Cuttack: The Ravenshaw University will adopt centralised counselling for admissions into undergraduate courses for the first time. The counselling session is scheduled for July 10.

Vice-chancellor Ishan Patro said that under the new system, candidates had been called for counselling according to a centralised selection list prepared on the basis of merit from applications received. Unlike in the past, candidates were not given any option to mention choice of honours subjects at the time of filling up online application forms.

"They will be given the options of honours subjects available at the time of their turn according to the rank list," Patro said.

The varsity declared the first rank list on July 4 on the basis of marks secured by candidates in Plus Two examinations. The selected candidates can now take admission into 30 undergraduate honours programmes.

University public relations officer Gyana Ranjan Swain said: "Separate lists have been declared for science, arts and commerce, for which separate applications were received. The counselling will take place accordingly."

The centralised counselling system is expected to check blocking of multiple seats on a single application and delay completion of the admission process, he said.

The first rank list figures 350 candidates in science, 553 in arts and 260 in commerce. For the self-financed courses, the number stands at 216 in information technology management, seven in information science, 112 in telecommunication, 106 in bachelor in business administration, and 50 each in BA BEd and BSc BEd.

"After document verification, if the counselling-cum-verification committee concerned confirms the admission, the candidate will be given the option to select his choice of honours subject," Swain said.

"The allocation will strictly be on the basis of merit and availability of seats."

The payment of admission fee will received be only through bank draft to root out any malpractice.