Educational Qualification

Applicants generally need a Master's Degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university. General / Unreserved and General-EWS candidates must have at least 55% marks, while eligible OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and Third Gender candidates receive the prescribed relaxation to 50% marks.

Final-Year Postgraduate Students

Candidates who are pursuing their Master's Degree or awaiting their final result may apply provisionally, provided they complete the required qualification within the period prescribed by UGC NET rules.

Four-Year Undergraduate Degree

Candidates with a qualifying four-year / eight-semester Bachelor's Degree may be eligible for JRF and Ph.D. admission under the prescribed marks and other conditions. This route does not, by itself, establish eligibility for appointment as Assistant Professor.

Subject Selection

Applicants should normally choose the NET subject corresponding to their postgraduate qualification. Where the exact postgraduate subject is not listed, the related-subject provisions in the Information Bulletin should be checked before choosing an alternative.

Professional qualifications, postgraduate diplomas and equivalent degrees must satisfy the applicable recognition and equivalence requirements.

• JRF Maximum Age: 30 Years
• Assistant Professor: No Upper Age Limit
• Ph.D. Admission: No Upper Age Limit
• Age Calculation Date for JRF: 01 December 2026
• SC / ST / OBC-NCL / PwD / Third Gender / Women: Relaxation up to 5 Years as applicable
• Research Experience: Relaxation as per UGC NET rules, subject to the prescribed limit
• LL.M. Degree Holders: Additional age relaxation as prescribed

UGC NET December 2026 registration is open. Candidates can submit their applications online through the official NTA portal. The regular application deadline is 28 October 2026, while NTA has also provided a separate late-fee window.

Online Application Process

1. Open the official UGC NET website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in.
2. Select the UGC NET December 2026 Application Form link.
3. Complete new registration using the required personal and contact details.
4. Log in and enter educational qualifications, NET subject, category and examination city preferences.
5. Upload the required photograph, signature and supporting documents in the prescribed format.
6. Review the application carefully, particularly the subject code, category and JRF eligibility details.
7. Pay the applicable examination fee through the available online payment options.
8. Download the confirmation page after successful submission and payment.

Late Application and Correction Window

NTA will accept late applications from 29 to 31 October 2026 with an additional fee of ₹500/-. The correction facility will be available from 02 to 04 November 2026. Only the particulars permitted by NTA can be edited during this period.

Keep the application number and login credentials safe. They will be needed for downloading the exam city slip, admit card and checking subsequent examination updates.

Qualifying Process & Exam Pattern

UGC NET is a qualifying examination, not a recruitment process with a fixed number of vacancies. The result determines the category of eligibility earned by a candidate based on the applicable rules and examination performance.

Exam Pattern

• Examination Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
• Duration: 3 Hours
• Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions
• Marks for Each Correct Answer: 2
• Negative Marking: No
• There is no break between Paper I and Paper II.

UGC NET Result Categories

1. Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor Eligibility
2. Assistant Professor Eligibility and Ph.D. Admission
3. Ph.D. Admission Only

The applicable result category depends on the candidate's aggregate performance, eligibility conditions and NTA's declared result criteria. Qualifying UGC NET does not automatically provide a teaching appointment or admission to a particular university.