Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Assam University, Silchar, a Central University established by an Act of Parliament in 1994, offers a full-time Ph.D. in Law through its Department of Law under the School of Social Sciences. The Department of Law started functioning in July 2004 and has grown into a well-regarded centre for legal education and research in Northeast India. The Ph.D. programme spans a minimum of 3 years and extends up to 5 years, combining mandatory coursework with independent research under the guidance of experienced faculty. The total programme fee is approximately Rs. 55,380 for the entire duration. Admission is based on a university-level Research Entrance Test (RET) and/or Personal Interview (PI), with UGC NET qualified candidates given preference. The department offers only 2 seats per cycle for the Ph.D. in Law, making it a highly competitive programme. Research areas include Criminal Law, Criminology, Constitutional Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Environmental Law, Human Rights, International Law, Gender Justice, Corporate Law, and Legal Pluralism. The programme is popular among law graduates and legal professionals in Northeast India seeking to contribute to legal scholarship and academia.

Admission for the 2026-27 cycle was conducted with the portal opening on September 26, 2026, and coursework commencing on November 25, 2026. A rescheduled notification for 2026-27 has been issued with an application deadline of April 12, 2027 and entrance test on April 26, 2027. Given the very limited intake of 2 seats, candidates are strongly advised to apply early and prepare thoroughly for the RET and interview.

Key Points

The Department of Law at Assam University offers research in diverse areas including Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology, Constitutional Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Environmental Law, Human Rights, International Law, Gender Justice, Corporate Law, Administrative Law, Legal Pluralism, and ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution).
Faculty research specialisations include Jurisprudence and Environmental Law (Prof. Madhumita Dhar Sarkar), Criminal Law and Criminology (Prof. Rashmi Ranjan Mishra), IPR and Comparative Constitutional Law (Prof. Partha Pratim Paul), Human Rights and International Law (Dr. Dristirupa Patgiri), and IPR and ADR (Dr. Sandeep Kumar Suman).
With only 2 PhD seats per cycle, the programme is highly competitive; UGC NET qualification is strongly recommended.
UGC NET-qualified candidates are given preference and may be exempted from the Research Entrance Test (RET).
The department also offers B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) (5 years, 60 seats) and LL.M. (2 years, 20 seats), providing a strong academic ecosystem for PhD research.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

AU Ph.D. (Law) Fees

The Ph.D. (Law) programme at Assam University, Silchar carries a very nominal fee structure consistent with its Central University status. The total academic fee for the entire programme duration is approximately Rs. 55,380 for General category students. Hostel accommodation is available separately at approximately Rs. 25,000 per year and is not mandatory. The fee structure covers tuition, registration, examination, and other academic charges.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Tuition Fee (per year)	3,000 - 5,000
Admission/Registration Fee (one-time)	2,000
Examination Fee	Included in academic fee
Library Fee	Included in academic fee
Title Registration Fee for Dissertation	300
Other Academic Charges	As applicable
Total Academic Fee (entire programme)	55,380
Hostel Fee (per year, optional)	25,000

SC/ST candidates are eligible for fee concessions as per Government of India norms.
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and EWS candidates are also eligible for applicable concessions.
Hostel accommodation is not mandatory; private accommodation is available near the campus.
Fees are subject to revision each academic year as per university and UGC guidelines.
Application fee: Rs. 1,000 (General/OBC Creamy Layer), Rs. 900 (OBC-NCL/EWS), Rs. 800 (SC/ST/PWD).

AU Ph.D. (Law) Admission 2026

Admission to the Ph.D. (Law) programme at Assam University, Silchar is conducted annually through a university-level Research Entrance Test (RET) and/or Personal Interview (PI). With only 2 seats available per cycle, competition is intense. UGC NET-qualified candidates are given preference and may be exempted from the RET. The 2026-27 cycle saw the portal open on September 26, 2026, with coursework commencing November 25, 2026. A rescheduled notification has been issued for 2026-27 with updated dates. Candidates should regularly check www.aus.ac.in for the latest admission schedule.

Assam University PhD (Law) Admission Schedule

Event	Date (2026-27 Cycle)
Opening of Admission Portal	September 26, 2026
Last Date of Online Application	October 29, 2026 (extended)
Verification by Department	Up to October 31, 2026
Research Entrance Test (RET) and/or Personal Interview (PI)	November 7, 2026
Entry of Composite Score by Department	On or before November 10, 2026
Publication of First Merit List	November 12, 2026
Date of Admission (1st Merit List)	November 12-14, 2026
Publication of 2nd Merit List (if any)	November 19, 2026
Admission from 2nd Merit List (if any)	November 19-24, 2026
Commencement of Coursework Classes	November 25, 2026

Rescheduled / Upcoming 2027 Cycle

Event	Tentative Date
Application Deadline (Rescheduled)	April 12, 2027
Other Quota Forms Submission Deadline	April 20, 2027
Date of Entrance Test (RET/PI)	April 26, 2027

UGC NET 2027 Exam Dates

Event	Date
UGC NET 2027 Registration Start	April 1, 2027
UGC NET 2027 Registration End	April 30, 2027
UGC NET 2027 Admit Card	May 15, 2027
UGC NET 2027 Exam Date	May 26, 2027
UGC NET 2027 Answer Key Release	May 28, 2027
UGC NET 2027 Result	June 30, 2027

Note: UGC NET qualification in Law (Paper I: General + Paper II: Law) is accepted and preferred for PhD admission at Assam University. NET-qualified candidates may be exempted from the university's Research Entrance Test (RET).

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold an LL.M. degree or a Master's degree in Law from a recognised university with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (or equivalent grade).
A relaxation of 5% marks (i.e., 50% minimum) is applicable for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/Differently-abled/EWS candidates.
Candidates who have completed an M.Phil. in Law with at least 55% marks are also eligible.
UGC NET qualification in Law is preferred and may exempt candidates from the Research Entrance Test.

Admission Process:

Apply online through the Assam University examination portal: https://www.ausexamination.ac.in/admission
Pay the application fee online (Rs. 1,000 for General/OBC-CL; Rs. 900 for OBC-NCL/EWS; Rs. 800 for SC/ST/PWD).
Applications are verified by the Department of Law.
Shortlisted candidates appear for the Research Entrance Test (RET) and/or Personal Interview (PI); UGC NET-qualified candidates may be exempted.
A composite score is computed and a merit list is published.
Selected candidates complete admission formalities and fee payment within the stipulated dates.
Coursework commences as per the published schedule.

AU Ph.D. (Law) Scholarships 2026

Assam University, Silchar offers and facilitates multiple fellowship and scholarship options for PhD scholars in Law. The university's Non-NET Fellowship is a key support for scholars without a national fellowship. Scholars with UGC NET/JRF qualification receive the prestigious UGC Junior Research Fellowship, which provides substantial monthly financial support for legal research.

Scholarship Options

Scholarship/Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility
UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	Rs. 37,000/month (Years 1-2); Rs. 42,000/month (Year 3 onwards as SRF)	UGC NET qualified with JRF rank; enrolled in PhD
Assam University Non-NET Fellowship	As per UGC norms (subject to fund availability)	Full-time PhD scholars not holding NET/JRF; selected on merit basis
National Fellowship for SC Students (NFSC)	As per UGC norms	SC category PhD scholars
National Fellowship for ST Students (NFST)	As per UGC norms	ST category PhD scholars
OBC Post-Matric Scholarship	As per Government norms	OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) students
Central Sector Scholarship	As per scheme norms	Meritorious students based on academic performance
ICSSR Research Grants	Project-based funding for social science/law research	Researchers in law and social sciences

The Non-NET Fellowship is awarded on merit basis and is subject to availability of funds received from UGC; scholars must submit claim forms as per the prescribed format.
JRF/SRF fellowship tenure is up to 5 years from the date of commencement.
ICSSR (Indian Council of Social Science Research) also offers fellowships and project funding relevant to legal research; candidates should explore ICSSR schemes.
Scholarship applications are processed through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP); hard copies must be submitted to the university for verification.

AU Ph.D. (Law) FAQs

Ques. Is UGC NET mandatory for PhD admission in Law at Assam University, Silchar?

Ans. UGC NET is not strictly mandatory, but it is strongly preferred given the very limited intake of only 2 seats. NET-qualified candidates are given preference in the merit list and may be exempted from the university's Research Entrance Test (RET). Candidates without NET must appear for the RET and Personal Interview. Given the intense competition for just 2 seats, having UGC NET qualification significantly improves your chances of selection.

Ques. What are the key research areas available in the Department of Law at Assam University?

Ans. The Department of Law at Assam University has a strong and diverse faculty offering research supervision in Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology, Juvenile Justice, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Environmental Law, Human Rights, International Law, Gender Justice, Corporate Law, Legal Pluralism, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Media and Press Law, and Legal History. Candidates should review the faculty profiles and contact potential supervisors before applying.

Ques. How many PhD seats are available in Law at Assam University, and what is the seat matrix?

Ans. The Department of Law has a very limited intake of only 2 seats per cycle for the PhD programme. The seat matrix is distributed across categories (UR, SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PWD) as per UGC and Government of India reservation norms. Given the extremely limited seats, the programme is highly competitive. Candidates should check the latest admission notification for the current year's vacancy positions and category-wise distribution.

Ques. Can a candidate with an LL.B. (3-year) degree directly apply for the PhD in Law at Assam University?

Ans. No. A 3-year LL.B. degree alone is not sufficient for PhD admission. Candidates must hold an LL.M. degree (or equivalent Master's degree in Law) with a minimum of 55% marks. The LL.M. is the standard qualifying degree for PhD in Law at Assam University. Candidates with a 5-year integrated B.A. LL.B. degree who have also completed LL.M. are eligible.

Ques. What is the research focus of the Department of Law at Assam University, particularly for Northeast India?

Ans. The Department of Law at Assam University has a particular focus on legal issues relevant to Northeast India, including land laws, tribal rights, customary laws, environmental law in the context of the Northeast's biodiversity, human rights issues, and legal pluralism. Faculty members like Dr. Nasruddin Khan (Legal History), Dr. Dristirupa Patgiri (Human Rights and International Law), and Dr. Ashish Ransom (Legal Pluralism) work on themes directly relevant to the Northeast Indian context. This makes the department a unique destination for researchers interested in law and society in Northeast India.

Ques. Is hostel accommodation available for PhD scholars in Law at Assam University?

Ans. Yes, Assam University has hostel facilities for both boys and girls on campus. However, hostel accommodation for PhD scholars is subject to availability. The hostel fee is approximately Rs. 25,000 per year. Many scholars also opt for private accommodation (PGs and rented rooms) near the campus, which costs between Rs. 5,000-8,000 per month. It is advisable to apply for hostel accommodation early after admission.