Students with 4-year UG degrees, 75% marks can directly pursue PhD, says UGC
Reported by: Kashish Pal
UGC Announces New Criteria for Pursuing PhD: 75% Marks Required for Candidates with 4-Year UG Degrees
In a significant development, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has revised the eligibility criteria for pursuing a PhD, bringing about a substantial change in the academic landscape. Candidates aspiring to pursue a PhD, with or without a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), will now need to meet a minimum requirement of 75% marks or equivalent grades in their four-year undergraduate course.
This announcement marks a departure from the previous norm, where candidates appearing for the National Eligibility Test (NET) were required to hold a master’s degree with a minimum of 55% marks.
UGC Chairman, Mr. Jagadesh Kumar, elaborated on the new guidelines, stating that candidates with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly pursue a PhD and appear for the NET. Moreover, candidates are now permitted to choose their PhD subject regardless of the discipline in which they obtained their bachelor’s degree.
Under the revised criteria, candidates who have completed a four-year or eight-semester bachelor’s degree program must secure a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale. However, there is a provision for a relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade for candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), differently-abled, economically weaker sections, and other specified categories.
This alteration in eligibility criteria opens up new avenues for students, allowing them to directly enter the research domain without the intermediary step of obtaining a master’s degree.
In related news, the UGC has announced the commencement of registrations for UGC NET in June 2024. Candidates interested in appearing for the exam can visit the official UGC NET website to complete the application process before the deadline on May 10, 2024.
UGC NET dates announced
Meanwhile, UGC NET June 2024 registrations began on April 20, 2024, and the last application date is May 10, 2024. Candidates applying for NET can visit the UGC NET official website: https://ugcnet.nta.ac.in/.
The examination fee submission deadline is May 11 to May 12, 2024. The correction window will open on May 13 and be accessible until May 15, 2024.
