The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced a significant change in PhD eligibility criteria. Students with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly pursue PhD programs and appear for the National Eligibility Test (NET) exam.
- Applicants must have secured a minimum of 75% marks or equivalent grades in their four-year undergraduate program.
- Students can appear for the NET exam in a subject of their choice for a PhD, regardless of their undergraduate discipline.
- Relaxation of the 75% marks criteria by 5% is available for SC/ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), differently-abled, and economically weaker section candidates.
Previously, a master’s degree with a minimum of 55% marks was mandatory for NET eligibility. This shift opens a new pathway for recent graduates to enter PhD programs directly.
NET Exam Details
- The upcoming NET exam will be conducted in offline mode on June 16, 2024.
- Applications for the exam are open from April 20 and will close on May 10, 2024.
This change is expected to benefit students who wish to pursue research careers immediately after completing their undergraduate studies. It allows them to potentially save time and focus directly on their chosen field of research.
