When is the last date to apply for UPRTOU July 2026 session?

The UPRTOU July 2026 admission session accepts applications from July 1 to September 30, 2026. Applications with a late fee are accepted till October 15, 2026. Apply online at uprtouadm.samarth.edu.in.

Does UPRTOU offer regular (full-time campus) programmes?

No. UPRTOU is an open university that offers all programmes exclusively in distance learning mode. No campus attendance is required. Study materials are sent to enrolled students and exams are conducted twice a year (June and December).

Is a UPRTOU degree valid for government jobs and competitive exams?

Yes. UPRTOU is a UGC-recognised state university. Its degrees are accepted for government job applications, UPSC, state PSC examinations, and further studies including PG and PhD programmes at other universities.

Is an entrance exam required for BA, B.Com, and BCA at UPRTOU?

No. BA, B.Com, B.Sc, and BCA at UPRTOU do not require any entrance exam. Selection is purely merit-based on 10+2 qualifying marks. Apply online at uprtouadm.samarth.edu.in with your Class 12 mark sheets.

When is the UPRTOU B.Ed entrance exam 2026?

The UPRTOU B.Ed entrance exam 2026 is scheduled for August 7, 2026. Visit uprtou.ac.in to check the current application deadline and download the admit card. The entrance exam fee is INR 1,200 for General/OBC and INR 900 for SC/ST candidates.

What is the application fee for UPRTOU programmes?

The application fee at UPRTOU is INR 200 for UG programmes and INR 300 for PG programmes. Entrance exam fees are separate: INR 1,200 (General) and INR 900 (SC/ST) for B.Ed, and INR 1,500 (General) and INR 1,000 (SC/ST) for PhD. All fees are non-refundable.

Can NET/JRF qualified candidates skip the UPRTOU PhD entrance exam?

Yes. Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET or UGC-JRF are exempted from the UPRTOU PhD entrance exam. They are admitted directly based on merit. Upload your NET/JRF certificate at the time of PhD application.

How many years does a UPRTOU UG course take?

UPRTOU UG courses have a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years. Students can complete the programme at their own pace within this window. This flexibility makes UPRTOU suitable for working professionals and gap-year students.

UPRTOU Ph.D Political Science: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

The Ph.D. in Political Science at Uttar Pradesh Rajarshi Tandon Open University (UPRTOU), Prayagraj is a doctoral research programme offered in Regular Mode under the School of Social Sciences. The programme has a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, including mandatory Pre-Ph.D. course work of 16 credits. The programme fee is Rs. 20,000 per annum, and the total cost including registration, course work, pre-submission viva, and thesis evaluation is approximately Rs. 88,000 over the entire programme duration. Admission is strictly based on UGC-NET/JRF scores combined with a personal interview, and the intake for Political Science in 2026-27 is 2 seats (SC-01, UR-01). The programme is popular among working professionals, teachers, and academicians across Uttar Pradesh who wish to pursue doctoral research while continuing employment, as UPRTOU permits part-time registration for employed candidates.

Admission for the 2026-27 session has been completed; the application window was open from December 2 to December 23, 2026 (with a late fee option until December 30, 2026), and the Pre-Ph.D. Admission Result for 2026-27 (Regular Mode) was declared on April 1, 2027. The next admission cycle (2027-28) is expected to open tentatively in November-December 2027, based on the previous year's pattern. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official website www.uprtou.ac.in and the Ph.D. portal https://uprtouphd.co.in for the upcoming session notification.

Note: Although this course is listed as "Part Time" in the database, UPRTOU's Ph.D. in Political Science is offered in Regular Mode at the university campus in Prayagraj. "Part Time" here refers to the registration category available for employed candidates who pursue research alongside their jobs, as permitted under UPRTOU Ph.D. Ordinance. All candidates must be physically present at the Prayagraj campus for course work, research activities, and viva voce. Part-time candidates must devote a minimum of 200 days with their supervisor during the research period.

Key Points

The Ph.D. in Political Science is offered under the School of Social Sciences at UPRTOU, which also offers Ph.D. programmes in Medieval and Modern History, Geography, and Ancient History.
Admission is based on a combined merit of 70% weightage to UGC-NET/JRF scores and 30% weightage to the interview/synopsis presentation -- no separate entrance test is conducted by UPRTOU.
Only candidates who have qualified UGC-NET/JRF or an equivalent exam in Political Science are eligible to apply; the NET/JRF score is valid for one year only for Ph.D. admission purposes (for Categories 2 and 3).
Part-time registration is available for employed candidates (teachers, government employees, etc.) subject to submission of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer.
The Pre-Ph.D. Course Work is of 16 credits; a minimum of 55% aggregate marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/EWS) is required to qualify and proceed to research.
UPRTOU has 12 regional centres and over 1,499 study centres across Uttar Pradesh, making it one of the largest open universities in the state.
The university is NAAC accredited and recognised by UGC-DEB for its distance and open learning programmes.

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UPRTOU Latest Updates and News

16 Sep, 2026 UPRTOU PhD Admission 2026-27 begins. Apply by Oct 14 @uprtouphd.co.in. Entrance exam on Nov 5, 2026.

16 Sep, 2026 UPRTOU admission deadline for all programs for the July 2026 session has been extended to Sept 30, 2026. Apply @uprtou.ac.in. Read more.

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UPRTOU Ph.D (Political Science) Fees

The Ph.D. in Political Science at UPRTOU involves a structured fee payment across different stages of the programme. The annual programme fee is Rs. 20,000, and the total outgo over the minimum 3-year duration (excluding late fees and back paper fees) is approximately Rs. 88,000. The most significant one-time charges are the Pre-Ph.D. Course Work fee (Rs. 10,000), the Pre-Submission Viva fee (Rs. 10,000), and the Thesis Evaluation and Viva Voce fee (Rs. 15,000). The application processing fee is non-refundable, while the programme fee and course work fee are refundable as per the university's refund policy.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount	Frequency / Remarks
Application Processing Fee (General)	Rs. 1,000	One-time, Non-refundable
Application Processing Fee (SC/ST)	Rs. 500	One-time, Non-refundable
Application Processing Fee with Late Payment (General)	Rs. 1,500	One-time, Non-refundable
Application Processing Fee with Late Payment (SC/ST)	Rs. 750	One-time, Non-refundable
Ph.D. Programme Registration Fee	Rs. 3,000	One-time, Non-refundable
Pre-Ph.D. Course Work Admission and Exam Fee	Rs. 10,000	One-time, Refundable*
Ph.D. Programme Fee	Rs. 20,000	Per Annum, Refundable*
Pre-Submission Presentation (Viva) Fee	Rs. 10,000	One-time at thesis submission stage, Non-refundable
Re-Pre-Submission Presentation Fee	Rs. 3,000	Per attempt, Non-refundable
Thesis Evaluation and Viva Voce Fee	Rs. 15,000	One-time at thesis submission, Non-refundable
Course Work Back Paper Fee (if required)	Rs. 2,000	Per paper, Non-refundable
Late Payment for Ph.D. Programme Fee	10% of Programme Fee	Per annum, Non-refundable
Total Fees (Minimum, 3 years, General Category)	Rs. 88,000	Approx. (Application + Registration + Course Work + 3 years Programme Fee + Pre-Submission Viva + Thesis Evaluation)

Refundable fees (*) are subject to the university's refund policy: 100% refund if withdrawal is 15 or more days before the last date of admission; 90% if less than 15 days before; 80% if within 15 days after; 50% if within 30 days after; 0% if more than 30 days after the last date.
All fees are payable online only via Net Banking, Credit Card, or Debit Card.
A late payment charge of 10% is levied on the annual programme fee if not paid by the due date.
Fees are subject to revision by the Academic Council from time to time.

UPRTOU Ph.D (Political Science) Admission 2026

Admission to the Ph.D. in Political Science at UPRTOU is a competitive, merit-based process conducted annually. Only UGC-NET/JRF qualified candidates in Political Science are eligible to apply, and the selection is based on a combined merit of NET/JRF scores (70%) and interview performance (30%). The 2026-27 admission cycle has concluded, and the next cycle for 2027-28 is expected to begin in November-December 2027. Candidates should keep track of official notifications on www.uprtou.ac.in.

UPRTOU Ph.D. (Political Science) Admission Dates

Event	Date
Online Application Opens	December 2, 2026
Last Date to Apply (without late fee)	December 23, 2026
Last Date to Apply (with late fee)	December 30, 2026
Application Form Correction Period	December 31, 2026 to January 5, 2027
Ph.D. Admission List Declaration	January 24, 2027
Ph.D. Interview Schedule Announced	March 13, 2027
Pre-Ph.D. Admission Result (Regular Mode) Declared	April 1, 2027
Next Admission Cycle (2027-28) Expected to Open	November-December 2027 (Tentative)

UGC-NET (Political Science) Exam Dates

Event	Date
UGC-NET Phase 1 Registration	October 7 - November 7, 2026
UGC-NET Phase 1 Admit Card	December 28, 2026
UGC-NET Phase 1 Exam (Political Science: January 6, 2027)	December 31, 2026 - January 7, 2027
UGC-NET Phase 1 Answer Key	January 14, 2027
UGC-NET Phase 1 Result	February 4, 2027
UGC-NET Phase 2 Registration	April 1 - May 1, 2027 (Tentative)
UGC-NET Phase 2 Exam	June 2027 (Tentative)
UGC-NET Phase 2 Result	July 2027 (Tentative)

Note: UGC-NET qualification in Political Science (Subject Code: 02) is mandatory for applying to the Ph.D. programme at UPRTOU. JRF qualification or equivalent is also accepted.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must have a Master's degree in Political Science or an equivalent subject with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC non-creamy layer/PwD/EWS candidates).
Candidates with a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 75% marks (70% for reserved categories) are also eligible to apply directly.
Candidates must have qualified UGC-NET/JRF or an equivalent exam in Political Science; the NET/JRF score is valid for one year only for Ph.D. admission (for Categories 2 and 3 as defined by UPRTOU).

Admission Process:

Step 1: Candidates apply online at www.uprtou.ac.in or https://uprtouphd.co.in during the notified application window and pay the application processing fee.
Step 2: Eligible candidates (NET/JRF qualified) are called for an interview; candidates must prepare and present a tentative research synopsis/proposal via PowerPoint before the interview board.
Step 3: A merit list is prepared based on 70% weightage to NET/JRF scores and 30% to the interview/synopsis presentation, subject-wise and category-wise.
Step 4: Selected candidates are admitted to the Pre-Ph.D. Course Work (16 credits); successful completion with 55% aggregate is mandatory to proceed to research.
Step 5: After course work, the research title and supervisor are approved by the Research Degree Committee (RDC), and the candidate is provisionally enrolled for the Ph.D. programme.
Step 6: The candidate submits the final synopsis (3 copies) within 3 to 6 months of the RDC, conducts research, and submits the thesis after a minimum of 3 years.
Step 7: Pre-Submission Viva is conducted before final thesis submission; after successful evaluation by at least two external examiners, the Ph.D. degree is awarded.
Employed candidates applying for part-time registration must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer.

UPRTOU Ph.D (Political Science) Scholarships 2026

Ph.D. scholars at UPRTOU can avail of both university-level and national-level fellowships and scholarships. The university's own UPRTOU Research Fellowship (UPRTOURF) provides financial support to meritorious research scholars, while national schemes like the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) and the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students support SC/ST candidates. These fellowships significantly reduce the financial burden of doctoral research and motivate scholars to complete their work on time.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount	Duration
UPRTOU Research Fellowship (UPRTOURF)	Ph.D. scholars of UPRTOU; merit-based (course work + PG + UG + 12th + 10th marks); one fellowship per subject at a time	Rs. 7,500 per month	2 years (from 2nd year of provisional registration)
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) -- SC	SC candidates pursuing Ph.D.; must be NET/JRF qualified	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF) + contingency	Up to 5 years
National Fellowship for ST Students	ST candidates pursuing Ph.D.; must be NET/JRF qualified	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF) + contingency	Up to 5 years
UGC-JRF (UGC-NET with JRF)	Candidates who qualify UGC-NET with JRF in Political Science	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF, first 2 years); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF, remaining tenure) + contingency	Up to 5 years
Post Matric Scholarship (UP Government)	SC/ST/OBC students of UP; income-based	Varies (tuition fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance)	Annual

The UPRTOURF is awarded from the second year of provisional registration, subject to satisfactory progress reports submitted every six months.
UPRTOURF awardees cannot simultaneously hold any other paid fellowship or scholarship from any other source.
For RGNF and National Fellowship for ST, candidates must apply separately through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after securing Ph.D. admission.
UGC-JRF fellowship is available only to candidates who qualify UGC-NET with JRF (not just NET for Assistant Professor eligibility).
The UP Government Post Matric Scholarship is available to SC/ST/OBC students; applications are made through the UP Scholarship Portal (scholarship.up.gov.in).

UPRTOU Ph.D (Political Science) FAQs

Ques. Is the Ph.D. in Political Science at UPRTOU offered in distance mode or regular mode?

Ans. The Ph.D. in Political Science at UPRTOU is offered exclusively in Regular Mode, not in distance or ODL mode. While UPRTOU is an open university, its Ph.D. programmes are conducted in regular mode as per UGC norms. The "Part Time" label refers to the registration category available for employed candidates, not the mode of study. All scholars must be physically present at the Prayagraj campus for course work, research, and viva voce.

Ques. Do I need to clear a separate entrance exam conducted by UPRTOU for Ph.D. admission?

Ans. No. UPRTOU does not conduct a separate entrance test for Ph.D. admission. Only candidates who have already qualified UGC-NET/JRF or an equivalent exam in Political Science are eligible to apply. The selection is based on 70% weightage to NET/JRF scores and 30% to the interview and synopsis presentation conducted by the university.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. in Political Science at UPRTOU?

Ans. For the 2026-27 session, only 2 seats were available for Ph.D. in Political Science: 1 seat for SC category and 1 seat for Unreserved (UR) category. The number of seats may increase or decrease in subsequent sessions depending on the availability of eligible research supervisors and university policy.

Ques. Can a working professional or government employee apply for Ph.D. at UPRTOU?

Ans. Yes. UPRTOU allows employed candidates to register as part-time Ph.D. scholars. Such candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer confirming that they are permitted to pursue studies on a part-time basis and can devote sufficient time for research. Part-time scholars must spend a minimum of 200 days with their supervisor during the research period.

Ques. What is the validity of UGC-NET scores for Ph.D. admission at UPRTOU?

Ans. For candidates in Category 2 (qualified for Assistant Professor appointment) and Category 3 (qualified for Ph.D. admission only), the NET/JRF score is valid for only one year for the purpose of Ph.D. admission at UPRTOU. Candidates who hold JRF and have been appointed as Assistant Professor (Category 1) are not subject to this one-year validity restriction.

Ques. What happens after the Pre-Ph.D. Course Work? What is the process to get a research supervisor?

Ans. After qualifying the Pre-Ph.D. Course Work with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks, the candidate appears before the Research Degree Committee (RDC). The RDC approves the research title and assigns a research supervisor. The candidate then submits a final synopsis (3 copies, signed by both candidate and supervisor) within 3 to 6 months of the RDC meeting. After synopsis approval, the candidate is provisionally enrolled for the Ph.D. programme and begins research work under the supervisor's guidance.