Accepted entrance exams
About Bachelor of Arts [BA]
Presidency College Chennai offers BA across 8 specializations including History, Political Science, Economics, English Literature, Tamil Literature, Hindi Literature, Malayalam Literature, and Urdu Literature. The programme is 3 years full-time, offered in two shifts across Tamil, English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Urdu mediums. Total intake is about 405 seats across all specializations and mediums. Annual fees are INR 1,295, making the 3-year total INR 3,885, one of the lowest-fee BA programmes in Tamil Nadu.
📋 Admission Status: Admissions expected to open May 2027 (Tentative).
Key Points
- BA can be studied in five mediums: Tamil, English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Urdu, which is unusually broad for a single humanities department in Chennai.
- Tamil Medium students receive a government stipend of INR 400 per year to encourage regional language education.
- Many specializations run in both Shift I and Shift II, effectively doubling access for local students who need morning or afternoon timing flexibility.
Presidency College BA Fees 2026
All BA specializations at Presidency College carry the same annual fee of INR 1,295, making the total 3-year programme cost INR 3,885. The fee is set by the Tamil Nadu government and applies across all eight specializations and both shifts.
| Specialization | Total Fees (3 Years) |
|---|---|
|
BA Political Science BA History BA Economics BA Tamil Literature BA English Literature BA Hindi Literature BA Malayalam Literature BA Urdu Literature | INR 3,885 |
- Annual fee is INR 1,295 per year across all specializations.
- Fees are set by the Tamil Nadu government and may be revised.
Presidency College BA Admission 2026
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Rank List Published | June 3, 2026 |
| Special Quota Counselling | June 5, 2026 |
| General Category Counselling | June 8 to June 18, 2026 |
| Admission Closed for 2026-27 | June 18, 2026 |
| Next Cycle Expected to Open | May 2027 |
- Rank list was published on pcc.ac.in for 2026-27 admissions.
- Dates for the 2027-28 cycle are not yet notified.
The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
- 10+2 or equivalent from any recognized board in India.
- No minimum percentage is prescribed for most specializations but higher 10+2 marks improve ranking in the merit list.
- Candidates who completed schooling in the relevant language medium get preference for the corresponding language literature specializations.
Admission Process
- Register on the Tamil Nadu Single Window Admission (TNGASA) portal for government college UG admissions.
- Upload 10+2 mark sheet and supporting documents as required.
- The college publishes a rank list on pcc.ac.in based solely on 10+2 aggregate marks.
- Report for counselling on the notified date with original documents and the first-year fee.
- No entrance exam is required for any BA specialization at Presidency College.
Presidency College BA vs Other Colleges
Here is how Presidency College BA compares with similar colleges in Chennai on fees, exams, cutoff, and placements.
| Presidency College | Loyola College | MCC Chennai | Women’s Christian College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | 3.9 K (3 yr) | Not Disclosed | 56 K (3 yr) | Not Disclosed |
| Exams | Merit (10+2) | Merit (10+2) | Merit (10+2) | Merit (10+2) |
| Cutoff | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Salary | INR 2.11 LPA (Median, 2025) | INR 4.08 LPA (Median, 2025) | INR 4 LPA (Median, 2025) | Not Disclosed |
| CD Rating | 4.1/5 | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated |
✓ Opt for this if
- You want a degree from one of Chennai’s most recognized autonomous government colleges at near-zero cost
- Your family income is low and INR 3,885 total fees over 3 years fits your budget
- You want to study BA in Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, or Urdu medium, which very few colleges in Chennai offer
✗ Skip if
- You need a college with a strong corporate campus placement programme for your BA degree
- You are looking for a residential campus experience with hostel facilities
- You want specializations such as BA Psychology or BA Mass Communication not offered here
Presidency College BA Scholarships 2026
Being a Tamil Nadu government autonomous college, Presidency College students are eligible for a wide range of Central and State government scholarships based on merit and income.
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Merit Scholarship (GoI) | Varies by rank | Top rankers in 12th exam | As per GoI notification |
| Tamil Nadu State Merit Scholarship | Full or half of course fee | Merit-based on 12th and UG marks | September 2026 |
| SC/ST Post-Matric Scholarship | INR 230 to INR 1,200 per month | SC/ST candidates with valid caste and income certificate | October 2026 |
| Tamil Medium Stipend | INR 400 per year | Students opting for Tamil medium instruction | At admission |
| National Loan Scholarship | Merit-cum-means based | Parental income not exceeding INR 12,000 per year | As per GoI notification |
- Scholarship amounts are subject to revision by the government.
- Apply via the Tamil Nadu e-Scholarship portal for state schemes.
Presidency College BA FAQs
Ques. How are seats distributed between Shift I and Shift II, and does the shift affect the quality of teaching?
Ans. Many BA specializations at Presidency College run in both Shift I (morning) and Shift II (afternoon) to accommodate higher student numbers. For example, History runs in three sections across both shifts. The same college faculty teaches across both shifts and the curriculum is identical, so the shift itself does not affect academic quality. However, students in Shift II sometimes find fewer extracurricular activities scheduled in the morning hours when most college events occur.
Ques. Can a BA student at Presidency College pursue inter-disciplinary electives from other departments?
Ans. Under the NEP framework that Presidency College has begun adopting, students can take elective papers from other departments as part of the Multi-Disciplinary Education requirement. In practice, the availability of cross-department electives depends on the department offering them and seat availability. Commerce and Science departments do run electives that a BA student can register for. Confirm the elective list at the time of joining since it is updated each academic year.
Ques. What are the realistic career paths after a BA from Presidency College, and does the college help?
Ans. Most BA graduates from Presidency College go into postgraduate studies first. MA, MSW, MCA, and MBA are common next steps for BA graduates from this college. Those who enter the workforce directly tend to join the banking sector (IBPS exams), government services (TNPSC and UPSC), and teaching. The college has a placement cell but formal campus placements for BA are limited compared to professional degree colleges. Building your own internship and work experience during the degree significantly improves outcomes.
Ques. Is admission to Presidency College BA purely on 12th marks, and do community quotas matter?
Ans. Yes, BA admission is purely merit-based on 10+2 aggregate marks. No entrance exam, no personal interview. Tamil Nadu’s reservation system applies: BC (27%), MBC (20%), SC (18%), ST (1%), and others. Within each community, ranking is strictly by marks. The special quota (management, sports, ex-servicemen) allocations happen in the first round before the general merit rounds begin, which is why special quota counselling starts a few days earlier than general counselling.
Ques. What is the difference between choosing BA Economics at Presidency College versus doing it at Loyola or MCC?
Ans. Presidency College’s BA Economics costs INR 3,885 for three years versus INR 50,000 or more at Loyola and MCC. The academic curriculum at Presidency College is affiliated with the University of Madras pattern and is rigorous for competitive exam preparation and postgraduate studies. Loyola and MCC offer more structured campus placements and industry exposure programmes. If your goal is postgraduate studies or civil services, Presidency College gives you the same academic grounding at a fraction of the cost. If placement in the private sector matters, the aided and autonomous colleges have a stronger network.