Kumaun University PhD Admission 2025-26

Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand invites application for KU Ph.D. Program Admission Test 2025 (KUPPAT -2025).

Educational Qualification

The candidates seeking admission to the Ph.D. programme at the campuses and affiliated colleges of Kumaun University must have the following minimum educational qualification –

• 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.
• 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. 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. 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.
• Candidates who are in their final year/semester of the qualifying examination (postgraduate) are permitted to fill the online application form, with the condition that they must have completed their qualifying examination (postgraduate) before the counselling process. During the counselling process, the student is required to submit their mark sheet (including details of marks obtained). However, admission will be granted only if the candidate fulfils the minimum qualification criteria prescribed by the university. If the minimum qualification criteria are not met, the candidate’s candidature will be automatically cancelled, and the entrance examination fee deposited by the candidate will not be refunded.

Eligibility Criteria for candidates exempted from the written test of KUPPAT-2025

The candidates possessing the required educational qualification as stated in Clause 1 of this prospectus are eligible to seek admission to the Ph.D. programme through KUPPAT (Exempted from written Test) if they have at least one of the following eligibility criteria:

• Candidates who have qualified for fellowship/scholarship in UGC-NET/Joint CSIRNET or NFSC or NFOBC or NFST or any equivalent fellowship, candidates who have been awarded the INSPIRE Fellowship, and candidates who have passed the Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) or GATE or an equivalent national test or an equivalent national test or the teachers as per the Clause 1A(vi) of this ordinance, international students,. However, the candidates whose fellowship certificate has expired at the time of application will not be considered eligible for the Kumaun University Ph.D. Program Admission Test-2025.
• A permanent teacher serving in Kumaun University or the affiliated college as a regular teaching faculty, having served for a minimum period of one year on the date of notification, fulfilling the eligibility criteria for a Ph.D.
• The members of the Central Civil Services (CCS) (Group – A Category) who have completed their probation period and served their respective departments for at least five years.
• UGC-NET/ Joint CSIR-NET candidates declared eligible under Category-1 (Eligible for JRF), Category-2 (Eligible for Assistant Professor and admission to PhD) and Category-3 (Admission to PhD) within the period of validity of their marks/ fellowship (as per UGC’s 578th Meeting).

All those candidates who do not fulfil the conditions of the exempted category shall have to appear in the written test of KUPPAT 2025.

Note:

• A Ph.D. candidate is expected to pursue research in the same subject as his/her Master’s degree. However, if the Research Degree Committee (RDC) of a particular subject determines that the candidate has the necessary qualifications, he/she may also be permitted to conduct research in related subjects within the same or different faculty.
• Candidates who have been penalised in any criminal proceedings through any court of law shall be deemed ineligible for this examination. Such candidates are not eligible to apply for the Kumaun University Ph.D. Program Admission Test-2025.

Application Form

• Access the Samarth portal by visiting the website https://ukentrancephd.samarth.edu.in
• Log in or register by creating your profile as per the instructions provided.
• After logging in, navigate to the Dashboard and click on “Apply New.” This will take you to the “Programme Selection” Tab.
• Select “Doctoral (Ph.D. Programme).”
• Provide all the necessary details in the online registration form. Ensure that all required fields are completed accurately and completely.
• Upon completing the online registration form, submit the form and proceed to the payment section.
• Pay the required amount using the available payment options specified by the university.
• Upon successful payment, a confirmation message or payment receipt will be generated. Save or take a screenshot of this confirmation for future reference.
• The Admit card can be downloaded after registration and payment of the registration fee only after the date mentioned for it in the prospectus.

Admission Process

Candidates seeking registration in the Ph.D. degree program will be selected through either of the following two methods:

• KUPPAT (Through Written test): The candidate has to appear in and qualify the written test, followed by an interview.
• KUPPAT (Exempted from written Test): Whereby the candidate is exempted from the KUPPAT written test but has to appear for an interview as a compulsory requirement. These candidates must also apply by completing the online form for the Kumaun University PhD. Program Admission Test-2025 and submitting the requisite fees by the designated deadline.

• Online registration and submission of the Application Form: 13 April, 2026 to 04 May, 2026 (Up to 05:00 pm)
• Download of the Admit card: One week before the Examination
• Date of Written Examination: 20 May, 2026
• Declaration of Result (Tentative): 2 June, 2026
• Tentative schedule of the interview: 8-10 June, 2026
• Date of Counselling (Tentative): 16 June, 2026

• Notification
• Prospectus
• Application
• Kumaun University Website