Patna, July 14: One more day is all that is left for admissions at colleges under Patna University. But students, who have been unable to clinch a seat, need not worry. Their next destination — the directorate of distance education (DDE) — is still a month away.

You can queue up at the DDE centre at Patna University (PU) to take admissions from the first week of August.

Israel Reza, the deputy director of DDE, said: “The admission process in DDE will start from the first week of August. However, several students are already coming to the centre to enquire about the course details.”

Courses under DDE are mostly preferred by work- ing professionals and students, who secure less marks in their Intermediate. Affiliated to Patna University, DDE this year will take in more than 5,000 students in courses, including undergraduate courses in history, geography, English, Hindi, commerce and postgraduate diploma courses in marketing management, financial management, library science, journalism and others.

Manish Pathak, an insurance employee, who had come to enquire about the DDE courses, said: “As the directorate offers one-year diploma course in several marketing subjects, it is easier for working professionals like me to pursue the courses.”

However, a source said DDE does not expect a rush of students this year after the number of seats in colleges under PU was doubled and the colleges are finding it difficult to fill seats.

Although students are still turning up for admission at the colleges affiliated to PU, sources said it is not enough. The admission in-charges of the colleges are left worrying about the likely vacant seats.

M.N. Sinha, a teacher at BN College, said: “A large number of seats are still vacant in several colleges. The last date for admission should be extended by a week so that the unsuccessful students can have another chance.”