Calcutta University: Admission to the Ph.D. Programme in Political Science, 2025

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University of Calcutta

Kolkata, West Bengal

Admission to the Ph.D. Programme in Political Science, 2025

University of Calcutta
Department of Political Science
Kolkata, West Bengal
Admission to the Ph.D. Programme in Political Science, 2025

Applications are invited for admission to the Ph.D. Programme in the Department of Political Science, University of Calcutta (Alipore Campus, 1, Reformatory Street, Alipore, Kolkata - 700027) under the University of Calcutta (Regulation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D.), Regulations 2016 (www.caluniv.ac.in).

The number of vacant seats is not more than 10 (ten), and admission shall be made following the West Bengal State Higher Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Rules, 2013.
Broad Specialization areas (indicative):
Gender Studies
Modern Indian Political Thought
International Politics
Global Political Economy
Area Studies
Democratic Politics in South Asia
Urban Studies
Contemporary Politics in West Bengal
Politics of Communication

Application Form (annexed in the last page of this advertisement) duly filled in and scanned, together with scanned self-attested photocopies of all relevant mark sheets, NET / SET / M.Phil. certificate(s), date of birth certificate, caste certificate (for reserved category) and receipt of deposit of Application Fee of Rs.100/- (Rupees one hundred only) to be paid online through SBI Collect must be submitted (PDF format only) to the following link: https://forms.gle/kDPeWdPp7qJkNTZA8.
Incomplete applications are liable to be rejected.

Eligibility Conditiona

Candidates having a Master's degree in Political Science or equivalent with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade 'B'in the UGC 7-point scale are eligible to apply for admission to the Ph.D. programme in Political Science.
A relaxation of 5% of marks, or an equivalent relaxation of grade, may be applicable for candidates belonging to SC / ST / OBC / differently-abled and other categories as per the UGC norm.
In case a candidate wishes to apply for admission to the Ph.D. programme in a subject other than the one in which he/she has obtained the qualifying degree, he/she will have to seek an endorsement by the Ph.D. Research Advisory Committee of the subject in which he/she seeks admission as a Ph.D. student, at the time of the submission of his/her application for admission to the Ph.D. programme.
In case of candidates holding a qualifying degree from other Universities, admission for the Ph.D. programme will proceed after determination of equivalence by the relevant University body and fulfilment of the admission criteria.
(For detailed eligibility criteria, follow the link https://www.caluniv.ac.in/PhD-Dlit-Dsc/Ph.D.Regulations-2016.pdf)

Admission Procedure

Components - Research Eligibility Test (Written) and Interview
Research Eligibility Test (Written):
- Eligible candidates without having NET / SET / M.Phil. or any other equivalent examination recognized by UGC shall appear in the Entrance Test (written) to be conducted by the Department. The entrance test will be a 50-mark written admission test of 2 hours duration based on 25 MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) of 01 (one) mark each and a short essay of 25 marks. Qualifying marks for the written test will be 50% for the General category, 45% for OBC - A & B, and 40 % for SC/ST.
- Syllabus for Entrance Test (written) shall include the standard PG level syllabus in Political Science.
Interview:
- Eligible candidates with NET/ SET/ M.Phil. or any other equivalent examination recognized by UGC, or getting qualifying marks in the written Entrance Test, shall appear for an Interview for final selection. The Interview will be of 50 marks.
- All candidates appearing for the Interview will have to submit a copy of Research Proposal (not exceeding 500 words and indicating area of research interest) on the notified date. Candidates appearing in the interview shall have to produce all relevant testimonials, viz., mark sheets, NET / SET / M.Phil. certificate(s), date of birth certificate, caste certificate (for reserved category), in original for physical verification.
  Final selection of candidates for enrolment to the Ph.D. programme in Political Science, 2025 will be made based on performance in the interview, following the criteria mentioned in the University of Calcutta (Regulation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D.), Regulations 2016.
Venue for Written Entrance Test and Interview:
Department of Political Science,
University of Calcutta
Alipore Campus, 1, Reformatory Street, Alipore, Kolkata - 700 027.

Candidates are advised to check the university website regularly.
No communication via phone or WhatsApp will be entertained during the period of admission process.

Instructions for Payment of Application Fee

For online payment of Application Fee of Rs. 100/- (Rupees one hundred only) through SBI Collect -

Go to https://www.onlinesbi.sbi/sbicollect and then select category - Educational Institution, search for Calcutta University - Online Payment - Payment for MISC fees - select category: Application for Admission to Ph.D.
Fill in the details, and in the Remarks box write "application for admission to Ph.D.". Ignore Registration No.
Take a printout of the payment receipt.

Important Dates

Submission of application forms	22/08/2025 to 04/09/2025
Publication of the list of candidates eligible for Research Eligibility Test in the Departmental Notice Board and the University website	10/09/2025
Date of Research Eligibility Test (Written) [only for non-NET/SET/SLET/M.Phil. candidates]	18/09/2025 (01:00 P.M.-03:00 P.M.
Publication of the list of candidates eligible for Interview in the Departmental Notice Board and in the University website (including those successful in Research Eligibility Test)	Date/s to be notified later
Date of Interview	Date/s to be notified later
Publication of the list of successful candidates in the Departmental Notice board and the University website	Date/s to be notified later