Cotton University PhD Admission 2026

Cotton University, Guwahati, Assam invites online application for PhD admission for the academic session 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

• A Master’s Degree or equivalent from a recognized University/Institute with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade, or an equivalent degree from a recognized foreign educational institute in a subject related to the Ph.D. discipline to which applied. Candidates eligible under Section 3 of the UGC Notification No. F. 1-3/2021 (QIP), dated 7th November, 2022, are also eligible to apply.
• A relaxation of 5% in marks will be applicable to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/PWD (having more than 40% disability), EWS, and other such categories as specified for admission in institutions under the Government of Assam.
• Students currently in the 4th semester of their PG program are permitted to apply for admission to the Ph.D. program. However, their candidature will be considered subject to the fulfillment of the minimum eligibility criteria.
• When determining a candidate’s eligibility based on conditions i, ii, and iii, any grace marks or points awarded in the qualifying examination will not be counted.

Selection Procedure

• An Entrance Test of 70 marks will be conducted for admission into the Ph.D. program. Candidates securing 50% marks or above in the Entrance Test will qualify to appear for a personal interview/viva voce of 30 marks, to be conducted separately for each department/center.
• A relaxation of 5% marks will be allowed in the Entrance Examination for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/Differently-abled Category (having more than 40% disability) and Economically Weaker Section (EWS).
• The Entrance Test syllabus shall consist of 50% Research Methodology and 50% subject-specific content.
• Candidates qualified for fellowship/scholarship in UGC-NET/UGC-CSIR NET/GATE, ICMR, DBT examinations, and similar national-level examinations, shall be allowed to appear directly in the Personal Interview/Viva-voce.
• Candidates who qualify in Category 2 in the NET Examination since June, 2024 need not appear for the Entrance Test. Candidates with valid Category 3 NET Certificate also need not appear for the Entrance Test.
• The Cotton University Entrance Test/NET score shall carry 70% weightage, while the Personal Interview shall carry 30% weightage in the final selection of the candidates.
• Candidates who have cleared NET (before June 2024) or SLET in related disciplines may be eligible for a 5% relaxation in the qualifying marks of the entrance test.
• All candidates, including those exempted from the Entrance Test must apply for admission into the selection process within the stipulated time.
• Candidates will be shortlisted for admission into the Ph.D. program considering the number of declared vacancies by the departments, research interest of the candidates, and performance in the interview. The University reserves the right to not fill up vacant seats if suitable candidates are not found and to increase the number of seats if a vacancy arises during the process.
• All selected research scholars must comply with the conditions of the Ph.D. program. Non-adherence to this results in the forfeiture of seats. Attendance in Ph.D. Coursework classes is compulsory for all research scholars. Scholars with less than 75% attendance shall be debarred from appearing in the Ph.D. Coursework examination.
• Reservation of seats for different categories will be applicable as per Cotton University norms.

Application Process

• Applications may be registered ONLINE through the University Admission Portal.
• Payment of application fee is to be made online through UPI/ Debit Card/ Credit Card/ Net Banking only at the time of filling up the online application form.

• Activation of online registration for application: 26 February, 2026
• Last date and time for registration: 7 March, 2026 till 11:00 PM
• Last date and time for submission of completed online application form including payment: 8 March, 2026 till 11:00 PM
• Last date of final submission of application: 8 March, 2026
• Date of entrance test (tentative): 22 March, 2026

• Notification
• Details
• Application
• Cotton University Website