Panjab University Chandigarh PhD Admission 2025-26

Panjab University, Chandigarh invites application for PhD Entrance Test the academic Session 2025-26.

If as per prospectus you are exempted from Entrance test then you need not apply for PhD Entrance Test.

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 year 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, recognised 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, recognised or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country to asses, 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 to 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 University Grant Commission from time to time.

For detailed Eligibility Criteria – read Information Brochure.

Application Process

Eligible candidates has to apply online through the official website https://phdadmissions.puchd.ac.in/

Read the instructions given there before filling application form.

Steps to fill Application Form

Registration

• Please enter your name as in matric (10th Class) certificate.
• Enter your Father’s name.
• Enter your Mother’s name.
• Pick Date of Birth from Date picker.
• Enter your correct email ID.
• Enter your Post Graduation Registration number. (Optional)
• Select Post Graduation University from drop down menu.
• Select Post Graduation Passing/Appearing year from drop down menu.
• Select Course from drop down menu
• Enter your Mobile No.
• Choose category if other than General.
• Click on submit button to save your details.
• Note your Application Number, login ID and Password carefully (login ID and password are case senstive).
• Login to your account to pay fee through online mode only.

After depositing your application fee

• Please login with your login ID and Password.
• Click on Click Here To Complete Link to upload your scanned photograph,signature and other important information.
• After submitting the information, please check carefully and lock(confirm) your application form.
• Unconfirmed and incomplete application form will not be considered.
• Take printout of your application form after submitting information.

If any candidate who submits multiple Online Entrance Test Forms for the same/different Course his/her candidature shall be considered only on the basis of one course.

Selection Process

• Candidates have to qualify Ph.D. entrance test conducted by the Panjab University, Chandigarh.
• The Entrance Test syllabus shall consist of 50% of research methodology and 50% shall be subject specific.
• Ph.D. Entrance Test of Panjab University for admission to Ph.D. shall be valid for 3 years.
• The written test shall be followed by a mandatory interview in the form of interaction to be organized by the concerned school / department/ Institute/Centres, as the case may be.
• At the time of interview, the candidates are expected to discuss their research area. Interview is essential for enrolment in M.Phil. & Ph.D. programme and selection would be solely based on the performance of the candidates in the Interview.
• Provided that for the selection of candidates a weightage of 70% for the Academic Performance Index and 30% for the performance in the interview / viva-voce shall be given.

Exemption From Entrance Test

• Exemption from entrance test will be given to those who have already cleared any of the national test like UGC/ CSIR NET including JRF, GATE, CEED, GPAT, ICMR, ICAR, or any other prestigious test for National level scholarship / fellowship conducted by Govt. of India.
• Direct awardees of National / International fellowship for pursuing Ph.D. and working regular teachers of Panjab University are exempted from the entrance test.
• The GATE/ GPAT or any other national level test meant for admission to PhD be considered as per validity of score card.

Panjab University Chandigarh PhD Entrance Exam 2025 Details

Exam Pattern

The medium of examination shall be ENGLISH only, except in the test for language other than English. Test for Public Administration, Sociology, Social Work, Police Administration and Music will be conducted in the medium of English, Hindi and Punjabi.

The Test shall consist of 2 papers in each subject as detailed below:

Paper-I

Duration	1 hour
Type of Question	Objective Type / MCQs
No. of Questions	50 Questions
Questions to be attempted	50 Questions
Maximum Marks	50 Marks
Marking Scheme	Each question will carry one mark. There will be no negative marking.

Paper-II

Duration	2 hour
Type of Question	Subjective / Descriptive Type
No. of Questions	08 Questions
Questions to be attempted	05 Questions
Maximum Marks	50 Marks
Marking Scheme	Each question will carry ten marks. There will be no negative marking.

Syllabus

Paper-I

There will be 25 questions on Research Methodology in Part A and 25 MCQs on Subject specialization in Part B.

Topics – Basic Concepts of Research Methodology, Research Process, Review of Literature, Theory Building, Hypothesis Formulation, Research Design, Sampling, Data Collection Methods, Data Collection Instruments, Hypothesis Testing – Univariate, Bivariate & Multivariate Techniques, Data Processing, Report Writing.

Paper-II

There will be FOUR questions on Research Methodology in Part A and FOUR questions on Subject Specialization in Part B in Paper II.

Out of that the candidate is expected to attempt FIVE questions at least two questions from each Part in Paper II.

Use of calculator for Paper-II is allowed. However, use of programmable calculator is not allowed.

Qualifying Marks

Students who have secured 50% marks in the entrance test are eligible to be called for the interview. A relaxation of 5% marks will be allowed in the entrance examination for the candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/differently-abled category, Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the UGC from time to time.

Initial evaluation will be of Paper-I (Objective Type). Only if a candidate obtains 40% (35% for SC/ST/BC/PwD) marks or more only then his/ her paper II will be evaluated.

However, the total qualifying marks for Paper I and II would be 50%

Admit Card

Admit card can be downloaded from the website.

Exam Centre

The examination center for Entrance Exam will be Chandigarh only.

Interview

• Panjab University shall conduct entrance examination as a qualifying examination for admission to Ph.D. once a year (with exemption of test to categories mentioned in Prospectus.
• However, to facilitate admission of candidates before the expiry of the validity of entrance examination / JRF offer letter, the application for admission to Ph.D. shall be accepted throughout the year. All accepted applications shall be processed for admission in three cycles in a year (i.e. in the months of January, May and September).
• However, in case of research fellows employed under any state/ central/ international research projects, their applications for admission to Ph.D. shall be processed throughout the year provided they fulfill eligibility guidelines. In each admission cycle a fresh merit list shall be prepared.

• Date of Availability of Prospectus and Entrance Test Form: 10 July, 2025 (Thursday)
• Last date for submission of information on the website to generate Login ID and Password: 20 August, 2025 (Wednesday)
• Last date for paying fee through Online mode only: 23 August, 2025 (Saturday)
• Last date for uploading of photograph, signature with rest of the information on the website: 25 August, 2025 (Monday)
• Last date for submission of printout of form along with required documents for claiming the concession of Entrance Test Fee: 28 August, 2025 (Thursday)
• Final date by which Roll Nos. will be available online: 2 September, 2025 (Tuesday)
• Candidates who have not completed their form but have paid their requisite fee, can complete their form (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) by paying late fee of Rs. 500/-: 4 September, 2025 (Thursday)
• Final date by which Admit Card/Roll Nos. will be issued manually by CET-CELL to the candidates who have completed their form by paying late fee of Rs. 500/-: 4 September, 2025 (Thursday)
• Date of holding Entrance Test: 7 September, 2025 (Sunday)
• Centre for Entrance Test: Chandigarh only
• Uploading of Answer Key and inviting Objections (through e-mail only to arcet@pu.ac.in ): 8 September, 2025 (Monday)
• Last date for submission of objections to the Answer Key: 10 September, 2025 (Wednesday)
• Uploading of the response to the Objections and inviting Cross-objections (through e-mail only): 19 September, 2025 (Friday)
• Last date of submission of Cross-objections to the Answer Key: 21 September, 2025 (Sunday)
• Tentative date and mode of declaration of result: 28 October, 2025 (Tuesday)

• Prospectus
• Application Form
• Panjab University Chandigarh Website