Uttar Pradesh Rajarshi Tandon Open University (UPRTOU), Prayagraj has opened admissions to its Ph.D. programme (regular mode) for session 2026-27. There are 37 seats in 12 subjects. You can apply online at uprtou.ac.in until 14 October 2026, or with a late fee until 21 October 2026. The Ph.D. entrance test is on 5 November 2026 and its result is due on 7 November 2026.
Candidates who have qualified UGC NET/JRF or an equivalent exam do not need to take the entrance test and are called straight to the interview. Other candidates must first score at least 50% in the entrance test. The final merit list gives 70% weight to the NET/entrance score and 30% to a research proposal presentation and interview. Although UPRTOU is an open university, this Ph.D. is offered in regular mode under the UGC Ph.D. Regulations 2022.
UPRTOU Ph.D. Admission 2026-27 — Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| University | U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Prayagraj |
| Programme | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), regular mode — full-time or part-time |
| Total seats | 37 in 12 subjects (may change) |
| Entrance test | 70 MCQs, 90 minutes, Prayagraj only |
| Selection | NET/JRF score or entrance test (70) + synopsis presentation and interview (30) |
| Duration | Minimum 3 years, maximum 6 years |
| Official website | www.uprtou.ac.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application and fee payment | 15 September – 14 October 2026 |
| Application with late fee | 15 – 21 October 2026 |
| Application form correction | 22 – 27 October 2026 |
| Entrance test admit card | 30 October 2026 |
| Ph.D. entrance test | 5 November 2026 |
| Entrance test result | 7 November 2026 |
These are the proposed dates in the brochure. One paragraph of the brochure mentions 14 October for the admit card, but the dates table lists 30 October 2026. Check the university website for the final date.
Subject-wise Seats
| Subject | Code | Seats (category-wise) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 001 | SC 3, OBC 1, UR 2, EWS 3 | 9 |
| Nutrition, Food and Dietetics | 003 | EWS 1 | 1 |
| Political Science | 006 | OBC 1 | 1 |
| Commerce | 007 | OBC 1 | 1 |
| Business Administration and Business Management | 008 | OBC 2, UR 1 | 3 |
| Education | 009 | UR 1 | 1 |
| Sanskrit and Prakrit Language | 010 | UR 1 | 1 |
| Statistics | 011 | OBC 3, UR 1 | 4 |
| Hindi and Modern Indian Language | 013 | UR 1 | 1 |
| Ancient Indian History and Archaeology | 015 | UR 1 | 1 |
| Mathematics | 016* | SC 2, OBC 2, UR 3, EWS 1 | 8 |
| Zoology | 017* | SC 1, OBC 2, UR 3 | 6 |
| Total | 37 | ||
*The seat table gives Mathematics the code 016 and Zoology 017, but the syllabus pages show the reverse (Zoology 016, Mathematics 017). Confirm the code on the application portal before you submit. Seats may be increased, reduced or cancelled depending on how many research supervisors are available. Reservation follows the U.P. Government's 100-point roster.
Eligibility
- A master's degree with at least 55% marks (or an equivalent grade). This can be a 2-year master's after a 3-year bachelor's, or a 1-year master's after a 4-year bachelor's.
- Or a 4-year/8-semester bachelor's degree with at least 75% marks.
- Or an M.Phil. with at least 55% marks.
- SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), EWS and differently-abled candidates get a 5% relaxation, so the minimums become 50% and 70%.
- Equivalent qualifications from accredited foreign institutions are accepted.
Application Fee
| Candidate type | Regular (till 14 Oct) | With late fee (15–21 Oct) |
|---|---|---|
| Appearing in entrance test — General/OBC/EWS | ₹2,000 | ₹2,500 |
| Appearing in entrance test — SC/ST | ₹1,000 | ₹1,500 |
| Exempted from test (NET/JRF etc.) — General/OBC/EWS | ₹1,000 | ₹1,500 |
| Exempted from test — SC/ST | ₹500 | ₹750 |
The fee is paid online only (net banking, credit or debit card) and is non-refundable.
Entrance Test Pattern
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions | 70 multiple-choice questions |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Part A (50%) | Research Methodology — the same paper for all subjects |
| Part B (50%) | The subject you applied for |
| Qualifying marks | 50% (45% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/differently-abled) |
| Centre | University campus or centres in Prayagraj city only |
Research Methodology syllabus (Part A) covers research aptitude and ethics; types of research and scientific method; research problems; variables; hypotheses; sampling; research tools such as scales, questionnaires and interviews; types and sources of data; ICT and data-analysis software; review of literature; writing bibliographies and references; preparing a research proposal and report; and higher education institutions and recent research policy in India. The subject-wise syllabus for Part B is in the official brochure.
Selection Process
- Step I — Entrance test: Candidates in three categories are exempt: those with NET plus JRF (or an equivalent), those who qualified NET (or an equivalent) in the current year, and those who qualified the current year's NET for Ph.D. admission only. Everyone else must score the qualifying marks in the UPRTOU test. The test is only for qualifying.
- Step II — Interview: Each candidate submits a research proposal in their area of interest and presents it as a PowerPoint presentation before the interview board of the concerned school. Bring all your original documents.
- Step III — Merit list: The merit list is prepared subject-wise and category-wise out of 100 points: 70 for the NET/JRF score or entrance test score, and 30 for the presentation and interview. If there is a tie, the candidate with higher PG marks ranks higher, then UG, Class 12 and Class 10 marks, and finally the older candidate. The merit list is published on the university website.
Ph.D. Programme Fee (after selection)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration fee (one-time) | ₹3,000 |
| Programme fee | ₹20,000 per year |
| Pre-Ph.D. coursework (admission + exam, one-time) | ₹10,000 |
| Coursework back paper (if needed) | ₹2,000 per paper |
| Pre-submission viva | ₹10,000 |
| Thesis evaluation and viva voce | ₹15,000 |
| Late payment of programme fee | 10% of the programme fee |
The fees must be paid within six weeks of the approval of your research title and supervisor, or the admission may be cancelled. If you withdraw at least 15 days before the notified last date, the programme and coursework fees are refunded in full. The refund falls to 90%, 80% and then 50% for later withdrawals, and nothing is refunded more than 30 days after the last date.
Coursework, Duration and Other Rules
- Coursework: 16 credits, including Research Methodology and Research and Publication Ethics. You must score at least 50% in internal and external assessment separately and 55% in aggregate (50% for reserved categories). M.Phil. holders may be exempt.
- Synopsis: Submit the final synopsis 3 to 6 months after the Research Degree Committee meeting.
- Duration: 3 to 6 years, extendable by up to 2 years. Women and PwD scholars (40%+ disability) get 2 more years, up to 10 years in total. Women scholars can also take up to 240 days of maternity or child-care leave.
- Full-time vs part-time: Full-time scholars work in Prayagraj. Employed candidates, such as teachers, can register part-time with a No Objection Certificate from their employer and must spend at least 200 days with their supervisor.
- Progress: Scholars present their progress to the Research Advisory Committee every six months.
- Thesis: The thesis needs a plagiarism check certificate and is evaluated by three external examiners, followed by an open viva. It is then deposited with INFLIBNET (Shodhganga).
How to Apply
- Visit www.uprtou.ac.in and open the link “Online Ph.D. Admission and Entrance Test 2026-27”.
- Click “Click Here for Registration” and fill in your personal and academic details.
- Upload scanned documents, a passport-size photograph and your signature in JPG/JPEG format, within the size limits shown on the portal.
- Pay the application fee online. You will receive a confirmation email and SMS.
- Print the confirmation page. Any mistakes can be corrected between 22 and 27 October 2026.
For Candidates from Uttarakhand and Other States
Candidates from outside Uttar Pradesh can apply if they meet the eligibility criteria. However, the entrance test is held only in Prayagraj, and full-time scholars must do their research there. Reservation follows the U.P. Government's policy. If you belong to a reserved category in another state, such as Uttarakhand, confirm with the university whether you can claim reserved seats. Otherwise, plan to apply under the unreserved (UR) category.
Important Links
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| Apply online / brochure / Ph.D. guidelines | www.uprtou.ac.in |
| University helpline | 0532-2425263, 0532-2425264 · [email protected] |
Read the official brochure and the UPRTOU Ph.D. Guidelines and Ordinance before applying. If anything differs, the official documents apply. UttarakhandJobs.in is an independent information portal and is not affiliated with UPRTOU.