The University of Delhi has detailed the examination pattern and syllabus for its PhD entrance test for the 2026-27 academic session. This test is for candidates seeking direct admission to PhD programmes after completing a four-year undergraduate degree with research or entrepreneurship components. The entrance test will carry 70% weightage in the admission process, while the interview will account for 30%.
- Candidates must have completed a four-year undergraduate programme under the University of Delhi's Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) 2022.
- Minimum CGPA required is 7.5 for general candidates and 7 for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates.
- Applicants must have completed a dissertation, academic project (excluding translation work), or entrepreneurship during their fourth year.
- The entrance test lasts two hours and totals 100 marks, divided into research methodology and subject-specific sections.
- Negative marking applies to the MCQ section, with a 25% penalty for incorrect answers.
- Candidates scoring at least 50% (45% for SC, ST, PwBD) in the test qualify for the interview stage.
- Selection is merit-based, combining 70% entrance test marks and 30% interview performance.
What is the pattern of the DU PhD entrance test?
The entrance test is two hours long and has a total of 100 marks. It consists of two sections: a research methodology section with multiple-choice questions (MCQs) worth 50 marks, and a subject-specific descriptive section also worth 50 marks. The MCQ section includes negative marking, where 25% of the marks for a correct answer are deducted for each wrong response. For example, if a question carries four marks, one mark will be deducted for an incorrect answer.
Who is eligible to appear for the entrance test?
Applicants must have completed a four-year or eight-semester undergraduate programme under the University of Delhi's UGCF 2022. They need to have secured a minimum CGPA of 7.5 (7 for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates). Additionally, candidates must have completed a dissertation, academic project (other than translation work), or entrepreneurship during their fourth undergraduate year. Those who have qualified national-level tests like UGC-CSIR NET, GATE, or CEED are exempted from this entrance test.
What is the syllabus for the research methodology section?
The syllabus varies by academic discipline:
- Commerce, Humanities, Social Sciences, Home Science, Psychology, and Applied Psychology (excluding History, Philosophy, Music, and Languages): Foundations of research, literature review, research design and methodology, data collection, sampling, data analysis, academic and publication ethics, research objectives, hypotheses, qualitative and quantitative methods, mixed methods, research databases, research gap analysis, questionnaires, interviews, observations, focus group discussions, sampling techniques, statistical analysis tools, academic integrity, plagiarism, citation styles, ethical considerations, artificial intelligence, and plagiarism detection software.
- Physical, Natural and Applied Sciences, Electronics, Information Technology, Mathematical Sciences, including Computer Science: Research foundations, literature surveys, data collection and sampling, statistical analysis, research ethics, intellectual property rights, citation styles, journal metrics, scientific communication, descriptive and inferential statistics, experimental designs, research software, plagiarism prevention, publication ethics, patents, copyrights, trademarks, reference management software, journal metrics, thesis writing, research grant proposals, and poster or oral presentations.
- History, Philosophy, Music, and Languages: The syllabus will be based on the respective courses taught in the University of Delhi's four-year undergraduate programmes.
How is the interview conducted and what are the selection criteria?
Candidates who score at least 50% marks in the entrance test (45% for SC, ST, and PwBD) will be invited for an interview. Before the interview, candidates must submit a copy of their dissertation, academic project report, or entrepreneurship report completed during their undergraduate studies. The final selection is based on merit, with 70% weightage given to the entrance test marks and 30% to the interview performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the minimum CGPA required to apply for the DU PhD entrance test?
A: General candidates must have a minimum CGPA of 7.5, while SC, ST, and PwBD candidates require at least 7 CGPA.
Q: Is there negative marking in the entrance test?
A: Yes, the MCQ section has negative marking. Each incorrect answer results in a deduction of 25% of the marks assigned to that question.
Q: Are candidates with UGC-CSIR NET or GATE qualifications required to take this test?
A: No, candidates who have qualified national-level tests like UGC-CSIR NET, GATE, or CEED are exempt from the entrance test.
Q: What documents must be submitted before the interview?
A: Candidates must submit a copy of their dissertation, academic project report, or entrepreneurship report completed during their fourth undergraduate year.
The University of Delhi will notify further details about the PhD entrance test separately.
