UPES, Dehradun, offered through the School of Liberal Studies and Media, is a 4-year full-time on-campus undergraduate degree (structured as a 3+1 model with 8 semesters). The programme provides a transdisciplinary grounding in Political Science, Public Policy, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Political Economy, with a strong emphasis on field-based and experiential learning. The total tuition and academic service fee for the programme is Rs. 8,88,000, making it a premium private university offering. Admission is primarily based on a Personal Interview or valid CUET UG score, with no separate entrance exam conducted by UPES for this course. The programme is popular among students aspiring for civil services, policy research, think tanks, and international organisations, and is one of the few private university programmes in India offering a structured fellowship track with Members of Parliament, NGOs, and Embassies.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are currently ongoing (as of March 2026). UPES has been conducting admissions in multiple rounds; Round 3 applications were open until March 26, 2026. The next round of applications is expected to open in April 2026, with classes likely commencing in late July or early August 2026. Students are advised to apply at the earliest as seats are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Key Points

The programme follows a 3+1 model: 3 years of core coursework (6 semesters) followed by a 4th year comprising a Research Dissertation (Semester 7) and a Fellowship/Internship (Semester 8).
Students can opt for Minors from other disciplines offered across UPES schools, enabling genuine interdisciplinary learning.
The programme offers structured exchange semester opportunities with universities in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Faculty members hold PhDs from globally ranked universities, and the curriculum is designed with a South Asia and India-specific focus, making it particularly relevant for UPSC and state civil services aspirants.
Masterclasses by academics and practitioners are integrated into the curriculum, providing real-world policy and governance insights.
The fellowship track in Semester 8 places students with Members of Parliament, Think Tanks, NGOs, Embassies, and International Organisations.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

UPES Latest Updates and News

18 Feb, 2026 UPES BA {Hons.} Political Science Fee Structure 2026 has been released. The total academic fee is ₹ 7.54 Lakhs. Read more.

UPES BA (Hons.) Political Science Fees

The total programme fee for BA (Hons.) Political Science at UPES for the 2026-27 batch is Rs. 8,88,000 (tuition and academic service fee combined over 4 years). In addition to this, students are required to pay one-time charges such as the PDC fee (Rs. 23,300), Training and Certification fee (Rs. 31,300), and other mandatory charges. The refundable security deposit of Rs. 20,000 is collected at the time of registration and returned upon programme completion. Hostel accommodation is optional and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount
Tuition Fee (per semester)	Rs. 84,000
Academic Service Fee (per semester)	Rs. 27,000
Total Tuition + Academic Service Fee (8 semesters)	Rs. 8,88,000
PDC (Personality Development Course) Fee (one-time, UG)	Rs. 23,300
Training and Certification Fee (one-time, paid in Sem 2)	Rs. 31,300
Alumni Fee (one-time)	Rs. 2,100
Convocation Fee (one-time, paid in penultimate semester)	Rs. 3,300
Technology Fee (per semester, Year 1 only)	Rs. 3,800
Medical Insurance Fee (Year 1)	Rs. 500
I-Card Fee (one-time)	Rs. 500
Application Fee (one-time)	Rs. 1,750
Refundable Security Deposit (one-time)	Rs. 20,000
Total Fees (excluding hostel, including refundable security)	Rs. 9,74,350
Hostel Fee - Triple Sharing, Common Washroom (per year, optional)	Rs. 1,83,000
Hostel Refundable Security (one-time, optional)	Rs. 10,000
Total Fees with Hostel (4 years, triple sharing)	Rs. 17,16,350

The refundable security deposit of Rs. 20,000 (and Rs. 10,000 hostel security, if applicable) is returned upon programme completion as per university norms.
PDC fee of Rs. 23,300 is payable in two instalments: half at the time of admission and the remaining half in the penultimate semester.
Technology fee of Rs. 3,800 per semester is applicable for Year 1 only; subsequent year amounts will be communicated along with semester fees.
Hostel accommodation is optional and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Other hostel options (double sharing with attached washroom for girls: Rs. 2,32,000/year) are also available at Kandoli Campus.
Hostel fee mentioned above is for the academic session 2025-26; 2026-27 hostel fees will be communicated separately.
EMI/instalment options may be available; students are advised to check with the UPES admissions office.
Fee payment schedule for 2026-27 batch: Semester 1 at the time of admission; Semester 2 by January 2, 2027; Semester 3 by July 10, 2027; Semester 4 by January 2, 2028; and so on.
Any taxes or levies imposed by Central/State/Local authorities shall be borne by the student.

UPES BA (Hons.) Political Science Admission 2026

Admissions to BA (Hons.) Political Science at UPES for 2026-27 are currently ongoing in multiple rounds. The process is straightforward: students apply online, are shortlisted, and are called for a Personal Interview (PI). CUET UG 2026 scores are also accepted as an alternative to the PI route. Given that UPES conducts rolling admissions, students are encouraged to apply early to secure their seat and avail merit-based scholarships.

UPES Admission Dates

Event	Date
Applications Open (Round 1)	November 2025 (already open)
Round 1 Last Date to Apply	January 20, 2026
Round 2 Applications	February 15 - March 15, 2026 (tentative)
Round 3 Last Date to Apply	March 26, 2026
Round 4 / Further Rounds	April 2026 onwards (tentative)
Personal Interviews / Counselling	June 2026 (tentative)
Seat Allotment and Fee Payment	June - July 2026 (tentative)
Classes Begin	Late July / Early August 2026 (tentative)

CUET UG 2026 Exam Dates

Event	Date
CUET UG 2026 Registration Start	January 3, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Registration End	February 26, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Admit Card	May 5, 2026 (tentative)
CUET UG 2026 Exam	May 11 - May 31, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Answer Key	June 17, 2026 (tentative)
CUET UG 2026 Result	July 4, 2026 (tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Minimum 50% marks in Class X and Class XII (any stream).
Students from any stream (Science, Commerce, or Arts) are eligible to apply.
No specific subject requirement at Class XII level for this programme.

Admission Process

Step 1: Apply online at admission.upes.ac.in by paying the application fee of Rs. 1,750.
Step 2: Submit required documents including Aadhaar card, PAN card (student and parent), and academic records.
Step 3: Shortlisted candidates are called for a Personal Interview (PI), which can be attended at designated venues across India.
Step 4: Alternatively, candidates with a valid CUET UG 2026 score may be considered directly without a separate PI.
Step 5: Selected candidates receive an admission offer letter and must pay the acceptance fee within the stipulated timeline to confirm the seat.
Step 6: Final registration and document verification at the time of joining.

UPES BA (Hons.) Political Science Scholarships 2026

UPES offers a comprehensive range of scholarships for the BA (Hons.) Political Science programme, making it accessible to meritorious and deserving students. In 2023-24, UPES awarded Rs. 46 crore in scholarships benefiting 6,844 students. Scholarships are primarily applicable on tuition fees and are awarded at the time of admission based on board merit or national exam scores. Students from Uttarakhand also benefit from a dedicated domicile scholarship.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship Name	Eligibility	Benefit
Merit Scholarship (Girls and Others) - Board Merit	12th Overall: 95.01% and above	30% on 1st year tuition fee
Merit Scholarship (Girls and Others) - Board Merit	12th Overall: 90.01% - 95%	25% on 1st year tuition fee
Merit Scholarship (Girls and Others) - Board Merit	12th Overall: 85.01% - 90%	20% on 1st year tuition fee
Merit Scholarship (Girls and Others) - Board Merit	12th Overall: 75% - 85%	15% on 1st year tuition fee
Merit Scholarship (Girls and Others) - Board Merit	12th Overall: 60% - 74.99%	10% on 1st year tuition fee
Merit Scholarship (Boys) - Board Merit	12th Overall: 95.01% and above	30% on 1st year tuition fee
Merit Scholarship (Boys) - Board Merit	12th Overall: 90.01% - 95%	25% on 1st year tuition fee
Merit Scholarship (Boys) - Board Merit	12th Overall: 85.01% - 90%	20% on 1st year tuition fee
Merit Scholarship (Boys) - Board Merit	12th Overall: 75% - 85%	15% on 1st year tuition fee
National Level Exam Scholarship (CUET)	CUET Score: 95.01 percentile and above	100% on 1st year tuition fee
National Level Exam Scholarship (CUET)	CUET Score: 90.01 - 95%	40% on 1st year tuition fee
National Level Exam Scholarship (CUET)	CUET Score: 85.01 - 90%	25% on 1st year tuition fee
Domicile Scholarship (Uttarakhand)	Uttarakhand domicile certificate	25% on tuition fee per semester (all semesters)
Jyoti Scholarship (Freeship)	Min. 80% in 10th and 12th; family income up to Rs. 8 lakh/year	100% on semester fees (all components except security)
Vijay Scholarship (Sports)	International medal holder	100% on tuition fee
Vijay Scholarship (Sports)	International participation	75% on tuition fee
Vijay Scholarship (Sports)	National medal holder	50% on tuition fee
Vijay Scholarship (Sports)	National participation	35% on tuition fee
Academic Performance Scholarship (from 2nd year)	CGPA 8.5 and above; 1st in programme	20% on tuition fee per year
Academic Performance Scholarship (from 2nd year)	CGPA 8.5 and above; 2nd in programme	15% on tuition fee per year
Academic Performance Scholarship (from 2nd year)	CGPA 8.5 and above; rest of eligible students	10% on tuition fee per year
Scholarship for Wards of Defence Personnel	Serving/retired/martyr defence parent	35% on 1st year tuition fee
Scholarship for Wards of Teachers	Ward of full-time school teacher	35% on 1st year tuition fee
Student Financial Support	Loss of earning parent after joining UPES	Rs. 50,000 relaxation on tuition fee per semester

Board merit and national exam scholarships are applicable for the 1st year tuition fee only and must be claimed before registration; no post-registration requests are entertained.
A student is eligible for only one type of scholarship at the time of admission; the highest applicable scholarship is awarded.
The Domicile Scholarship (25% per semester) is applicable for all semesters and can be clubbed with the Academic Performance Scholarship from the 2nd year onwards.
The Jyoti Scholarship (Freeship) covers 100% of semester fees (excluding security deposit) and is available for 51 seats only, renewed annually based on CGPA of 6.0 and above, 75% attendance, and income certificate submission.
Total seats for board merit scholarship: up to 3,000 (awarded in order of merit).
Scholarship application deadline: at the time of admission, before completion of registration.

UPES BA (Hons.) Political Science FAQs

Ques. Is CUET mandatory for admission to BA (Hons.) Political Science at UPES, or can I get in through a Personal Interview alone?

Ans. CUET is not mandatory. UPES accepts both routes: a valid CUET UG 2026 score OR a Personal Interview (PI). Most students who do not appear for CUET can still apply and attend the PI at designated centres across India. However, having a good CUET score can also make you eligible for the National Level Exam Scholarship (up to 100% on 1st year tuition fee), so it is advisable to appear for CUET if you are targeting fee waivers.

Ques. The programme is listed as 3+1 years. What exactly happens in the 4th year, and is it mandatory?

Ans. The 4th year (Semesters 7 and 8) is part of the full degree structure. Semester 7 involves a Research Dissertation, and Semester 8 is a structured Fellowship/Internship where students are placed with organisations such as Members of Parliament, Think Tanks, NGOs, Embassies, or International Organisations. This 4th year is integral to the degree and is not optional; it is what makes the programme a 4-year Honours degree under the NEP framework.

Ques. What is the actual batch size for BA (Hons.) Political Science at UPES? I have heard enrolments are very low.

Ans. This is a genuine concern raised by students and parents. The School of Liberal Studies and Media at UPES is relatively new (established around 2022), and initial batch sizes for BA (Hons.) programmes including Political Science have been small. UPES has since rebranded and expanded the school. Prospective students are advised to directly contact the admissions office (enrollments@upes.ac.in or 7409907444) to get the current batch strength before making a decision.

Ques. Does UPES BA (Hons.) Political Science help with UPSC Civil Services preparation?

Ans. The curriculum is specifically designed with a South Asia and India-centric focus, covering Indian Constitution, Indian Political Thought, Contemporary Indian Politics, Public Administration, and Policy. The fellowship track in Semester 8 can provide direct exposure to government and policy institutions. However, UPES does not run a dedicated UPSC coaching programme; students would need to supplement their degree with self-study or external coaching for the UPSC examination.

Ques. Can students from Science or Commerce backgrounds apply for this programme?

Ans. Yes. The eligibility criteria require only a minimum of 50% marks in Class X and XII from any stream. There is no subject-specific requirement at the Class XII level. Students from PCM, PCB, Commerce, or Arts backgrounds are all equally eligible to apply.

Ques. What career options are available after BA (Hons.) Political Science from UPES, and is the placement support good for this programme?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as Policy Analysts, Government Advisors, Civil Services Officers, Political Consultants, Researchers in Think Tanks, and roles in NGOs, International Organisations, and the corporate sector. UPES provides placement assistance through its dedicated Career Services department; however, placement support for BA (Hons.) Political Science is primarily oriented towards research, policy, and public sector roles rather than mass corporate recruitment. Students aiming for higher studies (MA/PhD at top global universities) also benefit from faculty guidance and the research dissertation in the 4th year.

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Fees and Financial Aid:

Every year it is changing. For first year it is around 1lakh35 thousand per semester, then it kept increasing by 20-25thousand. For every course the fee structure is different. If you are domicile of Uttrakhand it is quite less compare to non- domicile students.

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