Admission Procedure for Ph.D. Admission in Economics, 2026

• Candidates with NET/SET/M.Phil (from any recognized university with 2-semester/1-year course work) or qualifying the research entrance test (RET) conducted by the Department of Economics, University of Calcutta.
• Candidates with NET/SET/M.Phil and final year M.Phil candidates in Economics (or related discipline like Development Studies, Foreign Policy Management, etc. with Masters degree in Economics) completing pre-submission seminar and viva-voce process by December 31, 2025 from any UGC recognized university and awaiting for final results are exempted from RET. They are eligible to appear directly in the interview.
• Final year M.Phil candidates waiting for final results as mentioned above are required to submit their enrolment certificate and a letter from the Head of their respective Departments or higher authority of the University stating the fulfillment of conditions mentioned above. They have to submit their final result by February 9, 2026, if selected in the viva, failing which their admission would stand cancelled.




• Candidates with at least 55% marks in Economics at the Master’s level from any UGC recognized university are eligible to appear in RET. Candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/differently-abled and other reserved categories as per the UGC norm need to have at least 50% to sit in the written test.
• Candidates with NET/ SET/ M.Phil or any other equivalent examination recognized by UGC, or getting at least 50 % marks in RET are eligible for appearing viva for final selection.
• Candidates appearing viva have to submit statement of purpose (SoP) indicating the area of research interest (not exceeding 1000 words) on the basis of which a final interview will be conducted.
• Final selection of candidates for enrolment in Ph.D. programme 2026 will be made purely on the basis of performance in interview following the criteria mentioned in theUniversity of Calcutta (Regulation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D.), Regulations 2016.
• The cut off qualifying marks for admission is 50% in interview.
• At most 10 candidates [with full concurrence with the reservation policy Rules 2013 [Subrule 1(e) of Rule 6])] will be enrolled this year (2026)
• The list of finally selected candidates would be posted in the Departmental Notice Board and in the University website.