Skip to content
Beyond Doctor, Engineer, CA

Chapter 15

Humanities, psychology and economics after 12th

BA or BSc (Hons), 3 to 4 years

Does a BA (Bachelor of Arts) lead nowhere? No, and a science student can switch.

  1. 1 Entrance

    CUET-UG, Board marks

  2. 2 Degree

    BA or BSc (Hons, one main subject), 3 or 4 years

  3. 3 Work

    Civil services, policy, psychology

You study
One subject in depth: psychology, economics, history, English
Open to
Any stream; Economics needs Maths
Total cost
Under 30,000 a year at top Delhi colleges; 45 to 50 lakh at Ashoka

What it is really like

At 2 pm in a Delhi seminar room, a quiet student's argument turns the room. You read and write constantly; psychology and economics add statistics. For most, the degree is a stepping stone to a master's, law, management or the civil services, senior government posts.

How you get in

  • CUET-UG

    For Delhi University (DU) and most public universities. A PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Maths) student still qualifies for most DU humanities courses.

  • Board marks

    Class 12 results: most Mumbai colleges, though St Xavier's adds its own test.

  • Own tests

    Private universities such as Ashoka, Krea and FLAME.

Where to study

Top, government

Lady Shri Ram, Miranda House, Shri Ram College of Commerce; St Xavier's Mumbai

Under 30,000 a year

Other, government

Presidency Kolkata; Madras School of Economics

A few thousand to about 1.3 lakh a year

Private

Ashoka; Krea

About 11 to 13 lakh a year

After the degree

About 47 lakh
start a BA each year
Few
take campus jobs at top colleges
About 8 lakh
median for those placed
Pay over time: IAS officer (official pay)

Start

5 years

10 years

Yearly pay in rupees. Pay varies widely; treat every figure as a range.

The ladder is the official pay of an IAS officer, the top rank in the civil services. Psychologists and journalists start nearer 3 to 4 lakh.

Leads to

Civil servantEconomistPsychologistJournalistMA, MBA or PhD

Top colleges and what it takes

Delhi University colleges admit on CUET-UG merit through CSAS. Each programme ranks you on its own CUET subject combination, normalised to a score out of 1000 (usually 4 papers x 250), so compare a score only with the same programme. Figures are the official round-1 minimum allocation score for General/UR (DU CSAS 2025); later rounds usually dip a little. Minority colleges (St Stephen's, Jesus and Mary) reserve about half their seats for their community, and St Stephen's adds its own interview. Ashoka, FLAME, Christ, Presidency, Jadavpur and the St Xavier's colleges run their own processes (essays, tests, interviews), so they have no comparable cut-off.

  1. St. Stephen's College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #5

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS) + college interview

    Round-1 minimum CUET scores (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025): English 926.93, History 918.72, Philosophy 906.74 source

    4 programmes
    • BA (Hons) EnglishCUET 926.93 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) HistoryCUET 918.72 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) PhilosophyCUET 906.74 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EconomicsCUET 904.62 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  2. Hindu College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #1

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    Round-1 minimum CUET scores (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025): Political Science 950.58, History 914.38, Sociology 891.99 source

    6 programmes
    • BA (Hons) Political ScienceCUET 950.58 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) HistoryCUET 914.38 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) SociologyCUET 891.99 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EconomicsCUET 888.17 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EnglishCUET 885.76 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) PhilosophyCUET 865.00 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  3. Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR)

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #17

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    Round-1 minimum CUET scores (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025): Psychology 926.53, Political Science 915.70, Economics 874.39; women only source

    7 programmes
    • BA (Hons) PsychologyCUET 926.53 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) Political ScienceCUET 915.70 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EconomicsCUET 874.39 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) HistoryCUET 867.79 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EnglishCUET 856.58 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) SociologyCUET 849.96 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) PhilosophyCUET 793.78 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  4. Miranda House

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #2

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    Round-1 minimum CUET scores (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025): Political Science 925.98, History 894.64, English 863.02; women only source

    4 programmes
    • BA (Hons) Political ScienceCUET 925.98 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) HistoryCUET 894.64 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EnglishCUET 863.02 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EconomicsCUET 850.31 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  5. Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC)

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #18

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    Round-1 minimum CUET scores (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025): Economics 908.90 source

    1 programmes
    • BA (Hons) EconomicsCUET 908.90 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  6. Kirori Mal College (KMC)

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #4

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    Round-1 minimum CUET scores (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025): Political Science 909.69, History 854.48, Economics 850.16 source

    4 programmes
    • BA (Hons) Political ScienceCUET 909.69 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) HistoryCUET 854.48 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EconomicsCUET 850.16 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EnglishCUET 840.79 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  7. Hansraj College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #3

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    Round-1 minimum CUET scores (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025): History 875.01, Economics 864.50, English 851.11 source

    4 programmes
    • BA (Hons) HistoryCUET 875.01 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EconomicsCUET 864.50 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EnglishCUET 851.11 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) PhilosophyCUET 827.48 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  8. Ramjas College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #28

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    Round-1 minimum CUET scores (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025): Political Science 894.95, History 846.32, Economics 841.16 source

    4 programmes
    • BA (Hons) Political ScienceCUET 894.95 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) HistoryCUET 846.32 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EconomicsCUET 841.16 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EnglishCUET 824.27 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  9. Jesus and Mary College (JMC)

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #85

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    Round-1 minimum CUET scores (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025): Psychology 898.80, Political Science 835.89, Economics 819.80; women only source

    5 programmes
    • BA (Hons) PsychologyCUET 898.80 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) Political ScienceCUET 835.89 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EconomicsCUET 819.80 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) HistoryCUET 776.33 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EnglishCUET 768.06 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  10. Indraprastha College for Women (IPCW)

    New Delhi · Government

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    Round-1 minimum CUET scores (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025): Psychology 878.06, Political Science 825.66, History 795.75; women only source

    5 programmes
    • BA (Hons) PsychologyCUET 878.06 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) Political ScienceCUET 825.66 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) HistoryCUET 795.75 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EconomicsCUET 788.20 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EnglishCUET 786.06 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  11. Daulat Ram College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #26

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    Round-1 minimum CUET scores (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025): Psychology 874.16, Political Science 843.33, History 818.18; women only source

    5 programmes
    • BA (Hons) PsychologyCUET 874.16 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) Political ScienceCUET 843.33 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) HistoryCUET 818.18 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EconomicsCUET 794.68 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EnglishCUET 782.13 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  12. Gargi College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #33

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    Round-1 minimum CUET scores (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025): Applied Psychology 860.93, Political Science 818.82, Economics 799.77; women only source

    5 programmes
    • BA (Hons) Applied PsychologyCUET 860.93 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) Political ScienceCUET 818.82 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EconomicsCUET 799.77 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EnglishCUET 776.56 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) HistoryCUET 776.26 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  13. Kamala Nehru College

    New Delhi · Government · NIRF 2025 College #58

    CUET-UG (DU CSAS)

    Round-1 minimum CUET scores (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025): Psychology 859.20, Political Science 767.25, Economics 761.95; women only source

    5 programmes
    • BA (Hons) PsychologyCUET 859.20 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) Political ScienceCUET 767.25 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EconomicsCUET 761.95 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) HistoryCUET 745.85 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
    • BA (Hons) EnglishCUET 742.68 out of 1,000 (General/UR, DU CSAS 2025 round 1 minimum allocation score)
  14. Presidency University

    Kolkata · Government

    Presidency University's own UG admission test

    No national rank: subject-wise merit on its own entrance test (Class 12 marks set eligibility only)(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • BA (Hons) Economics / English / History / Political Science / SociologyOwn subject-wise admission test merit; no published closing score
  15. Jadavpur University, Faculty of Arts

    Kolkata · Government

    JU's own admission test (Arts)

    No national rank: BA (Hons) seats go on merit in JU's departmental admission tests, which are highly competitive for English and Economics(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • BA (Hons) English / Economics / History / Political Science / PhilosophyJU admission test merit; no published closing score
  16. St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Mumbai

    Mumbai · Private · NIRF 2025 College #89

    College's own merit/entrance process

    No national rank: BA admission is on the college's own merit list or entrance process(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • BA (Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, English and more)Own merit/entrance process; no published closing score
  17. St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Kolkata

    Kolkata · Private · NIRF 2025 College #8

    College's own merit list + test/interview

    No national rank: BA (Hons) English and Economics go on the college's own merit list, which needs very high Class 12 marks(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • BA (Hons) English / Economics / Political Science / Sociology / Mass CommunicationOwn merit list (Class 12 marks, plus test/interview for some programmes); roughly 90%+ in Class 12 for English and Economics
  18. Christ University

    Bengaluru · Deemed · NIRF 2025 University #63

    Christ University Entrance Test + skills assessment + interview

    No cut-off: selection on Christ's own entrance test, a micro-presentation/skills assessment and a personal interview(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • BA (Economics, Psychology, English, Journalism triple-major combinations)Christ's own test + interview; no published closing score
  19. Ashoka University

    Sonipat · Private

    Own holistic process (essays + Ashoka Aptitude Assessment or SAT/ACT + interview)

    No cut-off: selection weighs essays, the Ashoka aptitude assessment (or SAT/ACT), Class 12 marks and an interview. Need-based aid is significant.(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • BA (Hons) Economics / Psychology / English / Political Science / History (4-year, liberal arts)Holistic admission; no cut-off. Economics majors need Class 12 Maths
  20. FLAME University

    Pune · Private

    FLAME Entrance Aptitude Test (FEAT) or SAT/CUET scores + interview

    No cut-off: FEAT (or accepted test scores), a personal interview and Class 12 marks decide admission to the 4-year liberal-education degree(approx.) source

    1 programmes
    • BA (Hons) Liberal Education (Economics, Psychology, Literary & Cultural Studies majors)FEAT/SAT/CUET score + interview; no published cut-off

Delhi University scores are the sum of CUET subject scores (250 per subject): usually out of 1,000 for four subjects, 750 for three. Where we know the maximum, it is shown.

Cut-offs move every year and differ by category, quota and home state. Use them to judge the level, then check the official counselling data.

How to prepare

  • Read a newspaper and one serious book each week.
  • Write short pieces and ask a teacher for feedback.
  • Pick CUET-UG papers that match your Class 12 subjects, and keep Maths for Economics.

Is it for you?

Good fit if

  • you love reading, writing and arguing ideas
  • you will study further before a well-paid job

Think twice if

  • you need a secure job straight after graduation

Official links and free study material

Humanities, psychology and economics: common questions

How do I get into Humanities, psychology and economics after 12th?

CUET-UG: For Delhi University (DU) and most public universities. A PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Maths) student still qualifies for most DU humanities courses. Board marks: Class 12 results: most Mumbai colleges, though St Xavier's adds its own test. Own tests: Private universities such as Ashoka, Krea and FLAME.

Which stream do I need for Humanities, psychology and economics?

Any stream: PCM, PCB, Commerce and Humanities are all open. Economics needs Mathematics. Any stream; Economics needs Maths.

How much does Humanities, psychology and economics cost in India?

Under 30,000 a year at top Delhi colleges; 45 to 50 lakh at Ashoka. By college: Lady Shri Ram, Miranda House, Shri Ram College of Commerce; St Xavier's Mumbai: Under 30,000 a year; Presidency Kolkata; Madras School of Economics: A few thousand to about 1.3 lakh a year; Ashoka; Krea: About 11 to 13 lakh a year. Fees change every year; confirm in each official notice.

What is the salary after Humanities, psychology and economics?

IAS officer (official pay): about 11 lakh to start, about 13 lakh after 5 years and about 16 lakh after 10 years (yearly, in rupees). The ladder is the official pay of an IAS officer, the top rank in the civil services. Psychologists and journalists start nearer 3 to 4 lakh. Pay varies widely; treat every figure as a range.

Is Humanities, psychology and economics a good career for me?

A good fit if you love reading, writing and arguing ideas, and you will study further before a well-paid job. Think twice if you need a secure job straight after graduation.

Source: Chapter 15 of the book. Notes and sources