UGC NET Eligibility Criteria

UGC-NET : Eligibility Criteria for June 2025

Examination Qualification:

(a) General / Unreserved / General-EWS candidates who have secured at least 55% marks (without rounding off) in Master's Degree or equivalent examination from Universities / Institutions recognized by UGC.

(b) Candidates who are pursuing their Master's degree or equivalent course or candidates who have appeared for their qualifying Master's degree (final year) examination and whose result is still awaited or candidates whose qualifying examinations have been delayed may also apply for this test. However, such candidates will be admitted provisionally and shall be considered eligible for award for JRF / eligibility for Assistant Professor only after they have passed their Master's degree or equivalent examination with at least 55% marks (50% Marks in case of OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender category candidates). Such candidates must complete their Master's Degree or equivalent examination within two years from the date of NET Result with required percentage of marks, failing which they shall be treated as disqualified.

(c) Candidates belonging to the Third gender category are eligible to draw the same relaxation in fee, age and Eligibility Criteria for NET (i.e. JRF and Assistant Professor) as are available to SC/ST/PwD categories. The subject-wise qualfying cut-offs for this category would be lowest among those for SC / ST / PwD / OBC-NCL / General-EWS categories in the corresponding subject.

(d) The Ph.D degree holders whose Master's Level examination have been completed by 19 September 1991 (irrespective of date of declaration of result) shall be eligible for a relaxation of 5% in aggregate marks (i.e. from 55% to 50%) for appearing in NET.

(e) Candidates are advised to appear in the subject of their Post-Graduation only. The candidates, whose Post Graduation subject is not covered in the list of NET subjects, may appear in a related subject.

(f) Candidates having passed a 4-year /8-Semester bachelor's degree programme should have a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is allowed. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC / Differently-Abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the Commission from time to time regulations, 2022.

The candidates qualifying in the NET, based a four year undergraduate degree, will be eligible for the award of the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and for admission to the Ph.D. The candidates qualifying in the NET, based a four-year undergraduate degree, will not be eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor.

(g) Candidates who are Pursuing Four Year /8 Semester Bachelor's Degree Programme and are in their last semester / year may also apply for the test. However, such candidates will be admitted provisionally and shall be considered eligible for the award of JRF / admission to Ph.D only after fulfilling the requirements contained in the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D Degree) Regulations, 2022 within two years (if qualifed for award of JRF) / within one year (if qualified for admission to Ph.D only) from the date of declaration of the NET Result, failing which they shall be treated as disqualified.

(h) Candidates with a Four-Year Bachelor's Degree Programmes are allowed to appear in a subject in which they want to pursue a Ph.D. irrespective of the discipline in which they have obtained the four year bachelor's degree.

(i) Candidates are neither required to send any certificates / documents in support of their eligibility nor printout of their Application Form or Confirmation Page to NTA. However, the candidates, in their own interest, must ensure themselves about their eligibility for the test. In the event of any ineligibility being detected by the UGC / NTA at any stage, their candidature will be cancelled, and they shall be liable for legal action. NTA does not verify the information provided by the candidates during online registration and hence candidature will be purely provisional subject to the fulfillment of eligibility criteria.

(j) Candidates with post-graduate diploma / certificate awarded by the Indian University / Institute or foreign degree / diploma / certificate awarded by the foreign university / institute should in their own interest, ascertain the equivalence of their diploma / degree / certificate with Master's degree or recognized Indian universities from Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi.

and for law students, they have to ascertain their equivalence via Bar Council of India.

Age Limit & Relaxation :

1. For Assistant Professor: There is no upper age limit for applying for UGC-NET for Assistant Professor.

2. Admission for Ph.D: There is no upper age limit for applying for UGC-NET for Admission to Ph.D.

2. Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Not more than 30 years as on 1st day of the month in which the examination is concluded i.e. 01.01.2025 (This age limit is applicable for the current examination only)

Age Relaxation in UGC NET for JRF

For candidates who fall under the following criteria, there is an age relaxation:

UGC NET Age Limit for Assistant Professor

Regardless of your age, you are qualified to apply for the position of Assistant Professor. However, ensure that you have the necessary qualifications.

Master's Students are Eligible for UGC NET

• You are temporarily permitted to take the UGC NET Exam if you are in your last year of a master's program.
• Make sure you finish your master's degree with the necessary aggregate marks within two years after the date of your UGC NET Score. If not, you will be eliminated even if you pass the UGC NET deadline.
• You may take the exam for a subject that is related if your Master's subject is not listed in the UGC NET Subject List.

Apply for Assistant Professor Without UGC NET

If you pass any of the following examinations, you are eligible to apply for the position of Assistant Professor.

You are not eligible to apply for UGC NET.

• NET/SET/SLET
• UGC/CSIR/JRF Prior to 1989

Note: Only colleges and institutions in the state in which you have passed the SET are eligible to accept applications for Assistant Professor positions from SET-qualified individuals who took the exam starting on June 01, 2002.

How UGC NET Eligibility is Decided for JRF & Assistant Professor?

• The cutoff scores will determine your eligibility for JRF and Assistant Professor Positions. Separate deadlines for JRF and Assistant PRofessor are mentioned by UGC.
• Make care to specify if you would like to appear for the position of "JRF", Assistant Professor," or "JRF and Assistant Professor".
• You also become qualified to apply for Assistant Professor Positions after passing the UGC NET JRF.

UGC NET Eligibility Criteria FAQs

Q: Can I appear for NET after graduation?

A: No to be eligible for the UGC NET, you must have completed a master's degree or its equivalent from an accredited university or college. You are also potentially eligible to take the UGC NET exam if you are a master's student.

Q: Can I apply for a lecturer without NET?

A: Yes, Without a NET, you are able to apply for a lectureship, but you need to have finished your Ph.D at an accredited university.

Q: What is the difference between NET and JRF?

A: The UGC administers the NET twice a year as a qualifying exam to ascertain your eligibility for applications as a JRF or Assistant Professor. Conversely, JRF is a fellowship granted to UGC NET JRF qualifying candidates.