Mahatma Gandhi Central University – MGCU PhD Admission 2025-26

Mahatma Gandhi Central University (MGCU), Motihari, Bihar invites application for PhD Admission 2025-26.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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. 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 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.

Admission Process

• The admission in PhD programme in Mahatma Gandhi Central University (MGCU) for Academic Year 2025-26 will be made in terms of the UGC Public Notice No.F.4-1 (UGC-NET Review Committee)/2024(NET)/140648, dated March 27, 2024. Accordingly, based on the scores obtained in UGC-NET, the candidates will be eligible in three categories.
  • 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 Professor.
  • Category – 3: Eligible for admission to Ph.D. programme only and not for the award of JRF or appointment as Assistant Professor.
• Those students who are having valid JRF prior to 2025, as per UGC Guidelines, in relevant subject are eligible to apply for Ph.D. Programmes offered by respective Department.
• For admission under Category 2 and 3, qualifying in UGC-NET/UGC-CSIR/ December-2024/ June-2025 cycle and similar National Level Tests/ GATE/GPAT as per their validity shall be the eligibility criteria for applying
• Those students who have cleared only NET prior to December 2024 are not eligible to apply for any of the Ph.D. programmes.
• As per UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022, 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 UGC from time to time.
• The candidates applying for admission in Ph.D. Programme must fulfil the eligibility criteria on or before the last date of applying.

Selection Process

• For admission to all Ph.D. Programmes under all Categories (viz. Category 1, 2 & 3), 70% weightage will be given for valid test scores and 30% weightage for the interview.
• The Ph.D. admission will be based on the combined merit of valid NET marks and the marks obtained in the Interview.
• Interview shall be conducted only of those eligible candidates who have submitted the online application form and shortlisted for interview. The interview will be conducted in the respective Departments of the MGCU.

Application Process

• Online applications are invited from interested & eligible candidates through SAMARTH Portal for admission to the Ph.D. Programmes of Study at Mahatma Gandhi Central University (MGCU) in 19 Teaching Departments for the Academic Year 2025-26.
• Desirous candidates who fulfils the eligibility criteria as prescribed may apply online through SAMARTH Portal Link https://mgcubadm.samarth.edu.in/
• If a candidate wishes to apply for more than one department, the registration fees has to be submitted for each programme and are required to apply separately.

• Online Submission Starts: 24 November, 2025
• Last Date for Online Submission: 26 December, 2025

• Prospectus
• Application
• MGCU Bihar Website