Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

M.Phil. (Chemistry) at Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai is a 1-year full-time research programme offered under the School of Chemistry. The programme is designed to develop advanced research skills in organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry, and serves as a foundation for candidates aspiring to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry. The total fees for the programme are Rs. 16,335 for the entire duration. Admission is based on the MKU Eligibility Certificate along with valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/SLET/SET scores. The programme is popular among M.Sc. Chemistry graduates who wish to pursue academic research and teaching careers.

Admissions for the M.Phil. 2026-27 batch are expected to open in the latter half of 2026, based on a separate M.Phil. notification issued by MKU (typically around October-December). The last M.Phil. admission notification was issued in December 2022 with a last date of December 30, 2022. Tentative dates for the 2026-27 cycle are expected around October-December 2026. Students are advised to regularly check the official MKU website (mkuniversity.ac.in) for the latest notification.

Key Points

The programme is offered under the School of Chemistry, which has strong research output in organic synthesis, coordination chemistry, and materials chemistry.
Candidates must hold a valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/SLET/SET score or MKU Eligibility Certificate to be eligible for admission.
The programme covers research areas including organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, polymer chemistry, and green chemistry.
SC/ST and Differently Abled candidates are eligible for tuition fee concessions as per Tamil Nadu Government norms.
Separate hostel facilities are available for men and women on the MKU campus at Palkalai Nagar, Madurai.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

MKU M.Phil. (Chemistry) Fees

The M.Phil. (Chemistry) programme at MKU has a total course fee of Rs. 16,335 for the entire 1-year programme. The fee structure includes tuition fees, lab fees, special fees, contingency charges, and a refundable caution deposit. SC/ST students are exempt from paying tuition fees as per Tamil Nadu Government norms.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	3,000
Lab Fee	6,000
Special Fees	545
Contingency Fee	5,000
Other Fees (Admission fee, WUS, Identity Card)	90
Alumni Fees	500
CBCS Handbook and Insurance	200
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	1,000
Total Fees	16,335

Caution Deposit of Rs. 1,000 is fully refundable at the end of the programme.
100% of Special Fees paid will NOT be refunded in case of withdrawal.
Students who have not attended even a single class and withdraw within one month from commencement of classes are eligible for 80% refund of fees (excluding Special Fees and Caution Deposit).
Tuition fees are waived for SC/ST candidates as per Tamil Nadu Government norms.
Tuition fees and Special Fees are waived for Differently Abled candidates.
Registration fee for application: Rs. 400 (SC/ST candidates are exempt for one programme).
Hostel fees: Approximately Rs. 25,000 per year (optional, not mandatory).

MKU M.Phil. (Chemistry) Admission 2026

Admission to M.Phil. (Chemistry) at MKU is based on the candidate's postgraduate marks and a valid national/state-level eligibility test score. The university issues a separate M.Phil. admission notification, typically in October-December each year. The 2026-27 M.Phil. notification is expected to be released around October-December 2026. Candidates must first obtain the MKU Eligibility Certificate before applying.

M.Phil. Admission Dates

Event	Tentative Date
M.Phil. Admission Notification Release	October-November 2026
Prospectus and Application Available on Website	October-November 2026
Last Date for Submission of Filled-in Application	December 2026
Commencement of Classes	January 2027 (Tentative)

Accepted Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Registration Period	Exam Date	Result Date
UGC-NET (Phase 2, 2026)	April 1 - May 1, 2026 (Tentative)	June 2026 (Tentative)	July 2026 (Tentative)
CSIR-NET (2026)	May 1 - May 21, 2026 (Tentative)	July 25-27, 2026 (Tentative)	September 2026 (Tentative)

Note: UGC-NET (Chemical Sciences) and CSIR-NET (Chemical Sciences) scores are accepted for M.Phil. Chemistry admissions at MKU. SLET/SET (Tamil Nadu) scores are also accepted.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold a Master's Degree in Chemistry (M.Sc. Chemistry / M.Sc. Special Chemistry / M.Sc. Applied Chemistry) from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PWD candidates).
A valid MKU Eligibility Certificate along with UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/SLET/SET qualification is mandatory.
Candidates must have studied under the 10+2+3 pattern.

Admission Process:

Obtain MKU Eligibility Certificate from Madurai Kamaraj University.
Download and fill the M.Phil. application form from the official MKU website (mkuniversity.ac.in) when the notification is released.
Pay the application registration fee of Rs. 400 online via SBI I-Collect.
Submit the filled application along with required documents (PG mark statements, community certificate, eligibility certificate, NET/SLET certificate, etc.) to the university by the last date.
Selection is based on merit in the qualifying PG examination and valid eligibility test scores.
Selected candidates must report to the School of Chemistry on the stipulated date with original certificates for verification and fee payment.

MKU M.Phil. (Chemistry) Scholarships 2026

MKU M.Phil. Chemistry students can avail several government scholarships and fellowships. The CSIR-JRF (Chemical Sciences) is the most relevant fellowship for chemistry research scholars. The INSPIRE Fellowship from DST and the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for SC/ST scholars are also available.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount (Approx.)	Offered By
CSIR-JRF Fellowship	Candidates who have cleared CSIR-NET with JRF (Chemical Sciences)	Rs. 37,000/month + HRA	Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
UGC-JRF Fellowship	Candidates who have cleared UGC-NET with JRF	Rs. 37,000/month + HRA	University Grants Commission (UGC)
INSPIRE Fellowship	Outstanding science students pursuing Ph.D./M.Phil.	Rs. 80,000 per annum + Rs. 20,000 contingency	Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)	SC/ST students pursuing M.Phil./Ph.D.	Rs. 25,000/month (JRF) + HRA	University Grants Commission (UGC)
Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST	SC/ST students with minimum 50% marks	Rs. 5,000 - Rs. 20,000 per annum	Tamil Nadu Government / Government of India
Tamil Nadu Government BC/MBC Scholarship	BC/MBC students with 50%+ marks, family income up to Rs. 2.5 LPA	Partial to full tuition fee waiver	Tamil Nadu Government

CSIR-NET (Chemical Sciences) is the most relevant fellowship for Chemistry research scholars.
INSPIRE Fellowship applications are submitted through the DST portal.
SC/ST candidates are exempt from tuition fees at the time of admission itself.
Application deadlines for government scholarships are typically announced by the Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Department each academic year.

MKU M.Phil. (Chemistry) FAQs

Ques. Is CSIR-NET mandatory for M.Phil. Chemistry admission at MKU?

Ans. Yes, candidates must have a valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/SLET/SET score or the MKU Eligibility Certificate to apply for M.Phil. Chemistry at Madurai Kamaraj University. Students who have not cleared any of these exams are not eligible to apply directly.

Ques. What research areas are covered under M.Phil. Chemistry at MKU?

Ans. The programme covers research areas including organic synthesis, coordination and inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, polymer chemistry, green chemistry, nanochemistry, and computational chemistry. Students choose their research topic in consultation with their assigned supervisor.

Ques. What is the duration of the M.Phil. Chemistry programme at MKU?

Ans. The M.Phil. (Chemistry) programme at Madurai Kamaraj University is a 1-year full-time programme. It involves coursework, a research methodology component, and submission of a dissertation.

Ques. Is hostel accommodation available for M.Phil. students at MKU?

Ans. Yes, MKU provides separate hostel facilities for men and women students on the university campus at Palkalai Nagar, Madurai. Students need to approach the respective hostel warden after completing admission formalities. Hostel fees are approximately Rs. 25,000 per year and are optional.

Ques. Why is the contingency fee higher for M.Phil. Chemistry compared to other M.Phil. programmes at MKU?

Ans. The higher contingency fee (Rs. 5,000) for M.Phil. Chemistry reflects the cost of laboratory chemicals, reagents, glassware, and other consumables required for experimental chemistry research. This is standard for laboratory-intensive science programmes.

Ques. What are the career prospects after completing M.Phil. Chemistry from MKU?

Ans. M.Phil. Chemistry graduates from MKU can pursue careers as college lecturers (eligible for assistant professor positions in Tamil Nadu colleges), research scholars (by proceeding to Ph.D.), chemists in pharmaceutical and chemical industries, quality control analysts, and research scientists in national labs. The M.Phil. degree also qualifies candidates for SET/SLET examinations for college teaching positions.