DU to award degrees in same year for first time: 92,466 graduates on Nov 20
By TUF News Desk · Published 23 October 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Every year, thousands of Indian graduates finish their final exams and join a long wait for the degree paper. Foreign universities ask for it at admission. Employers ask for it before joining. At Delhi University, the paper has traditionally arrived at a convocation held long after courses end.
That changes this November. The University of Delhi will hold its 103rd convocation on November 20, 2026, and award degrees to 85,231 undergraduates, 7,235 postgraduates and more than 400 PhD scholars, 92,466 graduates in all. The university says it will be the first time in its history that students receive their degrees in the same calendar year they complete their programmes.
What DU decided
According to the university, the move is meant to help students who need their degrees promptly for higher studies abroad or employment. Vice-Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh, who will preside over the ceremony, said the decision was taken keeping students’ convenience in mind.
“Keeping students’ convenience in mind, the decision has been taken to award degrees in the same year they complete their programmes,” Singh said.
The ceremony on November 20
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend as the chief guest. The ceremony begins at 9:30 am at the Multipurpose Hall of the Delhi University Sports Stadium Complex.
Along with the degrees, the university will hand out 163 gold medals, one silver medal and 34 prizes for academic achievement. Preparations were reviewed at a meeting attended by Registrar Vikas Gupta, Controller of Examinations Gurpreet Singh Tuteja, Culture Council chairperson and Public Relations Officer Anup Lathar, and Dean of Academic Affairs K. Ratnabali.
The 102nd convocation was held on February 28, 2026, with Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan as the chief guest.
Why the timing matters
For graduates applying to universities abroad, application windows rarely wait. Many foreign institutions want the degree certificate or a final transcript before confirming admission, and employers doing document verification ask for the same. A degree that arrives in November instead of the following year removes one of the most common hold-ups.
Students headed for further study should keep their paperwork in order regardless: our admission documents checklist covers the photo, signature and ID scans that portals tend to reject on deadline nights, and a rejected upload at the last minute can cost a whole application cycle.
Frequently asked questions
When is DU’s 103rd convocation?
November 20, 2026, starting at 9:30 am at the Multipurpose Hall of the Delhi University Sports Stadium Complex.
What is new about this convocation?
For the first time in DU’s history, students will receive their degrees in the same calendar year they complete their courses.
Who will be the chief guest at DU’s 103rd convocation?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Vice-Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh will preside over the ceremony. The university will award 163 gold medals, one silver medal and 34 prizes alongside the degrees.
Where can students check official convocation updates?
On the university’s official website, du.ac.in, where DU publishes convocation and examination notices.
Frequently asked questions
When is DU's 103rd convocation?
November 20, 2026, starting 9:30 am at the Multipurpose Hall of the Delhi University Sports Stadium Complex.
What is new about this convocation?
For the first time in DU's history, students will receive their degrees in the same calendar year they complete their courses.
Who will be the chief guest at DU's 103rd convocation?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Vice-Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh will preside over the ceremony.
Where can students check official convocation updates?
On the university's official website, du.ac.in, where DU publishes convocation and examination notices.
Sources: News18, Hindustan Times, The Tribune