PGIMER Chandigarh PhD Admission 2026 (Jan)

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh invites applications for PhD admission 2026 (Jan).

Categories for Registration to PhD Programme

The following categories are eligible for registration to PhD programme of the Institute:

• The candidates having their own fellowship with stipends from various funding agencies, shall be exempted from appearing in the entrance exam. However, all the candidates are required to fill the online application form.
• The candidates who have qualified CSIR-UGC NET-LS/UGC Net (Social Medicine & Community Health OR Forensic Science)/GATE examination with more than or equal to 95 percentile do not need to appear the PhD entrance test provided he/she has joined extramural research project under the faculty of PGI by the last date of submission of online application form. However, all the candidates are required to fill the online application form.
• PGI FELLOWSHIP: Limited PGI fellowships are available which will be awarded strictly on merit basis.
• RESEARCH SCHEME EMPLOYEES (WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT UNDER ANY PROJECT/SCHEME OF PGIMER): Candidates supported by the faculty of the Institute through respective faculty’s extramural project fund. Faculty has to ensure the support to the candidate through the entire period of Ph.D. program (3-5 years). The candidate can do Ph.D. only under the same faculty member who would support his/her candidature. The list of faculty members who have an extramural funding available and are keen to take Ph.D. student, as per their entitlement under the relevant rules, is available on PGI website.
• The candidate who once qualified the PhD entrance examination (i.e. in January or July Session) and fails to get himself/herself registered under any guide (in the research scheme/project employee’s category) in that very session, the validity of having qualified that entrance examination should remain valid till the last date of submission of online application form for the succeeding session. This will enable the candidate concerned to get sufficient opportunity for getting himself/herself enrolled with any guide with his/her area of interest and with guarantee/undertaking of the financial support from the respective guide under the research project category in the intervening period. The validity of the candidate having qualified the PGIMER, Ph.D entrance exam will remain for the admission process of next session, for joining the Ph.D programme under Research Scheme Employee category only. But the candidate will have to participate in the application process afresh. Further, the candidate still have the right to improve his/her performance by appearing in the entrance exam to qualify for PGI fellowship.
• PGI FEELOWSHIP and RESEARCH SCHEME EMPLOYEE (Both) – Those candidates desired to registered themselves for PhD course with Research Scheme Employee category are also eligible for applying for PGI Fellowship category. They are required to choose separate category option i.e PGI Fellowship and Research Scheme Employee(both) in the online application form. They are also directed to submit Annexure-5 and Annexure-6 with their application form. Otherwise their candidature will not be considered.
• In service candidates.
• Deputed/sponsored candidates.

Eligibility Criteria

General Eligibility

A Candidate seeking admission to the course of study leading to the award of a Degree of Doctor of Philosophy must possess at least one of the following qualifications:

• For Medical Sciences
  • MBBS/MDS/Master of Physio-therapy with minimum 55% aggregate marks or MD/MS in the subject concerned or Diplomate of National Board of Examination. A “Failure” in the examination, “Compartment” or “Re-appear” in the examination will constitute an attempt. Candidates who have obtained MBBS/MD/MS /MDS/Master of Physiotherapy degree from Medical Colleges not recognized by the Medical Council of India/NMC are not eligible for admission.
• For Non Medical/ Life Sciences/ Social Behavioral Sciences
  • The candidates who have passed M.Sc/MA/Masters in Engineering or its equivalent/ examination with at least 60 % marks in the subjects mentioned below: from the colleges/institutes/Universities recognized by the UGC are eligible.
  • For Non Medical/Life Sciences
    • A Postgraduate degree of Master of Science (M.Sc) or Master in Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc.) or M.Sc. (Laboratory Technology) in subjects allied to Medical Sciences such as Respiratory Care, Nuclear Medicine, Forensic Medicine, Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Human Biology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Immunology, Life Sciences including Botany, Zoology, Genetics, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Organic Chemistry, Anthropology & M.Sc (Human Genomics), and ME/M.Tech.
  • For Social & Behavioral Sciences
    • The candidates having Postgraduate degree in the following subjects are eligible for Social &Behavioral Sciences, Anthropology, Statistics/Biostatistics, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Nursing, Nutrition, Child Development. OR
    • MA/M.Sc/ M.Phil in Health Promotion/Education, Health Management, Epidemiology, Environmental Health/ Environmental Sciences and Public Health Nutrition/ Applied Nutrition/Food & Nutrition, Health Economics/Applied Economics/Economics, Public Health/ Community Health and MPH, Audiology and Speech Therapy. OR
    • Post graduation in Law i.e. LLM and its equivalent qualification.
  • The candidates as regard to eligibility of the candidates having their own fellowship with stipends from various funding agencies, they shall be exempted from appearing in the entrance exam. Attested copy of the result/fellowship award letter must be attached. *Candidates with the fellowship from a project (Either independent or in Extramural Project are NOT exempted from entrance examination (CBT).

NOTE: Candidate possessing Master Degree through distance learning courses shall not be eligible.

For Sponsored Candidates

Candidates applying for admission as a sponsored/deputed candidate is required to furnish the following certificates/undertaking with his/her application from his/her employer for admission to the course.

• That the candidate concerned is an regular employee of the deputing/sponsoring authority and should have been working for at least three years.
• That after completion of course/training at PGI, Chandigarh, the candidate will be suitably employed by the deputing/ sponsoring authority to work at least for five years in the specialty in which the training is received by the candidate at PGI, Chandigarh.
• That no financial implications in the form of emoluments/ stipend etc. will devolve upon PGI, Chandigarh during the entire period of his/her course. Such payment will be the responsibility of the sponsoring authority.
• Deputation/Sponsorship of any candidate by private hospitals, institutes or nursing homes will not be accepted. The sponsoring Institute should not nominate more than one candidate for a particular specialty. Sponsorship/deputation of candidates will be accepted only from the following:
• Central or State Government Departments/Institutions.
• Autonomous Bodies of the Central or State Government.
• Public sector colleges affiliated to universities and recognized by the MCI. In case of candidate deputed/sponsored by the Govt. Medical College affiliated to Universities and
• Recognized by Medical Council of India, deputation/sponsorship certificate signed by the Principal of Medical College concerned only shall be accepted.
• Deputed/Sponsored candidates are also required to appear in the selection test. Deputed/sponsored candidates selected for admission to any course of the Institute are required to make their own arrangement for stay during the period of their studies.

For Foreign National

• A candidate applying for admission as a Foreign National candidate is required to take the print out of the online application form and furnish the relevant certificates are required to route their application through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi.
• An advance copy must be submitted at PGIMER, Chandigarh before the last date of receipt of application, However applications of such candidates will be processed after receipt of the same through diplomatic channels. These candidates are also required to appear in the entrance examination along with other candidates.
• A separate merit list of these candidates will be prepared within their own category. There will be another separate merit list for Bhutanese nationals, apart from the list for foreign national seats. Selection of candidates will be made on merit based on their performance in the entrance examination.

Application Process

• Candidates has to apply online through the official website of PGIMER Chandigarh
• Read the Prospectus carefully before filling the online application form.
• The candidates carrying their own fellowship from various funding agencies and the In-service medical faculty of PGI will be exempted from the entrance tests and will appear for counselling directly. However, all the candidates are required to fill the online application form.

Selection Process

Part-I: Aptitude Test

• All questions in this part is compulsory with each questions carrying one marks.
• Total 40 marks.
• Topics
  • General Science
  • English
  • Biostatistics & Research Methodology
  • Mental Ability

Part-II: Stream Specific exam

• There will be 100 questions of various disciplines and the candidates have to attempt 40 of them.
• There will be negative marking to the extent of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in the theory paper.

Exemption

The In-service Medical faculty of PGIMER, Chandigarh and the candidates having their own fellowship with stipends from various funding agencies, shall be exempted from appearing in the
entrance exam.

Pattern

• Mode of Exam :- Online Mode (Computer Based Test)
• Duration of Exam :– 90 Minutes Part I & II
• Date of Exam :- 29 November, 2025
• Number of Shifts :- 01 (One)
• Exam Centres :- Chandigarh (Tri City) and Delhi (NCR)
• Language of Paper :- English
• Type of Question :- Objective Type (MCQ)
• Marking Scheme :-
  • Correct Answer: One Marks(+): 1
  • Incorrect Answer :- Minus one-fourth(-): ¼
  • Unanswered/Marked for Review :- 0

Merit List & Minimum Cut-Off Marks

• General/OBC/Spon/FN category: 40 marks
• SC/ST category: 36 marks

Syllabus

• Aptitude Test (40 Marks) General Science, English, Biostatistics and Research Methodology and Mental Ability
• Specialty theory Test (questions for the respective theory) Stream Specific (Non Medical Sciences or; Social & Behavioral Sciences) exam there will be 100 questions of various disciplines and the candidates have to attempt 40 of them

• Starting date for online application registration: 4 November, 2025
• Last Date for filling form & payment of Online Application: 18 November, 2025
• Date & Time of Online Exam Computer Based Test (CBT): 29 November, 2025
• Tentative Date & Time of Declaration of Result: 5 December, 2025
• Date & Time of Counseling (tentative): 24 December, 2025

• Ph.D. Prospectus
• Application Form
• PGIMER Chandigarh Website