Chanakya National Law University – CNLU Patna PhD Admission 2026

Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) Patna invits application for PhD Admission 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates who have completed:
  • 1-year/2-semester Master’s degree programme after a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor’s degree programme
    or
  • 4-year/8-semester Bachelor’s degree programme having a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale, wherever the grading system is followed.
    or
  • 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 on a point scale wherever the 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.
• And Candidates who have cleared UGC-NET in any of the following three categories are eligible to apply for admission to the doctoral program:
  • Category 1: Eligible for (i) admission to Ph.D. with JRF and (ii) appointment as Assistant Professor.
  • Category 2: Eligible for (i) admission to Ph.D. without JRF and (ii) appointment as Assistant Processor.
  • Category 3: Eligible for admission to Ph.D. programme only and not for the award of JRF or appointment as Assistant Professor.

A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/BC/EBC/PwD (Persons with Disabilities), Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates.

Admission Process

• Selection for candidates who have qualified UGC-NET shall be based on 70% weightage to the test score and 30% to the interview. JRF-qualified candidates shall be admitted solely based on the interview.
• The applicants are required to submit a preliminary research proposal (between 1500-2000 words, excluding references) in the format mentioned below. The document must contain the following:
  • (a) Expression of Research Interest: This section must outline the area of research and the candidate’s interest in the same.
  • (b) Tentative Thesis Title: The thesis title should indicate the primary focus of your proposed research.
  • (c) Relevant Literature Review and Research Gap: This section should demonstrate that the research topic is unexplored, and an original scholarly contribution can be made on the same.
  • (d) Statement of Problem: This section should clearly communicate what your proposed Ph.D. thesis aims to achieve and articulate the knowledge gap that it aims to address within your chosen domain.
  • (e) Conceptual Context: This section contextualizes your research area and links specific social or legal problems to relevant theory.

Application Process

Interested candidates may apply through an online application form (will be made available on 04th February, 2026) along with an application fee and required documents.

• Start of Application: 4 February, 2026
• Last Date for Application Submission: 20 February, 2026

• Notification
• CNLU Website