Bangalore University PhD Admission 2026 (Jan)

Applications are invited from eligible candidates for admission to Ph.D. (Full-time and Part-time) programme in Bangalore University, Karnataka.

Eligibility

• The candidates must have a Master degree from UGC recognized Educational Institution or an equivalent degree from a Foreign Educational Institution with at least 55% in aggregate/equivalent grade points. Or
  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.
• 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.
• A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/Cat-1/OBC (non-creamy layer) Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the State Government from time to time.
• Provided that a candidate seeking admission after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme should have a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed.
• Candidates who have completed the M.Phil. (on or before 2009 Regular Mode) Programme with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent Grade (on or before 2009 Regular Mode). A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/ Cat-1/OBC (non-creamy layer) /PwD, and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the University Grants Commission from time to time.
• A candidate shall work for Ph.D. degree in a subject studied at the Master’s Degree or related subject under a recognized research supervisor. However, a candidate may be allowed to conduct research in a subject other than one chosen for the Master’s Degree. provided it is of an inter-disciplinary nature, with the approval of the concerned Board of Studies.

Selection Process

Entrance Test

All candidates fulfilling eligibility criteria as per Bangalore University Regulation 2024, shall appear in the entrance test conducted by the University. Further, selection under this mode will be based on the performance of the candidates at the entrance test and in the interview.

• The Entrance Test shall consist of two sections: Section A: Research Methodology (50%) and Section B: Subject-specific knowledge (50%).
• Candidates must secure at least 50% marks in the entrance test to qualify for the interview. However, SC/ST/Cat-1/ OBC/PwD candidates shall be granted a 5% relaxation in the qualifying marks. The cumulative score shall determine the candidate’s placement on the merit list.
• The final score for short listing shall be calculated by adding 50% of the marks secured in the postgraduate degree (PG) and 50% of the marks secured in the University entrance test.
• An Entrance test for a maximum marks of 100 shall be conducted at the Centre(s) notified in advance by the University by setting two separate sets of 50 multiple choice questions of two marks each to be answered in a maximum time limit of 120 minutes only.
• The syllabus for the Entrance Test shall include questions on Research Methodology and cognate/ core subjects of the P.G. courses/UGC-NET Syllabus in the ratio mentioned at clause 5.3.1 of the Bangalore University regulation 2024.
• All question papers in different disciplines for the Ph.D entrance exam shall be set by external examiners only in English language, except for Ph.D in regional languages. However, if a specific request is made by the concerned Post Graduate Department, only then the question paper may be set in that specific language.
• Candidates who take up inter-disciplinary topics for research shall have to appear for the entrance test in the concerned Department where the candidate has applied.

Weightage distribution for the final score will be calculated as follows:

• Entrance Test: 70%
• Interview: 30%

Non-Entrance Candidates

The candidates who have cleared UGC/CSIR-JRF/ NET/KSET/ SLET/GATE (with validity period with required score)/ Recognized young researchers by DST, UGC, CSIR/AICTE, QIP/INSPIRE/DBT/National Funding Agencies/M.Phil Regular Mode (on or before 2009/ Teachers with QIP/Foreign candidates are exempted from entrance test.

The following candidates are eligible under the non-entrance method:

• Foreign students applying through ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) and Non-ICCR programs. Explanation: Seats for foreign candidates are over and above the regular intake.
• Candidates awarded national fellowships/scholarships such as JRF (UGC/CSIR), DST Inspire, ICMR, ICSSR, or other recognized fellowships.
• Project Fellows (PF) working under major research projects funded by government or recognized institutions.
• All the above candidates shall be solely selected on the basis of 100% performance in the interview. The Research Advisory Committee (RAC) shall recommend candidates based on their academic qualifications, research proposal quality, and interview performance.
• The interview will assess the candidate’s research potential and academic preparedness, the alignment of the research proposal with the department’s focus areas and subject knowledge and research methodology.
• All other candidates holding qualifications such as NET (UGC/CSIR), KSET, GATE or equivalent but without national fellowships or scholarships shall be short listed based on final score calculated as follows: 50% of the marks secured in the qualifying postgraduate degree. The PG score shall determine the candidate’s placement on the merit list. However, all such short listed candidates shall attend the interview.

Consolidated Merit List

Entrance Category:

• After the entrance test, a consolidated Merit List of all the entrance test candidates shall be prepared by the University by taking into consideration the marks of only such candidate who have secured a minimum of 50% in the entrance test and the marks obtained by the candidate in the qualifying examination in the ratio of 50:50. However, the candidate has to secure overall minimum of 55% marks. The overall minimum marks shall be 50% for SC/ST/Cat-I & OBC/PwD to be eligible for provisional registration.
• Notwithstanding the above general rule, in case of vacancy of seats belonging to SC/ST/Cat-1& non-creamy layer among OBC candidates or PwD category in the entrance examination conducted by the University, a relaxation of 5% of marks may be allowed to fill the vacant seats among the respective categories.
• In spite of the above relaxation, if the seats allotted for SC/ST/Cat-1 and non-creamy layer among OBC candidates or PwD category remain unfilled, the University shall launch a Special Admission Drive, for that particular category within one month from the date of closure of admissions of General Category. The University may devise its own admission procedure, along with eligibility conditions to ensure that most of the seats under these categories are filled.

Non-Entrance Category:

• The Merit List of the candidates who have cleared the UGC/CSIR: JRF Test/NET/ KSET/GATE-with validity period/recognized young researchers by DST, UGC, CSIR/AICTE, QIP/ INSPIRE/ DBT National Funding Agencies shall be prepared in that order, based on the marks secured by the candidates at the post-graduate level/ M.Phil Regular Mode (on or before 2009) Degree through regular mode with course work/teachers on QIP/foreign candidates. All other candidates who do not figure in the list mentioned above shall have to qualify the Ph.D entrance examination.
• Names that appear in the consolidated merit list shall be notified by the Registrar (Evaluation) and shall be considered for the existing vacancies only. All eligible candidates shall be interviewed by the RAC of the concerned P.G Department of the University.

Application Process

• Candidates shall visit and browse the application form from the Bangalore University.
• Candidates shall fill-up the required details in the Application Form and submit it online.
• For successful registration of application form, candidate shall upload a valid scanned copy of the recent passport size photo and signature.
  The Hall ticket will be generated only to those eligible candidate who have paid the fees online.
• After successful online submission of the application, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to the registered e-mail address of the candidate.
• Thereafter, the candidate shall download two sets of duly-filled in application form and retain one set for their reference and one set to be sent to: The Chairperson/ Principal/ Director/ Coordinator, (concerned Department) Jnanabharathi Campus, Bangalore University, Bengaluru-560 056 by Speed Post/Courier/By hand.
• Incomplete/ineligible applications and applications received after the last date shall automatically stand rejected and no correspondence in this regard will be entertained.
• The admission tickets of the eligible candidates shall be downloaded on specified date later to be notified on website and may be down loaded by entering their date of birth or mobile number.

• Online Application Forms (available on the website): 2 February, 2026
• Last date to apply (without fine): 28 February, 2026
• Last date to apply (with a fine of Rs. 200/-): 7 March, 2026
• Last date for submission of hard Copy of Application (to the respective department): 11 March, 2026
• Date of the Entrance Test (MCQ): To be notified

• Notification
• Application
• Bangalore University Website