A file picture of students at Miranda House

New Delhi, May 18: Scores of students from Bihar are making a beeline for Delhi University — the state’s favourite destination for higher education — now that the Plus Two results have started to come out.

St Stephen’s College, Lady Shri Ram College for Women and Shri Ram College of Commerce are unarguably the top institutions for science, arts and commerce streams, respectively, at Delhi University. However, the students from Bihar have other factors on their mind too while taking a call on their college stop.

Their hearts are set on colleges where there is already a considerable population of Bihari students. The would-be seniors believe these campuses give the newbies a sense of home away from home.

Shourya Roy, a third-year student at Kirori Mal College from Purnea, said: “While students from Bihar are present in good numbers in each and every college of the university, there are some institutions which, for various reasons, are a hub of the students from the state. The primary reason why they apply to those colleges is that they feel at home on the campuses. A large number of their seniors are already from Bihar.”

Roy has co-founded a forum this year to help students from the state with the admission process for Delhi University. It starts on June 5. The Telegraph went around the top five colleges preferred by the students.

Ramjas College

The first choice of most Bihari students, Ramjas offers quality education in both the arts and science streams. Undergraduate courses in history and zoology are considered to be the most sought-after disciplines.

Another key attraction of the college is that a good number of the students crack the civil services examination every year. A majority of the Bihar students take admission to the varsity with dreams of entering the elite services after finishing higher education.

Kirori Mal College, North Campus

Undergraduate honours programmes in history, physics and English are considered to be the institution’s strengths. In the recent years, there has been a spurt in cultural societies and regular debate programmes spearheaded by the college. These are a major attraction for the students and the teachers also vouch for their keenness in participating in the extra-curricular activities.

Hans Raj College, North Campus

The college is a favourite among applicants of the liberal arts subjects. It holds the distinction of being one of the few institutions in the country where geology is taught at the undergraduate level. As a good number of the faculty are from Bihar, it has a regional teacher-student bond hardly seen in other institutions under DU.

Zakir Hussain College, South Campus

One of the few institutions to offer an undergraduate philosophy programme, the English and political science courses are also good. However, students interested in theatre find this college particularly fascinating. Don’t be surprised if you enter the campus and find groups of students speaking Bhojpuri pass by you.

Miranda House, North Campus

The first choice for girls interested in an all-girl institution. Those who are interested in the science stream favour the college although an array of liberal arts subjects are also reputed at the institution. Easy availability of hostels is another reason for girls lining up for admission at this prestigious college apart from its brand value.