The University Grants Commission (UGC), vide its notification dated 27.03.2024 decided that from the Academic Session 2024-25, the National Eligibility Test (NET) score can be used for admission to Ph.D. programs in place of entrance tests conducted by the different Universities/HEIs.

Eligibility Test (NET) scores for admission to Ph.D. Programs.

Guidelines for admissions to Ph.D. for academic session 2026-2027:
Based on the scores obtained in NET, the candidates will be eligible in three categories.

• Admission under JRF Category will be done as per UGC Notification dated 7 th November, 2022 published in the Gazette of India: Extraordinary no. 544.
• As per UGC Notification dated 27.03.2024, for students who qualify in Categories 2 and 3, 70% weightage will be given for test scores and 30% weightage for the interview for admission to Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. admission will be based on the combined merit of NET marks and the marks obtained in the Interview.
• The marks obtained in the NET by the candidates in Category 2 and 3 will be valid for a period of one year for admission to Ph.D. Programs.
• The University may hold entrance examination for those Ph.D. programs where NET examination in the concerned subjects/disciplines are not conducted by UGC, such as in Engineering.
• Note: This may be noted that the Institute Ph.D. Entrance Test shall be conducted for all disciplines and those candidates who have not qualified NET under Category 2 and Category 3 will be required to take the Entrance Test mandatorily.
• Further students who are interested to avail the Institute Reserach Scholarship(IRS) offered by the Institute, need to take the Institute Ph.D. Entrance Test, irrespective of the NET Score, which is just the criterion for getting admission without IRS. However, award of IRS is done on basis of academic records, performance in the Institute Ph.D. Entrance Test and Interview.
• All candidates who are shortlisted for interview shall get intimation from their respective departments through their registered mobile number and email id.
• Merely appearing in the Institute Ph.D. Entrance test/Interview shall not be basis of selection or award of IRS.

Selection to Ph.D. will be of two stage process:

• Requirement of Minimum Qualifying Marks in Ph.D. Written Test (WT)

  Group A
  Category	Aptitude Test and Subject Specific Test (100 marks)	Academic Record (60 marks)	Interview (40 marks)	Total (200 marks)
  General	30% (each test)	--	--	45%
  SC/ST	25% (each test)	--	--	40%
  Group B
  Category	Aptitude Test and Subject Specific Test (40 marks)	Academic Record (60 marks)	Interview (100 marks)	Total (200 marks)
  Sponsored	30% (each test)	--	--	45%

  and
• Personal Interview (PI): Qualified/ Eligible candidates of written test shall be called for Interview
  Written Test (Physical Mode):
  Written Test Schedule: Please refer to the Important Dates section of the Brochure
  Venue: BIT Mesra and its Off Campuses at Patna, Noida and Jaipur
  Details of the Written Test:
  • The test will be conducted in physical mode.
  • There shall be two sections:
    • Common Aptitude Section-
    - Duration: 45 minutes,
    - Total No. of Questions: 50 MCQ (2 marks each)
    - Total Marks: 100
    • Subject Specific Section-
    - Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes,
    - Total No. of Questions: 40 MCQ (2 marks each) and 4 Subjective type questions (5 marks each)
    - Total Marks: 100
  • There will NOT be any negative marking.
  • Syllabus of test shall be same as that of UGC-NET/ GATE/ CSIR-NET (whichever relevant to the discipline)
    *(updated on 17th November 2025)
  Online Interview:
  [Qualified / eligible candidates of written test will be shortlisted for interview].
  The interview of the candidates who are shortlisted/exempted from written test will be conducted as per the schedule given below:
  Date of Interview: Please refer to the Important Dates section of the Brochure
  
  Exemption From the Written Test:
  Those with UGC-CSIR-JRF/DBT-JRF/ICMR-JRF/GATE/NET-JRF and all other similar all India fellowships based written test for Ph.D. admission may be exempted from the Written Test, but the candidate has to appear in the interview.

Candidates are advised to carry the following documents in original during reporting for interview along with a set of photocopies of the same.

• Pass certificate and Marksheet of Class 10 (bearing date of birth)
• Marksheet of Class 12 / Intermediate or equivalent
• Certificate and Marksheets of Graduation
• Certificate and Marksheets of Post-graduation
• College Leaving Certificate
• Migration Certificate
• Candidates with qualifications acquired through correspondence or distance- learning programs are eligible only if
  • they acquired such qualifications as working professionals / while in employment,
  • the programs are recognized by the DEC- UGC-AICTE or MHRD,
  • they have passed the qualifying examination at the time of applying, with minimum requisite marks as given in eligibility criteria.
  They must enclose photocopies of
  • work experience certificate
  • pass certificate and marksheets of qualifying examination
  • proof of the program recognized by the DEC-UGC-AICTE or MHRD in letter head of the Institute/College /University, with their application.
• UGC-CSIR/DBT/BINC/ICMR-JRF and all other similar all India fellowships based on a written test for pursuing Ph.D. Admit card and Score card (if applicable).
• Caste certificate / special category certificate (if applicable) in proper format, signed by appropriate authority.
• Sponsorship letter, NOC, Experience Certificate and Facilities available to carry out the research work at their place of working (if applicable) for Sponsored / Part- Time candidates.

The Admission Office / concerned Departments may not undertake detailed scrutiny of applications before verification of documents, and shortlisted applicants will appear in the Test on purely provisional basis, subject to their eligibility being verified at the time of interviews. Merely being allowed to appear in the Test will not be considered as a ground for being eligible for admission to the Ph.D. program.