Patna University Ph.D. Admission 2026: PAT Form and Eligibility
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- 21 Feb 2026Patna University Ph.D. coursework commencement date
Coursework for provisionally admitted Ph.D. students at Patna University begins at the faculty level on February 21, 2026. - 21 Jan 2026Patna University Ph.D. online application deadline
Online applications for Patna University Ph.D. admission 2026 close on January 21, 2026 via pup.ac.in. - 16 Oct 2025Patna University PhD PAT 2025 exam conducted
Patna University successfully conducted the Ph.D. Admission Test (PAT) 2025 on October 16, 2025.
admission 2026 is conducted through the Ph.D. Admission Test (PAT) and NET/JRF qualifications. Eligible candidates holding a Master’s degree with at least 55% aggregate marks (50% for reserved categories) can apply online via pup.ac.in by January 21, 2026, with an application fee of INR 300.
Prospective research scholars can review eligibility criteria, PAT qualifying scores, subject-wise seat vacancies, application procedures, fee details, and leading Ph.D. colleges in India.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Academic Eligibility | Master’s degree with 55% aggregate marks (50% for SC/ST/EBC/BC/Differently Abled) |
| Selection Criteria | PAT / NET / JRF score followed by a 20-mark Interview |
| Application Fee | INR 300 |
| Course Fee | INR 2,000 |
| Program Duration | 3 to 6 Years (Full-time & Part-time) |
| Official Application Website | pup.ac.in / www.puonline.bih.nic.in |
Ph.D. Eligibility
General category applicants seeking admission to doctoral programmes must hold a Master’s Degree with at least 55% marks in aggregate or an equivalent grade ‘B’ on the UGC 7-Point scale from a recognized university.
Candidates belonging to SC, ST, EBC, BC, and Differently Abled categories receive a 5% relaxation in minimum marks, requiring an aggregate score of 50%. Patna University offers Ph.D. research opportunities across 28 subjects spanning Humanities, Social Science, Science, Commerce, Law, and Education.
Ph.D. Entrance Exams
Patna University evaluates candidates through the Ph.D. Admission Test (PAT) alongside national level examinations like NET/JRF. The PAT 2025 examination took place on October 16, 2025, establishing baseline cutoff marks for selection.
General category candidates must score at least 50% aggregate marks, amounting to a combined total of 100 marks across Paper I and Paper II. Reserved category candidates (SC, ST, EBC, BC, and Differently Abled) require a minimum of 45% aggregate marks, corresponding to 90 combined marks.
Patna University Ph.D. Subject Wise Vacant Seats
Patna University has announced vacant seats across multiple academic departments.
| Subject | Vacancies | Subject | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | 15 | Maithili | 02 |
| History | 09 | Hindi | 03 |
| Economics | 80 | Persian | 04 |
| Psychology | 11 | English | 05 |
| Sociology | 19 | Music | 06 |
| Ancient History | 02 | Political Science | 25 |
| Philosophy | 14 | Commerce | 08 |
| Home Science | 08 | Botany | 09 |
| PMIR | 10 | Chemistry | 10 |
| Arabic | 89 | Geology | 47 |
| Sanskrit | 03 | Physics | 55 |
| Urdu | 30 | Mathematics | 20 |
| Statistics | 32 | Zoology | 27 |
| Law | 24 | Education | 10 |
Ph.D. Application Process
Candidates must complete the online application form on the official university portal pup.ac.in by January 21, 2026. Applying requires submitting online details and paying an application fee of INR 300.
Following online registration, applicants must generate a hard copy of the submitted form. Candidates need to send the printed application along with all mandatory supporting certificates to the concerned university department by hand or speed post before the prescribed deadline.
Departmental Interview and Selection Rules
The departmental interview carries 20 marks to assess research aptitude, communication skills, and subject knowledge in the relevant postgraduate discipline. Departmental interviews take place within one week after the last date of online application submission.
Teachers and non-teaching JRF employees with over three years of experience receive 10 extra marks during the selection process. Final merit lists are published following the completion of departmental interviews.
Documents Required
- Printed copy of the duly filled online application form
- Self-attested copies of academic records
- Other relevant documents
Applicants must submit their printed application form and self-attested academic records to the concerned department by hand or speed post. The online application must be completed through pup.ac.in by January 21, 2026, along with an application fee of INR 300.
Top Ph.D. Colleges
At least 3561 colleges offer Ph.D. programs across India, comprising 287 government institutions and 1129 private institutions. Government colleges report a median total course fee of ₹71,600, with the middle half ranging from ₹34,582 to ₹1.16 lakh. Private institutions show a median course fee of ₹1.85 lakh, with the middle half spanning ₹90,270 to ₹3.00 lakh. State-wise distributions highlight Maharashtra with 609 colleges, Tamil Nadu with 538, Karnataka with 352, Uttar Pradesh with 287, Gujarat with 222, and Rajasthan with 188. Across 9 evaluated institutions, the median average placement package stands at 6.47 LPA.
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee | NIRF rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Science | Bangalore | — | ₹89,200 | 1 (Overall, 2025) |
| Indian Institute of Technology Madras | Chennai | Government | ₹30,850 | 1 (Overall, 2025) |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University | Delhi | Government | — | 2 (Overall, 2025) |
| Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | Mumbai | Government | ₹70,200 | 3 (Overall, 2024) |
| Manipal University Manipal | Manipal | — | ₹59,000 | 3 (Overall, 2025) |
| Punjab Agricultural University | Ludhiana | — | ₹1.76 lakh | 3 (Overall, 2025) |
| Jamia Millia Islamia University | Delhi | Government | ₹27,740 | 4 (Overall, 2025) |
| Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur | Kanpur | Government | ₹52,200 | 5 (Overall, 2025) |
| Delhi University | Delhi | Government | ₹7,130 | 5 (Overall, 2025) |
| Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee | Roorkee | — | ₹85,800 | 6 (Overall, 2025) |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Kolkata | Kolkata | Government | ₹5,000 |
| Bharathi Women’s College | Chennai | Government | ₹5,105 |
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi | Delhi | Government | ₹5,215 |
| Gulbarga University | Gulbarga | Government | ₹6,545 |
| Govt. Raza Post Graduate College | Rampur | Government | ₹6,810 |
| Delhi University | Delhi | Government | ₹7,130 |
| Calicut University | Calicut | Government | ₹7,130 |
| Bastar University | Bastar | Government | ₹7,170 |
| Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research | Chandigarh | Government | ₹7,410 |
| Government Thakur Ranmat Singh College | Rewa | Government | ₹7,777 |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani | Pilani | Private | ₹1.84 lakh |
| Chandigarh University | Chandigarh | Private | ₹3.60 lakh |
| VIT University Chennai | Chennai | Private | ₹1.33 lakh |
| Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology | Patiala | Private | ₹69,000 |
| Chebrolu Hanumaiah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences | Guntur | Private | ₹1.05 lakh |
| Indian Institute of Technology Dhanbad | Dhanbad | Private | ₹50,400 |
| Uttaranchal University | Dehradun | Private | ₹3.59 lakh |
| Marwadi University | Rajkot | Private | ₹2.25 lakh |
| SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies Navi Mumbai | Navi Mumbai | Private | ₹3.00 lakh |
| Doon Business School | Dehradun | Private | ₹3.30 lakh |
| City | Colleges | Fee range | Well-known options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangalore | 179 | ₹50,000 – ₹8.75 lakh | Alliance University, Christ University |
| Pune | 173 | ₹52,785 – ₹5.16 lakh | Symbiosis Law School Pune, Armed Forces Medical College |
| Mumbai | 149 | ₹7,923 – ₹33.82 lakh | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies |
| Chennai | 135 | ₹5,105 – ₹7.50 lakh | Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences |
| Coimbatore | 114 | ₹36,500 – ₹9.34 lakh | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, P.S.G College of Technology |
| Delhi | 77 | ₹5,215 – ₹7.50 lakh | All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia University |
| Jaipur | 76 | ₹30,970 – ₹45.00 lakh | Manipal University Jaipur, University of Rajasthan |
| Hyderabad | 69 | ₹35,000 – ₹5.20 lakh | University of Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad |
| College | City | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|
| IIHMR University | Jaipur | ₹4.00 lakh |
| Indian School of Business Management & Administration | Kolkata | ₹69,900 |
| Indian Institute of Business Management and Studies | Mumbai | ₹75,800 |
| Indian Institute of Information Technology Sri City | Sri City | ₹1.83 lakh |
| Shyam University | Dausa | ₹3.15 lakh |
| Birla Institute of Technology Mesra | Ranchi | ₹1.99 lakh |
How to Apply for Ph.D. Admission in 2026: Step by Step
- Check Master’s Eligibility: Verify that you have a Master’s degree in a relevant subject with minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/EBC/BC/Differently Abled).
- Qualify PAT or NET/JRF: Score at least 50% aggregate (45% for reserved categories) in PAT or qualify NET/JRF to become eligible for the selection interview.
- Submit Online Application: Fill the online Ph.D. admission form on pup.ac.in by January 21, 2026, and pay the online fee of INR 300.
- Submit Physical Copy Offline: Submit the printed application copy along with self-attested marksheets and certificates to the concerned university department by hand or speed post.
- Attend Departmental Interview: Appear for the 20-mark interview organized by the concerned department within a week after the application submission deadline.
- Pay Course Fee & Begin Coursework: Upon publication of the final merit list, pay the INR 2,000 online course fee and start coursework on February 21, 2026.
| What to do | Where | Link |
|---|---|---|
| exam registration | Patna University Online Portal | puonline.bih.nic.in |
FAQs
What is the last date for admission to Patna University in 2026?
Online applications for Patna University Ph.D. admission 2026 close on January 21, 2026. Applicants must also submit physical documents to the concerned department shortly after.
Is NET compulsory for PhD admission in 2026 at Patna University?
No, NET is not compulsory. Candidates can qualify for Ph.D. admission either by passing Patna University’s PAT exam or by holding valid NET/JRF credentials.
What are the fees for Patna University Ph.D. admission 2026?
The online application submission fee is INR 300. Provisionally selected candidates are required to pay an online course fee of INR 2,000.
Who can be eligible for PhD at Patna University?
Candidates holding a Master’s degree with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/EBC/BC/Differently Abled) in the relevant subject from a recognized university are eligible.
What are the qualifying marks for Patna University PAT 2025?
General category candidates must secure 50% aggregate marks (100 marks across Paper I and II), while reserved category candidates require 45% aggregate (90 marks).
What is asked in the Patna University Ph.D. interview?
The 20-mark departmental interview assesses candidate research aptitude, communication skills, and subject knowledge in the relevant postgraduate discipline.
