NET scores to be used for PhD admissions

CHENNAI: From the coming academic year, the National Eligibility Test score will be used for admission to PhD programmes in place of entrance tests conducted by the Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs).

The University Grants Commission (UGC) conducts the National Eligibility Test (NET) through the National Testing Agency (NTA), which also organises the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical aspirants across the country.

Accordingly, the NET is conducted twice a year in June and December and currently, the NET scores are used to award Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). It also has the eligibility criteria for the appointment of assistant professors for those with master’s degrees.

“By leveraging the NET, conducted biannually, universities can offer greater flexibility to students, allowing them to utilise their scores from either session to apply for PhD programmes across various institutions,” UGC chairman Jagadesh Kumar said.

UGC secretary Manish R Joshi said many universities conduct their entrance tests for admission to PhD degree programmes, requiring the students to write multiple entrance tests.

“To help the students with one national entrance test for PhD admissions as a part of implementing the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), the UGC had constituted an expert committee to review the provisions of the NET,” he added.

Based on its recommendation, it has been decided that from 2024-2025, the NET score could be used for admissions to PhD programmes in place of entrance exams conducted by different HEIs.

He said from June 2024 onwards, the successful NET candidates will also be declared eligible for admission to PhD programmes even if they do not possess JRF awards.