DU PhD admissions 2026: apply by October 20, check entrance test pattern

The University of Delhi (DU) has released details regarding the entrance test pattern and syllabus for its PhD Admissions 2026, specifically targeting students who have completed a four-year undergraduate program. A notification outlining the eligibility criteria, entrance test structure, and selection process was published on October 14, 2026, on the official admission portal, admission.uod.ac.in.

This announcement comes as the University Grants Commission (UGC) has allowed NET scores to be used for PhD admissions, a policy Delhi University will adopt for certain categories. The deadline for submitting applications for PhD programmes has been extended to October 20, 2026, with the registration process for the academic session 2026-27 having commenced on October 6, 2026, and closed on October 18, 2026.

Eligibility and Application Process

Students who have completed a four-year or eight-semester undergraduate programme under UGCF 2022 are eligible to apply for the entrance test, provided they have achieved a minimum of 7.5 CGPA. A relaxed minimum CGPA requirement of 7 applies to candidates from SC, ST, and PwBD categories. Also, applicants must have completed a dissertation, academic project, or entrepreneurship work during the fourth year of their UG programme.

Candidates who have already qualified national-level entrance exams such as UGC NET, CSIR NET, GATE, CEED, or any equivalent test are not eligible to appear for this specific DU PhD entrance test. Such candidates are required to apply through the university’s admission portal by submitting their NET scores. The official admission portal, admission.uod.ac.in, also hosts the common Research Methodology syllabus for PhD entrance tests across various subjects.

Entrance Test Structure and Selection Criteria

The PhD entrance test will be a two-hour examination carrying a total of 100 marks. The test is divided into two sections: Research Methodology and a subject-specific section. The Research Methodology section will consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) for 50 marks, while the subject-specific section will also carry 50 marks and include descriptive questions related to the candidate’s research or entrepreneurship work.

A negative marking scheme will be applied in the MCQ section, where 25% of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for every incorrect answer. Candidates must score 50% or more in the DU PhD entrance test to qualify for the interview stage. For SC, ST, and PwBD candidates, the minimum qualifying marks for the interview are set at 45%. Shortlisted candidates must submit their dissertation, academic project report, or entrepreneurship report, which was used for their fourth-year assessment, before their interview.

The final merit list for admission will be determined by assigning 70% weightage to the entrance test marks and 30% weightage to the candidate’s performance in the interview. The University of Delhi has stated that the specific dates for the entrance test and other related information will be released in due course.

Key Dates for PhD Admissions 2026-27

The registration window for PhD programmes for the academic session 2026-27 opened on October 6, 2026, and concluded on October 18, 2026. Interviews by departments and centres are scheduled to take place from October 21, 2026, until October 31, 2026. The last date for payment of fees for admitted candidates is November 15, 2026.

The Bulletin of Information for PhD Admissions 2026-27 was initially published on October 6, 2026, and next revised on October 10, 2026. Yogesh Singh recently began his second tenure as DU Vice-Chancellor, becoming the only person to do so in 77 years. The university also relaxed the 28-credit promotion rule earlier this year.

Further reading

• SLAT 2027 mock test link activates October 9: check exam pattern
• Bihar NEET UG 2026 stray round registration begins today; apply by October 21
• Telangana NEET PG 2026 counselling registration underway; apply by October 21
• Sikkim B.Pharma 2026: Apply for admission via entrance exams and counseling
• AIBE 22: Apply by October 27, 2026. Submit documents and fees

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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