Central University of Himachal Pradesh PhD Admission 2026-27

Central University of Himachal Pradesh invites application for PhD Admission 2026-27.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates who have completed a 1-year/2-semester master’s degree programme after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme or a 2-year/4-semester master’s degree programme after a 3-year bachelor’s degree programme or qualifications declared equivalent to the master’s degree by the corresponding statutory regulatory body, with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed or equivalent qualification from a foreign educational institution accredited by an assessment and accreditation agency which is approved, recognized or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country to assess, accredit or assure quality and standards of the educational institution. or A 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed.
• A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-Abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the Commission from time to time.
• Candidates who have completed the M.Phil. programme with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed or equivalent qualification from a foreign educational institution accredited by an assessment and accreditation agency which is approved, recognized or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country to assess, accredit or assure quality and standards of educational institutions, shall be eligible for admission to the Ph.D. programme. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently Abled/Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates, as per the decision of the Commission from time to time.
• An employee of any University/Institution/College/Government Department/Public Sector Undertaking (PSU)/Research and Development (R&D) organisation/industry/private industry or any other organisation, fulfilling all the prescribed eligibility conditions, may apply for admission to the Ph.D. degree programme in the concerned subject. However, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the employer/appointing authority shall be mandatory and shall be submitted at the time of payment of the Ph.D. admission fee. Failure to submit the NOC shall render the candidate ineligible for admission to the Ph.D. degree programme. In addition, such candidates shall be required to submit, before the commencement of the Ph.D. coursework, a sanction order granting study leave or leave of the kind due for a minimum continuous period of six months, issued by the employer/appointing authority. Failure to submit the same within the stipulated time shall result in the cancellation of the candidate’s admission to the Ph.D. degree programme
• Further, Internal Teaching and Non-Teaching employees of Central University of Himachal Pradesh pursuing the Ph.D. Programme shall complete the prescribed coursework concurrently with their regular official duties/assignments. They shall ensure that their Ph.D. studies do not adversely affect the discharge of their official responsibilities or the teaching, administrative, or other institutional work of the University.

Minimum Eligibility

To be eligible, the applicant must have qualified any of the following:

• UGC/CSIR – JRF
• UGC/CSIR -NET
• UGC-NET (Qualified for Admission to PhD only)
• GATE
• CEED
• Or any other similar National-Level Examination recognised by the UGC

General Instructions

• Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR NET, GATE, CEED, or any other equivalent National-level eligibility/entrance examination recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) or any other competent statutory authority, and who have already applied in response to the Ph.D. Admission Notification No. COE/2-2/11/CUHP/26/9676 dated 13.07.2026, need not apply afresh.
• Candidates who had applied earlier but are not eligible under the revised admission notification may seek a refund by emailing coe@hpcu.ac.in with their registration details, proof of registration, and bank account details. Alternatively, they may wait for the Second Stage of the Ph.D. admission process. If they do not apply or do not wish to participate in the Second Stage, they may also claim the refund after its completion.
• Candidate wishing to apply for admission to more than one Ph.D. programme shall be required to submit a separate application form for each programme along with the prescribed application fee for each such programme. Candidates must ensure that they fulfil the eligibility criteria for each programme in accordance with the applicable UGC Regulations and the University rules.
• The application fee once paid shall not be refunded under any circumstances.
• Admission to the Ph.D. programme in Kashmir Studies, Deendayal Upadhyaya Studies will be done in the Second Stage of the admission process, based on the University Level Entrance Test.

Selection Process

• The selection of candidates shall be made on the basis of a composite score of 100 marks obtained by adding marks in the test portion (70% weightage) and the interview (30% weightage). The marks in the test portion shall be added as follows;
  • Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET under Category-I (Junior Research Fellowship – JRF) or are holding a valid fellowship/scholarship under UGC-CSIR NET, GATE, CEED, or any other equivalent National-level examination recognised by the UGC or any other competent statutory authority shall be eligible to appear directly for the Interview/VivaVoce. Such candidates shall be awarded full marks (70 marks).
  • Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET/CSIR-NET under Categories II and III or possess a valid score in GATE, CEED, or any other equivalent National-level eligibility/entrance examination recognised by the UGC or any other competent statutory authority shall be given test marks equal to 70% of the score obtained in the respective National-level examination.
  • NET qualified candidates prior to UGC notification dated 27.03.2024 with File no F.4- 1(UGC-NET Review Committee)/ 2024(NET)/ 140648 shall be given 50 marks and remaining 20 marks based on Masters percentage.
• All eligible applicants under both the above categories shall be required to appear for an Interview/Viva-Voce to be conducted by the concerned Department/Centre.
• The Interview/VivaVoce score shall carry 30% weightage in the composite score. 3.3 The Interview/Viva-Voce will be held in the concerned Department/Centre from August 17-19, 2026.

Application Process

• Candidates can apply online through the website http://www.cuhimachal.ac.in/
• Read the instructions and guidelines carefully before filling and submitting the online form.

• Opening of Online Applications: 31 July, 2026
• Last Date for submitting the application: 12 August, 2026 (5:00 PM)
• Tentative date of Interview: 17 August, 2026 to 19 August, 2026
• Display of First Selection List: 20 August, 2026
• Deposit of Fees: 20 August, 2026 to 21 August, 2026
• Display of Second & Final Selection List: 22 August, 2026
• Deposit of Fees: 22 August, 2026 to 23 August, 2026

• Notification
• Application Form
• CUHP Website