Students with four-year UG Degrees UGC Announces Eligibility for Direct NET and PhD Participation

Candidates with four-year undergraduate degrees can pursue PhDs while taking the NET. Such candidates are entitled to appear (for tests) in a subject where they seek to pursue a PhD, regardless of the discipline in which they have achieved the four-year bachelor's degree.

According to Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), students with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly apply for NET and pursue Ph. D.s. Candidates must have a minimum of 75 per cent or equivalent grades in their four-year undergraduate program to pursue a PhD with or without a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). For the Quota students, there will be a relaxation of 5% or its equivalent grades.

Until now, a candidate for the National Eligibility Test (NET) has required a master's degree with a minimum of 55 per cent. This year's exam will be conducted offline rather than on a computer. Tests for all topics will be given on June 16.

Jagadesh Kumar said, "Candidates with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly pursue PhD and appear for the NET. Such candidates are allowed to appear (for tests) in a subject where they want to pursue a PhD irrespective of the discipline in which they have obtained the four-year bachelor's degree."

"Candidates having passed a four-year or eight-semester bachelor's degree programme should have a minimum of 75 per cent marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed," the UGC chairman said.