Research Consultancy Services
Rules, Regulations & Booking Information
About Our Research Consultancy Services
The Delhi University Library System (DULS) has always been at the forefront of supporting scholarship and advancing knowledge. In line with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the University of Delhi’s commitment to fostering a vibrant research ecosystem, DULS has introduced Research Consultancy Services as part of its flagship initiative, ShodhSarthi: DULS Research Support Services. These consultancy services are designed to provide personalized, expert guidance to scholars, faculty, and students across the University. Whether navigating the complexities of literature searching, mastering citation styles, managing references, understanding plagiarism, or exploring open access publishing, our team of experienced Research Librarians ensures that every researcher receives tailored support to strengthen their academic journey.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower the research community of the University of Delhi by offering structured, accessible, and high‑quality consultancy services that enhance research skills, promote ethical practices, and facilitate innovation.
Our Objectives
- Provide Expert Guidance
- Strengthen Research Skills
- Promote Ethical Scholarship
- Facilitate Access to Resources
- Encourage Open Knowledge
- Build Research Confidence
- Reduce Research Anxiety
Our Expertise
- Research Methodology
- Literature Review & Searching
- Academic Integrity & Research Ethics
- Reference Management
- Open Access Publishing
- Research Data Management
Choose Your Consultancy Type
👤 One-on-One Consultancy
Personalized guidance for individual researchers
Individual
👥 Group Consultancy
Collaborative sessions for research teams
2-10 People
🏛️ Departmental/College
Comprehensive institutional-level support
Institutional
One-on-One Consultancy
Individual Sessions Personalized Guidance
Overview
The Delhi University Library System (DULS) provides personalized one‑on‑one consultancy services through its team of expert Research Librarians. These sessions are designed to give individual scholars, faculty members, and students tailored guidance on their specific research needs. By offering focused attention, the service ensures that every researcher receives practical solutions and strategies to strengthen their academic work.
Booking Rules
- Book a session only when it is essential. Always try to book a group session and add a few more researchers with the same issues/questions.
- An advance booking is required at least 48 hours before the consultation.
- A valid student/faculty ID must be presented at the time of consultation.
- The maximum session duration is 30 minutes.
- One session per week per individual.
- Booking confirmation via email is required.
Operating Regulations
- Punctuality required; late arrivals may result in reduced session time.
- The consultant and the researcher must agree to maintain confidentiality.
- The confidentiality agreement must be signed before the first session.
- Recording of sessions prohibited without prior written consent.
- No-show/attendance policy: Two consecutive no-shows/attendances result in booking suspension.
- Professional conduct and respectful interaction are mandatory for all participants.
Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy
Rescheduling requests by the scholars will not be entertained. Hence, ensure your availability before booking the session. The consultant may reschedule a session based on his/her availability and other commitments.
Any misconduct during the session may result in the cancellation of the session and lead to a permanent ban on the scholar from booking any future sessions.
Fees
The service is offered free of cost to the scholars of the University of Delhi.
Group Consultancy
Team Sessions Collaborative Learning
Overview
The Delhi University Library System (DULS) also offers group consultancy services, designed to foster collaborative learning and collective problem‑solving among scholars, faculty, and students. These sessions bring together small groups of researchers to engage in guided discussions, share experiences, and receive expert input from Research Librarians. By creating a participatory environment, group consultancy encourages peer learning while addressing common research challenges faced across disciplines.
Booking Rules
- Minimum group size: 2 participants, Maximum: 10 participants
- Advance booking is required at least 48 hours prior to the consultation.
- The scholar who is booking the session will be designated as the Group leader and will be responsible for all communications.
- A valid student/faculty ID must be presented by all group members at the time of consultation.
- One session per week per individual.
- Booking confirmation via email is required.
- Session duration: 30 minutes or more, depending on group size.
- Maximum 4 group sessions per month per research team.
Operating Regulations
- All participants must be present at the session start time.
- Punctuality required; late arrivals may result in reduced session time.
- The consultant and the researcher must agree to maintain confidentiality.
- The confidentiality agreement must be signed before the first session.
- Recording of sessions prohibited without prior written consent.
- No-show/attendance policy: Two consecutive no-shows/attendances result in booking suspension.
- Professional conduct and respectful interaction are mandatory for all participants.
Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy
Rescheduling requests by the scholars will not be entertained. Hence, ensure your availability before booking the session. The consultant may reschedule a session based on his/her availability and other commitments.
Any misconduct during the session may result in the cancellation of the session and lead to a permanent ban on the scholar from booking any future sessions.
Fees
The service is offered free of cost to the scholars of the University of Delhi.
Departmental/College Consultancy
Institutional Level Comprehensive Services
Overview
The Delhi University Library System (DULS) extends its research support framework to the departmental and college level, offering tailored consultancy services that address the collective needs of academic units across the University of Delhi. These services are designed to strengthen institutional research culture, provide faculty and students with structured guidance, and ensure that departments and colleges benefit from coordinated, high‑quality support in line with the vision of NEP 2020.
Booking Rules
- Official requests must be submitted by the Department Head or Dean, along with filling out the online booking Form.
- Advance booking is required at least 10 working days prior to the consultation.
- Written proposal outlining consultation objectives required.
- A designated liaison officer must be appointed by the department/colleges.
Operating Regulations
- A dedicated venue/facility must be provided by the department/college.
- A Minimum of 30 participants must participate in sessions.
Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy
Rescheduling requests from departments/colleges will not be entertained only in unprecedented conditions. Hence, the departments/colleges must ensure the availability before booking the session. The consultant may reschedule a session based on his/her availability and other commitments.
Any misconduct during the session may result in the cancellation of the session and lead to a permanent ban on the scholar from booking any future sessions.
Fees & Payment
Please contact us to know more.
General Terms & Conditions
Eligibility Criteria
Students, Faculty, and Researchers from the University of Delhi and its Constituent Affiliated Colleges.
📑 Scope of Services
- One‑on‑one and group consultations for research skills, methodologies, and publishing.
- Departmental and college‑level consultancy for collective research development.
- Guidance on research methodology, scholarly publishing, literature searching, citation/reference management, plagiarism awareness, ethical practices, and research data management.
- Support for accessing databases, research infrastructure, and open access publishing.
📌 Guiding Principles
- Integrity and Ethics: All consultancy services will be delivered with honesty, transparency, and adherence to the highest standards of academic integrity.
- Confidentiality: Personal research queries, data, and discussions will be treated with strict confidentiality.
- Guidance on research methodology, scholarly publishing, literature searching, citation/reference management, plagiarism awareness, ethical practices, and research data management.
- Respect and Inclusivity: Every researcher, regardless of discipline or level, will be treated with respect and fairness.
- Professionalism: Consultants will maintain high standards of conduct, punctuality, and responsiveness.
- Accountability: Both consultants and researchers share responsibility for constructive engagement and outcomes.
🎯 Responsibilities of Consultants
- Provide accurate, unbiased, and evidence‑based guidance.
- Ensure equal access to services for all members of the University.
- Maintain confidentiality of researcher queries and data.
- Encourage ethical scholarship and discourage plagiarism or misconduct.
- Continuously update knowledge of research tools, methodologies, and global best practices.
🎯 Responsibilities of Researchers
- Approach consultancy sessions with preparedness and clarity of queries.
- Respect the time and expertise of consultants.
- Adhere to ethical standards in research and publishing.
- Implement guidance responsibly and acknowledge institutional support where appropriate.
- Provide constructive feedback to improve services.
- Don't share any private information/data during the course of consultation.
Dispute Resolution
All disputes will be resolved in accordance with the University of Delhi's standard regulations.
How to Book a Consultation
Step-by-Step Booking Process
Visit our online booking portal at
or contact the office.
- Check for the slot availability on your preferred date and time. The slot availability dashboard provides live availability status and refreshes every 10 seconds. Wait for the dashboard to get auto-refreshed.
- Fill out the booking form with the required information.
- Select a consultancy type: If you choose Group or Departmental Consultancy, please enter the number of participants.
- Select a topic: Select a topic from the drop-down. If your topic is not listed, then select Others and input your topic in the text box that appears below.
- Submit your request and check your email for the booking request details.
- Please wait for confirmation of your consultancy booking request. It will be confirmed once the admin reviews it and approves it. You will receive another confirmation email once your request has been approved by the admin. Check your email after 24 hours for the confirmation email.
- Attend the consultation at the scheduled time.
Required Documents
- Valid ID proof (Student ID/Faculty ID/Government ID)
- Supervisor approval (if applicable)
Consultation Hours
All Working Days between 09:00 AM to 05:00 AM
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