UGC NET Eligibility Criteria: Degree, Marks and Age

The three outcomes you can opt for

NET results now place qualified candidates in three groups, and your eligibility depends on which group you are aiming for.

If you are above the JRF age limit you can still apply and qualify in categories 2 and 3.

UGC NET eligibility for a master's degree holder

• Unreserved and EWS: at least 55% marks in a master's degree or equivalent from a university or institution recognised by UGC.
• OBC (non creamy layer), SC, ST, PwD and third gender: at least 50%.
• No rounding off: 54.6% is treated as below 55%.
• PhD holders whose master's examination was completed by 19 September 1991 get a relaxation of 5% in the aggregate, so 50% is enough.
• Subject match: appear in the subject of your master's degree, or in a related subject as listed in the bulletin.

Degrees from foreign universities need an equivalence certificate from the body named in the notification before they count.

Final year students and the 4 year degree route

Postgraduates still studying in their last year, or those who have written the final exam and await results, may apply provisionally. You will be treated as eligible for JRF or Assistant Professor only after you pass the master's with the required marks, and the bulletin gives a deadline counted from the NET result (two years for the JRF and Assistant Professor routes). Keep your marksheet ready, since NTA may ask for proof later.

Candidates with a four year, eight semester bachelor's degree can also take NET if they have at least 75% aggregate, with a 5% relaxation for reserved categories (so 70%). This route opens JRF and PhD admission, not Assistant Professor eligibility. It is useful for students of the new four year degree programmes who want to start research directly.

Net exam eligibility age limit and relaxation

The age limit applies only to JRF. For the June cycle the bulletin counts age as on 1 June, and each December cycle names its own date.

The total relaxation on all grounds together cannot go beyond 5 years. Assistant Professor and PhD admission have no upper age limit at all.

Attempts, fees and other conditions

• Attempts: there is no limit on how many times you can take NET.
• Exam fee in the latest bulletin: Rs 1,150 for unreserved, Rs 600 for EWS and OBC (NCL), Rs 325 for SC, ST, PwD and third gender candidates, plus bank charges.
• Medium: papers are in English and Hindi, except language subjects.
• Certificate: NTA issues e-certificates and JRF award letters after the result. A JRF award letter is valid for a limited period, given in the notification, within which you must join a research programme.

Documents to keep ready

1. Master's marksheets and degree, or a statement from your institution if the result is awaited.
2. Bachelor's marksheets if you are using the four year degree route.
3. Category certificate: OBC (NCL) or EWS certificate in the format accepted for central posts, or an SC or ST certificate.
4. PwD certificate, where it applies.
5. Proof for any age relaxation, such as a research experience certificate, LLM degree or service record.
6. A valid photo ID with your exact name and date of birth.

Before you apply

Check your eligibility for the UGC NET exam against the bulletin of the exact cycle you are applying for, since NTA updates conditions and dates each time. The eligibility of NET exam candidates is judged on the terms of that cycle, and the UGC NET exam eligibility criteria printed there override anything you read elsewhere. Once you know your route, plan your preparation from the UGC NET syllabus, see how scores translate into outcomes through past UGC NET cut off marks, and practise on previous papers. Science postgraduates should compare these rules with CSIR NET eligibility, and our eligibility checker explains how to read rules like these across exams.