UGC NET December 2026 Application Form: Last Date, Fees and Exam Schedule

The online application window for the UGC NET December 2026 examination is open. Candidates planning to qualify for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor eligibility, or PhD admission through UGC NET should complete their applications through the official National Testing Agency (NTA) portal. The regular application deadline is 28 October 2026 at 11:50 PM. NTA has also specified a short late-fee window, so candidates should not wait until the final hours.

This guide summarises the dates, application fee, broad eligibility requirements, exam pattern and submission steps from the official NTA notice and the December 2026 Information Bulletin. Since NTA lists an updated bulletin and a corrigendum, candidates should read the latest documents on the official website before submitting the form.

UGC NET December 2026: Important Dates

These dates are based on NTA’s published schedule and may be revised through an official notice. Always check the latest notice before relying on a date, particularly if you are applying close to the deadline.

Official application portal: https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/

What Is UGC NET Used For?

The University Grants Commission–National Eligibility Test is conducted by NTA to determine eligibility for three broad outcomes: the award of Junior Research Fellowship and appointment as Assistant Professor; appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to PhD; or admission to PhD only. These are different qualification categories, so candidates should select the applicable option carefully while completing the application.

Qualifying UGC NET does not itself guarantee a job, a fellowship placement or admission to a particular university. Recruitment and PhD admission processes may have additional requirements set by the relevant university, college or institution.

UGC NET December 2026 Eligibility

Eligibility depends on educational qualifications, category and the qualification category selected. The official bulletin should be treated as the final authority.

Educational qualification

The bulletin states that candidates in the General/Unreserved and General-EWS categories generally need at least 55% marks in a recognised master’s degree or equivalent qualification. Candidates in the listed reserved categories—including OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD and Third Gender—generally need at least 50% marks. The applicable rules for final-year or result-awaited postgraduate candidates, equivalent qualifications and subject selection should be checked in the official bulletin.

Candidates should choose the NET subject that aligns with the rules in the bulletin and the recognised postgraduate subject mapping. Do not assume that a similar-sounding subject will automatically be accepted.

Age criteria

The bulletin sets a separate upper-age rule for JRF and provides different treatment for Assistant Professor and PhD-admission categories. It states that there is no upper age limit for applying for Assistant Professor eligibility or PhD admission. JRF applicants should carefully review the age cut-off date and any applicable relaxation in the latest bulletin before applying.

UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee

The examination fee listed by NTA is:

Payment gateway or bank service charges and applicable taxes may be additional. The bulletin also specifies an additional ₹500 late fee for applications submitted during the notified late window. Candidates should confirm the category they are eligible to claim and use the official portal’s payment instructions.

How to Apply Online

1. Open the official UGC NET portal at https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/.
2. Read the December 2026 Information Bulletin and the latest corrigendum or FAQ available on the official site.
3. Start the online registration using an email address and mobile number that you can access.
4. Complete the application form and record the system-generated application number.
5. Enter personal details, educational information, category, subject and examination-city preferences carefully.
6. Upload the live photograph and scanned documents in the file formats and sizes specified by the portal. The bulletin lists requirements for the photograph, signature and disability/UDID documents where applicable.
7. Pay the examination fee through an available online payment method.
8. Verify that the payment succeeded and that the confirmation page is generated.
9. Download and save the confirmation page for your records.

NTA states that the application process is online. Do not send the form or supporting documents by post or through unofficial messaging channels unless a later official instruction explicitly requires something different.

Documents and Details to Prepare

Before beginning, keep your name, date of birth, contact details, postgraduate qualification information, category details and preferred exam cities ready. You may need a recent photograph, signature image and a disability or UDID document if applicable. Follow the exact file-size and image instructions shown in the latest bulletin and portal.

Use your own accessible email address and mobile number because NTA may send important communications there. If Aadhaar or another identity-verification step is shown, follow the official instructions and make sure your details are consistent with your supporting records.

UGC NET December 2026 Exam Pattern

According to the Information Bulletin, the test is conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode and consists of two compulsory objective sections:

• Paper I: 50 multiple-choice questions for 100 marks. It assesses teaching and research aptitude, reasoning, reading comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness.
• Paper II: 100 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks. It assesses knowledge of the subject selected by the candidate.
• Total duration: 180 minutes, or three hours, with no break between the two papers.
• Marking: Each correct response carries two marks. The bulletin states that there is no negative marking for an incorrect response.

The paper is generally available in English and Hindi, except for language papers, for which the relevant language rules apply. Check the bulletin for the exact subject syllabus and any subject-specific instructions.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Waiting until the final hour: Portal traffic, payment delays or document-upload problems can create avoidable stress. Apply early and verify that the payment and confirmation page are complete.

Entering inconsistent personal details: NTA warns candidates to enter details carefully. Review spelling, date of birth, category and educational information before final submission.

Choosing the wrong category or subject: Read the eligibility and subject-mapping rules. Category claims must be supported by valid documents and the applicable central-list requirements.

Assuming a saved form is a submitted form: A completed form is not necessarily successful until the required steps and fee payment are complete and the confirmation page is generated.

Ignoring the correction window: If the portal permits correction of a field, use the official correction window and confirm which fields can be changed. Do not assume every field will be editable.

Trusting unofficial links: Use the NTA/UGC NET portal and official notices for registration, updates, city intimation and admit-card information.

What Happens After Applying?

Save the confirmation page and payment proof. Keep checking the official portal and the email address or mobile number entered in the application. The published schedule lists city intimation for 23 November and an admit-card date of 7 December 2026; these should be treated as the schedule in the bulletin, subject to any later official revision.

When the admit card is issued, verify the examination date, shift, centre address and instructions printed on it. The admit card—not an unofficial post or a city-intimation message—is the primary reference for the candidate’s assigned examination details.