University Grants Commission’s (UGC) new regulations on PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) degrees

About:

• Under the new rules, UGC has made a series of significant modifications to the eligibility requirements, admissions process, and evaluation methodologies governing doctoral programmes in colleges and universities.

Highlights:

• Students who have completed a four-year undergraduate course will be eligible for direct admission to a doctorate programme.
  • Candidate 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”.
  • In case the candidate does not have 75 per cent marks in a four-year undergraduate program, she has to pursue a one-year master’s programme and score at least 55 per cent.
• The new Rules discontinue the Phil programme altogether. However, that will have no bearing on those holding or pursuing M.Phil degrees currently.
• Universities and colleges will be free to admit students through the NET (National Eligibility Test)/JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) qualification route as well as entrance exams at the level of the institutions.
• If an individual institution can holds its own entrance tests to admit students, then the candidates need not write the NET or similar exams. The “entrance test shall consist of 50 per cent research methodology and 50 per cent subject specific”.
• Where the selection is done by entrance tests conducted by individual universities, a weightage of 70 per cent will be given to performance in the written test, and 30 per cent to the interview.
• UGC has introduced a new requirement for PhD scholars, irrespective of discipline, to train in teaching / education/ pedagogy/ writing related to their chosen subject during their doctoral period. They may also be assigned four to six hours per week of teaching/ research assistantship for conducting tutorial or laboratory work and evaluations.
• It is no longer required to publish research articles in peer-reviewed publications or present in conferences.
• Working professionals can now enrol in part-time PhD programmes. The institute will require a “No Objection Certificate (NOC)” from the appropriate authority in the organisation where the candidate is employed. The NOC should clearly mention that she is permitted to pursue studies on a part-time basis.