The Ph.D. (Sanskrit) programme at Uttar Pradesh Rajarshi Tandon Open University (UPRTOU), Prayagraj is a research-level doctoral degree offered in regular mode (part-time category available for employed candidates) under the School of Humanities. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, including mandatory pre-Ph.D. coursework of 16 credits. The total programme fee is Rs. 20,000 per annum, with an additional one-time pre-Ph.D. course work fee of Rs. 10,000 and a registration fee of Rs. 3,000. Admission is based on UGC-NET/JRF scores combined with an interview, and the primary qualifying exam is UGC-NET in Sanskrit. The programme is popular among Sanskrit scholars, teachers, and researchers across Uttar Pradesh who wish to pursue advanced research while continuing their professional commitments, making the part-time option especially sought after.
Admission for the 2026-27 session has been completed; the online application window was open from December 2 to December 30, 2026, and the admission list was declared on January 24, 2027. The next admission cycle (2027-28) is expected to open tentatively in November-December 2027, based on the previous year's schedule. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official website www.uprtou.ac.in for updates on the upcoming session.
Since UPRTOU is an Open University, the Ph.D. programme is conducted in regular mode at the university's main campus in Prayagraj. Part-time candidates (employed persons) are permitted to pursue research while continuing their jobs, subject to submission of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer. The university operates through 12 regional centres and over 1,499 study centres across Uttar Pradesh.
Distance Mode Centres
The Ph.D. programme at UPRTOU is offered in regular mode (not distance mode). However, part-time Ph.D. candidates may be based anywhere in Uttar Pradesh and are required to spend a minimum of 200 days with their supervisor for research work. The university's 12 regional centres, which support learners across the state, are located in the following cities:
- Prayagraj
- Varanasi
- Gorakhpur
- Lucknow
- Bareilly
- Meerut
- Agra
- Noida/Ghaziabad
- Jhansi
- Kanpur
- Ayodhya
- Azamgarh
Key Points
- The Ph.D. in Sanskrit at UPRTOU is offered under the subject code 010 (Sanskrit and Prakrit Language).
- For the 2026-27 session, only 1 seat was available (OBC category) in Sanskrit and Prakrit Language, making it a highly competitive programme.
- Admission is strictly merit-based: 70% weightage is given to UGC-NET/JRF scores and 30% to the interview/synopsis presentation.
- Part-time Ph.D. candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer and devote a minimum of 200 days to research work with their supervisor.
- The pre-Ph.D. course work is mandatory for all candidates (except M.Phil. holders with 55% marks) and consists of 16 credits.
- Candidates must secure a minimum of 55% aggregate in course work (50% for SC/ST/OBC/Differently-abled/EWS) to proceed to the research phase.
- The university follows UP Government reservation rules (vertical and horizontal) for seat allocation.
- UPRTOU degrees are recognized by UGC and are at par with degrees from conventional universities for Central Government employment purposes.
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