DCJ Mumbai Entrance Exam 2026: Registration, Exam Date, Pattern, Syllabus & Preparation Tips

The Department of Communication and Journalism Entrance Exam is conducted by the University of Mumbai. The entrance exam is conducted once a year and is a university-level exam that is conducted in offline mode. The DCJ entrance exam is conducted to offer candidates admission to postgraduate courses in communication and journalism, such as :

• MA in Communication and Journalism (MACJ)

• MA in Public Relations (MAPR)

The Department of Communication and Journalism used to offer courses like MA in Electronic Media, MA in Film Studies (MAFS) and MA in Television Studies in addition to the above programmes, but applications were not invited for these courses for the academic year 2022-24.

Check out the table below to know the key highlights for the DCJ Mumbai Entrance Exam.

Features	Details
Name of Exam	DCJ Entrance Exam
Conducting Body	Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Mumbai
Exam Level	University Level
Exam Frequency	Annually
Exam Medium	English
Exam Mode	Offline (Pen and Paper Test)
Exam Duration	90 minutes (1 Hour 30 Minutes)
Exam Date	July 2026 (Tentative)
Exam Purpose	Admission to PG courses in Mass Communication
Exam Fee	INR 400
Exam Helpdesk No.	022/26526068, 022/26526069
Official Website	https://dcjmumbai.mu.ac.in/

Check other popular TV & Media Entrance Examinations:

• FTII JET Exam
• JMI Entrance Exam
• IIMC Entrance Exam

Candidates will have to follow the steps below to apply for admission to the Department of Communication and Journalism of the University of Mumbai.

Step 1: Fill DCJ Application Form

The candidates will have to fill out the DCJ 2026 entrance exam application form in order to sit for the test. The DCJ application forms will be available online. Candidates will have to click on the application form link given on the department’s website or can access the official Facebook page of the department.

Step 2: Write an essay

Candidates will have to write an essay of not less than 500 words and not more than 800 words (typed in double spacing on a single sheet of paper and signed by the student) on their purpose for seeking admission to the course. This essay will have to be submitted along with the application form. The essay will have to be in the form of an argument justifying the purpose of taking the course. The essay can be written in English, Hindi or Marathi.

Step 3: Testimonials from at least two teachers

The student will have to produce testimonials from at least two teachers who personally taught the student in school/college stating why the teachers felt that the student should do the course and how the course will benefit the student. The testimonials should not exceed 150 words each. The testimonial should also mention the period that the teacher has been associated with the student, in which institution and how long has the teacher been with the said institution. The testimonials must accompany the admission form. The testimonials may be written in English, Hindi or Marathi.

Step 4: Pay the application fee

Candidates will have to pay a fee of INR 400 on G-Pay or Phone pay no. 98923 65327 & attach the screen shot.

Step 5: Appear for DCJ 2026 Entrance Exam

The student will be given four questions/statements to debate and discuss. Broadly the questions will cover local, national, international issues and ideas. There will be questions on creative writing. There will be a word limit put to every question. The student, in this test, will be assessed for originality and quality of content (20 marks), language and grammar (10 marks), articulation (10 marks), historical context (20 marks), word management – whether the student stays within the word limit (20 marks) and conclusion (20 marks).

Step 6: Appear For Group Discussion

Students shall be given a subject to discuss and debate. The students will be assessed for language (25 marks), presentation (25 marks), articulation (25 marks) and content (25).

Step 7: The Interview

Each student will be given three minutes to present herself/himself and clearly state her/his purpose and motivation of doing the course. The student is to present orally. No electronic devices such as laptops are allowed. The student can present in English, Hindi or Marathi. The student will be assessed for language (25 marks), presentation (25 marks), clarity of purpose (25 marks) and overall impression (25 marks).

Note: The candidate taking the examination will have to score an aggregate 150 marks in the three tests to qualify for admission to the course. Admission to the course shall be decided by merit in marks obtained in this examination.

Step 8: DCJ 2026 Results

The DCJ 2026 results will be declared on the official website of the department of communications and journalism. The results will be released for the various courses. Along with the list of candidates who have cleared the entrance exam, a waiting list will also be released.

Candidates seeking admission to Department of Communication and Journalism of the University of Mumbai have to follow the process as under:

Step 1: Appear for Counselling

A cut-off list will be released by the university where candidates who meet the eligibility criteria are offered admission to the varsity. At the time of counselling, selected candidates will be required to carry their documents and attested copies of documents as well. Candidates will have to attend the counselling session in person. Candidates whose names are listed and do not appear will lose their seat.

Step 2: Pay the Course fee

Candidates will have to pay the course fee at the time of counselling. If candidates fail to pay the fee in the given time the seats will be allocated to next candidate.

DCJ Entrance Exam Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for the DCJ entrance exam is as such that Graduates from any stream can apply to the courses offered at DCJ. Candidates need to secure at least 50 per cent marks at graduation level. Students who have appeared for their final semester exams can also apply for the courses.

The DCJ syllabus for the academic year 2026-2028 is set in a way that candidates who have done their graduation in the field of Journalism and Mass Communication can easily understand the DCJ 2026 syllabus. However, candidates who have not studied journalism and mass communication earlier need not worry, as most of the information is based on current events happening around the world.

The exam usually covers questions from local, national, and international issues and ideas. The exam will also include a question on creative writing. Every question will have a word limit. From reporting to learning about event management to media research, the student needs to read, learn, and understand the syllabus before appearing for the DCJ Entrance Exam.

The DCJ exam pattern is such that candidates will have to sit for an entrance test, group discussion, and personal interview. The pattern of the exam is given below:

Parameters for Assessment	Marks
Language and Grammar	10 marks
Articulation	10 marks
Word Management	20 marks
Historical Context	20 marks
Originality and Quality of Content	20 marks
Conclusion	20 marks
Total	100 marks

The DCJ entrance exam is quite challenging, and questions may seem easy, but justifying them is the real challenge. One needs to prepare well to ace the DCJ Entrance Exam and the only way is through hard work. One must know the syllabus, the exam pattern, the marking scheme, how the question paper of the entrance exam is framed, how many sections are asked in the question paper, and various other aspects that a candidate needs to fully understand before attempting to clear an exam. Preparation Tips for the DCJ Entrance Exam are mentioned below:

• Know the DCJ Entrance Exam pattern and marking scheme.
• Get the syllabus for the DCJ Entrance Exam course appearing for.
• Get prep books and study books for the DCJ Entrance Exam course appearing for.
• Create a time schedule on a daily basis to see how much syllabus can be covered.