The Punjabi University, located in the erstwhile princely city of Patiala, in the south-east of Punjab, was established on April the 30th 1962. After the Hebrew University of Israel, this is the only University to be named after a language.

Although, initially, the main task before the University was to develop and promote the language of the Punjabi people, it has since evolved into a multi-faceted multi-faculty educational institution with over fifty-five teaching and research departments.

Punjabi University grew out of the recommendations of a 13-man Commission, set up by the Punjab Government on 5th August, 1960. The Commission was headed by Maharaja Sir Yadvindra Singh of Patiala and had Professor Harbans Singh, a renowned scholar and author as its secretary. It submitted its report on 13th February, 1961. The Punjabi University Act was passed in 1961 and the notification implementing the Act was issued by the State Government on 30th April, 1962. The veteran educationist and theologian.

Sprawling across 316 acres, the University campus is situated on the Patiala-Chandigarh road, at a distance of about 7 kms from the main Patiala city.

Admission Procedure

Admission to Various Courses will be on the basis of the entrance test to be conducted by the, Punjabi University, subject to the eligibility conditions as indicated in the following :

Eligibility

1. A candidate having passed with at least 50% marks (including optional subjects) in the qualifying examination will be eligible for admission to various courses except otherwise stated.

Candidates belonging to the following categories shall be allowed relaxation of 5% in the total percentage:
Scheduled caste and scheduled tribes,
Physically handicapped candidates. (These candidates will have to produce a medical certificate that they have at least 35% physical disability.

2. Admission to post graduate, under graduate and diploma courses in the University departments, B.Ed. course through correspondence and courses at Punjabi University Guru Kashi Regional Centre, Bathinda, Punjabi University Guru Kashi Campus, Talwandi Sabo, Punjabi University Extension Library, Phase-I, Mohali and Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan Institute of Advanced Studies in Urdu, Persian & Arabic, Malerkotla will be based on the combined performance of the candidates in the entrance test and qualifying examination except where otherwise stated.

3. Candidates having a minimum of 50% marks (including optional subject) in the qualifying examination (except in the case of admission to M.A. Theatre and T.V. and M.A. Religious Studies), will be eligible to appear in the entrance test.

4. In case of admission to M.A. (Theatre and T.V. and Religious Studies), a candidate having a degree in any subject will be eligible for admission.

5. For admission to Master of Journalism and Mass Communication, a candidate with 50% marks in Graduation or a Graduate with 45% marks along with Diploma in Advertising and Visual Publicity/Diploma in Public Relations and Advertising will also be eligible. Candidates seeking admission to Ist Part of Master of Journalism & Mass Communication are required to appear for an aptitude test also which shall be conducted by the Department through the Entrance Test Cell.

6. Where a candidate wants to take the benefit of any additional subject, the marks of any other subject may be substituted by the marks in the additional subject to the best advantage of the candidate.

7. Where the candidate has passed B.A. examination under M.I.L. Ordinance, if the candidate so desires, his percentage may be calculated by adding the marks obtained by him/her in Gyani/Prabhakar examination to the marks secured by him/her in B.A. examination and his merit be determined accordingly.

8. A candidate who has passed in the qualifying examination and his/her result is still awaited, may apply and appear in the entrance test provisionally at his/her own risk, subject to the condition that he/she will submit the result or proof of meeting the eligibility requirements at the time of interview. His/her candidature will be cancelled in case of non-submission of result and fulfilling eligibility norms by the required date.

9. To be eligible for admission to a course a candidate should pass the entrance test by securing the required percentage of marks and in addition must meet other requirements of admission, if any, laid down by the concerned Department.

10. Those candidates who have already passed M.A./M.Sc. examination, will not be allowed to seek admission in the same subject or those post-graduate courses of the University teaching departments for which the Ordinances allow them to take the examination either privately or for which the provisions of study exist in correspondence courses.

11. (a) A candidate who has already passed the LL.B examination will not be allowed admission to the following courses run at the Punjabi University, Patiala Campus : Economics, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology & Defence and Strategic Studies.
(b) Candidates who have passed LL.B., a professional course, an M.A. or a. Hons. School Course will not be eligible for admission to M.A. (Social Work).

12. A candidate who has already availed of hostel facility during any course completed earlier from this University, will not be allowed hostel accomodation, if he/she is granted admission to any course again.

13. A student admitted in a Science subject, Commerce, Medical, Engineering and other technical disciplines will be required to pass the subject of Punjabi upto Matric, +1 or +2 standard. Those who have not already passed this subject at the time of admission are required to pass the above said examination or Punjabi Preveshka during the time of their course. Exemption from this requirement for international students in under consideration.

14. There will be no entrance test of admission to M.Pharm., M.Ed. (CC) and any other courses decided by the University. The admission to such course will be as per criterion decided by the Department/University.