Maharaja Suhel Dev University PhD Admission 2024-25

Maharaja Suhel Dev University invites application for PhD Admission 2024-25 through PhD Entrance Examination.

Eligibility Criteria

• An applicant must hold a postgraduate or equivalent degree from a university recognized by law, with a minimum of 55% marks or a ‘B’ grade on a 7-point scale (wherever a grading system is adopted). A relaxation of 5% (i.e., a minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent grade) in qualifying marks is applicable for applicants belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Divyang (differently-abled) and visually impaired categories. Such applicants are also eligible to apply for a Ph.D. program.
• Applicants who possess a degree from a foreign educational institution equivalent to a postgraduate degree from an Indian institution, and whose degree has been accredited by an assessment and accreditation agency that is accepted by a statutory authority or under such an authority to ensure and maintain the quality and standards of educational institutions and their assessment and accreditation in accordance with any law established or enacted in that country, will be eligible for admission.
• Permanent teachers (after the probation period) of Maharaja Suheldev State University, Azamgarh and its affiliated government/aided colleges are eligible.
• International applicants (including NRI, PIO, OCI) are subject to rules and regulations regarding entrance, entrance fees, etc., as laid down by the Government of India and the University from time to time.
• Students who are in the final academic session of their postgraduate program may also apply for the eligibility test. However, it is mandatory to have passed the qualifying examination before admission to the research program.
• Applicants who have already obtained a Ph.D. degree once from a university recognized by law or a deemed university or a research institution and wish to pursue research for another Ph.D. are also eligible.

Admission Categories

Full Time (With Scholarship or Sponsored)

• Applicants with a valid NET/MET (GATE) score.
• Applicants receiving financial assistance from government/semi-government agencies including scientific ones such as MOE(OIP), CSIR, UGC, DAE, DST (including Inspire fellowship), DBT, NBHM, Nehru Trust (JST), ICSSR, NDF-AICTE, DRDO, etc.
• Applicants who have been granted study leave for at least three years for the Ph.D. program from a government or academic institution.

Self-Financed Applicants

• This category is for experienced individuals with a good track record. They will be admitted through the regular admission process alongside other regular research applicants.

Foreign Applicants

• Admission for foreign nationals will follow the policies and guidelines of the Government of India.

JRF/SRF/RA/PA working in University 

• Research applicants working full-time (JRF/SRF/RA/PA) in a sponsored Research and Development project at Maharaja Suheldev University, Azamgarh, may be admitted to the Ph.D. program after 6 months of joining the project. They must pass the same admission process as regular applicants.

Part-Time PhD

• Regular and full-time teachers of government/aided colleges affiliated with the University or a college, who have completed at least 1 year of continuous service (including probation) in a lawfully established academic/research institution, will be eligible.
• Officers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force with a rank of at least Colonel or equivalent, with over 10 years of continuous service, are eligible to research in Defence and Strategic Studies.
• An officer/scientist with over 10 years of continuous service in the public sector or in private (BSE/NSE listed) companies is eligible.
• Research students/candidates working full-time on an R&D project in a recognized institution can be included as part-time Ph.D. applicants after 6 months of joining.
• Applicants for a part-time Ph.D. must submit a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the head of their institution/ department/ employer which states that:
  • He/she is a regular employee of the institution/ department.
  • He/she is permitted to study on a part-time basis.
  • He/she will be granted sufficient time during his/her part-time Ph.D. The certificate must be on the institution’s letterhead and should include a commitment stating that the candidate’s study period will be considered as ‘on duty’ with regular salary/allowances, and he/she will be relieved from work for the duration of the study. The candidate must also submit a certificate stating that research facilities are available in his/her institution/organization.
• He/she will have to stay in the institute for at least one semester (06 months) during the first year of the Ph.D. program. Upon completion of this minimum residential period, they must submit a photocopy of the attendance register certified by the research supervisor and Head of the Department/Institution. This condition of a minimum residential period will be automatically waived for applicants whose research supervisor is available at their research center, and both (the supervisor and the research center) are approved by Maharaja Suheldev University, Azamgarh. However, it is still necessary for such applicants to submit a photocopy of the attendance register certified by the research supervisor and Head of the Department/Institution upon completion of the minimum residential period.
• Duly selected teachers of the university campus will be exempted from the entrance examination upon completion of 5 years of continuous service on campus, but it will be mandatory for them to apply for admission to the research program.
• If a full-time Ph.D. scholar takes up regular service in a government institution in a lawfully established academic/research institution, Uttar Pradesh/Central Government, or a department, and then applies for a change to a part-time Ph.D. program, their minimum residential period will be one year, provided they have successfully completed their Ph.D. coursework. However, if the scholar is receiving a scholarship from the university or any other institution, the conversion will not be allowed before 3 years. If the scholar does not fulfill the 3-year condition, they will have to refund the entire amount of the university’s scholarship. Such a scholar must also submit a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the head of their institution/department/employer stating that they are a regular employee and are permitted to study on a part-time basis. This change will be accepted after the recommendation of the Departmental Research Committee/Research Degree Committee. In this regard, a letter will be issued by the university to the concerned party.
• After completing the minimum residential period, part-time Ph.D. candidates must spend at least 6 days (including public holidays) each semester on research work, as advised by the research supervisor. The attendance record should be maintained by the research supervisor and the office.

Admission Procedure

• Admission to the Ph.D. program will be done through the Azamgarh University Combined Research Entrance Test (AZUCRET) conducted by Maharaja Suheldev University, Azamgarh.
• The written entrance examination will consist of two question papers. For general and economically backward class applicants, it will be mandatory to obtain a minimum of 50% marks in the sum of both papers. For applicants belonging to Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and differently-abled categories, a minimum of 45% marks will be mandatory.
• The entrance examination will include a 50% question paper on Research Methodology and a 50% question paper on the Specific Subject (related subject).
• The syllabus for the Specific Subject will be the same as the postgraduate syllabus of Maharaja Suheldev University, Azamgarh.
• The entrance examination will be held at a pre-notified center. Any changes to the centers and dates will be communicated to the applicants well in advance.
• The results of the written examination will be published on the university’s website.
• If any objection is raised regarding the answer to any question in the written examination, those objections will be resolved within a fixed period. Any objection raised after the fixed period determined by the university will not be considered under any circumstances.
• Applicants who have passed AZUCRET and those who are exempted from the written examination will complete the admission process on a specific date and time determined by the university.
• The interview/viva-voce will be conducted before the Departmental Research Committee at the research centers determined by the university. It will be mandatory for the applicant to apply at their chosen research center within the time limit determined by the university.
• It will be mandatory for applicants who have passed AZUCRET and those exempted from the written examination to be present for the interview on a specific date and time determined by the university.
• Applicants who pass the written exam and those exempted from it, but who do not participate in the interview process, will not be eligible for admission.
• A list of successful applicants in the interview/viva-voce will be prepared in descending order of merit, and the admission process will be completed in the same order. The reservation rules permissible by the Government of Uttar Pradesh will be applicable.
• Before the interview/viva-voce, it is necessary for applicants to obtain a consent letter from their proposed research supervisor (Annexure II) and submit a research synopsis in the prescribed format (Annexure II).
• If any applicants get equal marks in the interview, their admission will be determined as follows:
  • Preference will be given to the applicant who has obtained higher marks in the postgraduate examination.
  • If the applicants also have equal marks in the postgraduate examination, preference will be given to the older applicant.

Merit list preparation criteria is given in brochure.

Exemption from Entrance Test

• Permanent teachers who are teaching in the university campus or in a college affiliated with the university and have successfully completed their probationary period.
• International applicants (including NRIs) are subject to the rules and conditions made by the Government of India and the university from time to time regarding admission, fees, etc.
• All applicants who have been selected through the JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) examination by UGC/ CSIR/ DST (Inspire/DBT)/AMI/ ICSC/ ICAR/DPO/ ICSSR/GPT/NBHM/ JST/ ICCR/ NDF-AICTE/ DRDO or any other central institutions of the Government of India and fulfill the rules and validity of the fellowship.
• Applicants who have passed the GATE examination and have a valid GATE score card.
• Those who have served for at least 10 years in the Army, Navy, or Air Force (with a minimum rank of Colonel or its equivalent) will get an opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in Defence or Strategic Studies.
• Officers in the government sector, public sector, private industry, DRDO, BSNL, JAIL, and other companies who have completed at least 8 years of continuous service.
• Applicants who have already obtained a research degree (Ph.D.) once from a lawfully recognized university or deemed university or research institution and wish to pursue research for another Ph.D.
• Applicants interested in admission to the part-time Ph.D. program.

Exempted Candidates also have to apply online.

Entrance Pattern

• The AZUCRET will be based on multiple-choice questions (Objective Type Question) and will consist of a single question paper with two parts.
• The first part will be on Research Methodology (50 questions) and the second part will be on the related subject (50 questions). Each question will carry one mark, and the time limit will be 3 hours.

• Online Application Starts: 18 July, 2025
• Last Date to Apply: 9 August, 2025
• Date for downloading Admit Card from website: 25 August, 2025
• Date of Entrance Examination: 30 August, 2025
• Date of publishing Answer Key: 6 September, 2025
• Last Date to raise objections: 9 September, 2025
• Date of resolution of Answer Key objections: 11 September, 2025
• Proposed Date of declaration of result: 18 September, 2025

• Brochure
• MSDU Azamgarh Website