UGC NET December 2026 Application Form: Apply Online, Eligibility, Application Fee and Exam Date.The National Testing Agency (NTA) has started the online application process for the UGC NET December 2026 examination. Candidates planning to pursue a career in college teaching, research, or Ph.D. studies can now check the eligibility requirements and complete their registration within the prescribed dates.
According to the public notice released on 8 October 2026, the UGC NET December 2026 application form is available from 8 October to 28 October 2026. The examination is scheduled to be conducted from 14 December to 19 December 2026 in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
UGC NET is an important examination for postgraduate candidates who want to establish a career in higher education. Depending on their performance and eligibility, candidates may qualify for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor eligibility, or Ph.D. admission. Before applying, candidates should carefully review the official notification, arrange the required documents, and check the examination fee.
Overview of UGC NET December 2026
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination Name | UGC NET December 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Full Name | University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test |
| Examination Level | National |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Examination Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Total Subjects | 87 |
| Purpose | JRF, Assistant Professor and Ph.D. admission eligibility |
| Notification Date | 8 October 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 8 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 28 October 2026 |
| Examination Dates | 14–19 December 2026 |
| Official Website | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
UGC NET December 2026 Important Dates
Candidates should keep track of the registration schedule, fee payment deadline, correction window, and examination dates. Missing the application deadline may mean waiting for the next examination cycle.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 8 October 2026 |
| Online Application Begins | 8 October 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application | 28 October 2026 |
| Last Date for Examination Fee | 28 October 2026 |
| Application with Late Fee | 29–31 October 2026 |
| Late Fee | ₹500 |
| Application Correction Window | 2–4 November 2026 |
| Exam City Intimation | To be announced |
| Admit Card Release | To be announced |
| Examination Date | 14–19 December 2026 |
The dates mentioned above are based on the supplied NTA public notice. Candidates should check the official website for any subsequent announcement or revision.
UGC NET December 2026 Application Form
The UGC NET application process is conducted online through the official NTA portal. Candidates must register, enter their personal and academic information, upload the required documents, and pay the examination fee.
Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day to complete registration. Heavy traffic, payment delays, or document-upload errors can make the process more difficult near the deadline.
Before submitting the form, check that your name, date of birth, educational qualifications, category, and selected subject are correct. Keep a copy of the confirmation page after successful submission.
UGC NET Application Fee 2026
The examination fee varies according to the candidate’s category. The fee details provided in the NTA notice are given below.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | ₹1,150 |
| General-EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹600 |
| SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender | ₹325 |
Candidates can pay the examination fee using Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
Those applying during the late-registration period should also account for the additional late fee of ₹500. After payment, verify that the transaction has been completed successfully and retain the receipt.
UGC NET December 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates should check the prescribed eligibility conditions before starting their application. Educational qualifications and age requirements differ depending on whether the candidate is seeking JRF or another UGC NET eligibility category.
Educational Qualification
Candidates generally need a Master’s degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university or institution.
- General and EWS candidates generally require at least 55% aggregate marks in their Master’s degree.
- Candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD and Third Gender categories generally require at least 50% aggregate marks, subject to the applicable rules.
- Candidates appearing in the final year or semester of their Master’s degree may apply provisionally, subject to the prescribed conditions.
- Applicants should select the examination subject according to the eligibility provisions and instructions in the official information bulletin.
Candidates with a four-year undergraduate degree should check the specific eligibility provisions applicable to their qualification and the category for which they intend to qualify.
Age Limit
The age criteria depend on the purpose for which a candidate is applying.
| Eligibility Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) | Maximum 30 years, subject to applicable relaxation |
| Assistant Professor | No upper age limit specified |
Age relaxation is available to eligible categories under the applicable rules. Candidates should read the official information bulletin for the relevant cut-off date and detailed relaxation provisions.
Documents Required for UGC NET Online Form 2026
Keeping the necessary documents ready before registration can make the application process quicker and help avoid unnecessary errors.
Candidates should prepare the following, as applicable:
- Recent passport-size photograph.
- Scanned signature.
- Class 10 certificate or required date-of-birth details.
- Master’s degree certificate or marksheets, where applicable.
- Category certificate for eligible reserved categories.
- PwD certificate, if applicable.
- Valid mobile number and email address.
- Online payment method for the examination fee.
The required documents and upload specifications should be checked against the instructions displayed on the official application portal. Candidates should not upload unclear or incorrectly formatted files.
How to Apply Online for UGC NET December 2026?
Candidates can complete the registration process by following these steps.
Step 1: Visit the official website
Open the UGC NET website at https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/ and find the December 2026 application link.
Step 2: Complete the registration
Click on the new registration option and enter the details requested by the portal. Use an active mobile number and email address so that important communications can be received.
Step 3: Fill in the application form
Enter your personal details, educational qualifications, category information, and examination subject carefully. Check each entry before proceeding.
Step 4: Upload the required documents
Upload your photograph, signature, and other applicable documents according to the prescribed format and file-size requirements.
Step 5: Pay the application fee
Pay the applicable examination fee through one of the available online payment methods. Confirm that the payment status shows successful completion.
Step 6: Review the application
Before final submission, recheck your personal details, academic information, category, and selected subject. Do not assume that every field can be changed later.
Step 7: Download the confirmation page
Submit the application and download the confirmation page and payment receipt. Keep these documents safe for future reference.
Candidates should submit only one application and follow all instructions issued by NTA.
UGC NET December 2026 Application Correction Window
The application correction window is scheduled for 2 November to 4 November 2026, up to 11:50 PM.
This facility may help candidates correct permitted details in their submitted application. However, the correction facility does not necessarily allow changes to every field.
Candidates should check the instructions issued by NTA when the correction window opens. If a mistake is noticed, review the available editing options and make the necessary correction within the permitted period.
It is still advisable to complete the original application carefully rather than depend on the correction window.
UGC NET December 2026 Exam Pattern
The December examination will be conducted in Computer-Based Test mode for 87 subjects. The supplied examination reference describes two papers conducted within a total duration of three hours.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Paper 1 | General teaching and research aptitude |
| Paper 2 | Subject-specific knowledge |
| Total Questions | 150, as stated in the supplied reference |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Duration | 180 minutes |
| Negative Marking | No negative marking, as stated in the supplied reference |
Paper 1 assesses general aptitude, while Paper 2 focuses on the subject selected by the candidate. Applicants should consult the official information bulletin for the final question structure, syllabus, marking scheme, and examination instructions.
UGC NET December 2026 Selection Process
UGC NET is an eligibility examination for academic and research pathways rather than a direct recruitment examination for a single post.
The examination determines eligibility under the applicable categories:
- Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Candidates who meet the prescribed JRF eligibility and qualifying criteria.
- Assistant Professor: Candidates who qualify for eligibility to apply for Assistant Professor positions.
- Ph.D. Admission: Candidates who qualify under the Ph.D.-only eligibility category.
The final outcome depends on examination performance, applicable cut-offs, and the relevant eligibility rules. Qualifying UGC NET does not automatically guarantee a teaching appointment, fellowship award in every circumstance, or admission to a particular university.
UGC NET Exam City Intimation and Admit Card 2026
NTA has not announced the exam city intimation and admit card release dates in the supplied public notice.
Candidates should regularly check the official website for updates. Once the documents are released, carefully verify the examination date, shift, centre address, reporting time, and identity-proof requirements.
Candidates should carry the documents specified in the admit card and follow the examination-centre instructions. Avoid relying on unofficial dates or unverified notices.
Important Instructions for Candidates
Before completing the UGC NET December 2026 application, keep the following points in mind:
- Submit the application before 28 October 2026.
- Use an accessible mobile number and email address.
- Enter personal and educational details accurately.
- Check category eligibility and the selected subject.
- Upload documents according to the official specifications.
- Confirm that the examination fee has been paid successfully.
- Download and save the application confirmation page.
- Check the official website for updates regarding the correction window, exam city, and admit card.
UGC NET December 2026 Important Links
| Particulars | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/ |
| Official NTA Website | https://www.nta.ac.in/ |
| Notification and Information Bulletin | Download PDF |
