According to UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar, students with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly take the NET and pursue a PhD. Candidates aiming for a PhD, whether or not they have a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), must have at least 75% marks or equivalent grades in their four-year undergraduate program. Previously, candidates needed a master’s degree with a minimum of 55% marks to qualify for the National Eligibility Test (NET).
“The candidates with a four-year or eight-semester bachelor’s degree program must have at least 75% aggregate marks or an equivalent grade on a point scale, where applicable,” stated the UGC chairman.
He also mentioned that a 5% relaxation in marks or its equivalent grade could be granted to candidates from SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), differently-abled, economically weaker sections, and other categories, as decided by the UGC from time to time.
Summary
- New Eligibility for NET and PhD: According to UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar, students with four-year undergraduate degrees are now eligible to take the National Eligibility Test (NET) and pursue a PhD.
- PhD Requirements: Candidates seeking to pursue a PhD, with or without a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), must have a minimum of 75 percent marks or equivalent grades in their four-year undergraduate program.
- Previous NET Requirement: Previously, the requirement for taking the NET was a master’s degree with a minimum of 55 percent marks.
- Offline UGC-NET Exam in 2024: The NET exam this year will be conducted in offline mode, deviating from the usual Computer-Based Test format.
- NET Exam Schedule and Application Deadline: The UGC-NET exam for 2024 is scheduled for June 16, with applications open until May.
- Additional Considerations for PhD Admission: Candidates with a four-year undergraduate degree require a minimum of 75% marks to pursue a PhD, with a 5% relaxation for SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), differently-abled, and economically weaker sections, as per UGC guidelines.
EDITORS NOTE:
If you’re interested in pursuing a PhD, I’ve got some good news. The University Grants Commission (UGC) now allows students with a four-year bachelor’s degree to directly apply for the National Eligibility Test (NET) and start a PhD program. All you need is a minimum of 75% marks or equivalent grades in your 4 year undergraduate course. This is a big change from the past, where you’d need a master’s degree with at least 55% marks.
If you’re planning to take the UGC NET, it will be held offline on June 16 this year, and you can register until May. For all the information about applications, results, and other details, check out the NTA UGC NET official website. Don’t hesitate to explore it; you’ll find everything you need to get started.
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