The UGC NET exam eligibility rule is simple at its core: you need a master's degree with at least 55% marks (50% for reserved categories), or a 4 year bachelor's degree with 75% for some purposes. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility, while the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) has an age limit of 30 years with relaxations. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the exam for the University Grants Commission (UGC). This page explains what the NET exam is, who can apply, the paper pattern and syllabus, how the score is used, and how to prepare.
What is NET exam: full form and purpose
The NET exam full form is National Eligibility Test. UGC NET decides who is eligible to work as an Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges, who gets the JRF to do a PhD with a monthly fellowship, and who can be admitted to a PhD on the basis of NET scores. It covers humanities, social sciences, commerce, education, languages, computer science and many other subjects. The latest information bulletin listed 85 subjects.
After the exam, NTA declares candidates qualified in one of three categories:
| Category | What you become eligible for |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | JRF, Assistant Professor and PhD admission |
| Category 2 | Assistant Professor and PhD admission (no JRF) |
| Category 3 | PhD admission only |
So the JRF exam is not a separate test. JRF is awarded to the top performers of UGC NET within the age limit, which is why many people call it the NET JRF exam.
UGC NET exam eligibility: qualification and marks
| Condition | Rule in the latest bulletin |
|---|---|
| Master's degree | 55% marks for General and General EWS; 50% for OBC non-creamy layer, SC, ST, persons with disabilities and third gender candidates |
| 4 year or 8 semester bachelor's degree | 75% aggregate (relaxation of 5% for the categories above); eligible for JRF and PhD, not for Assistant Professor |
| Final year students | Can apply provisionally, but must complete the degree with the required marks within the time allowed after the result |
| PhD holders with an older master's degree | Get 5% relaxation in master's marks as per the bulletin's cut-off date |
Your master's subject should match or relate to the NET subject you choose. Students who did a 4 year bachelor's degree and want to know about NET exam for PhD admission can apply in their own subject or a related one. Read the subject list in the bulletin before filling the NET exam form.
Net exam age limit
- JRF: not more than 30 years on the date fixed in the bulletin. Up to 5 years relaxation for OBC non-creamy layer, SC, ST, persons with disabilities, third gender and women. Relaxation is also given for research experience, LLM degree holders (3 years) and armed forces service, but the total relaxation cannot go above 5 years.
- Assistant Professor and PhD admission: no upper age limit.
So a 40 year old working professional can still clear NET for Assistant Professor eligibility, but cannot get the JRF unless relaxation applies.
UGC NET exam pattern
NTA holds the UGC NET exam as a computer based test. There are two papers in one sitting of 3 hours with no break.
| Paper | What it tests | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Teaching and research aptitude (common for all) | 50 | 100 |
| Paper 2 | Your chosen subject | 100 | 200 |
| Total | 3 hours, no negative marking | 150 | 300 |
Each correct answer gets 2 marks and there is no negative marking, so attempt every question. Questions come in English and Hindi, except for language papers. You choose the medium in the form and cannot change it later.
Net exam syllabus
The full UGC NET exam syllabus for every subject is on the official website. Paper 1 has ten units:
- Teaching aptitude and research aptitude
- Reading comprehension and communication
- Mathematical reasoning, logical reasoning and data interpretation
- Information and communication technology (ICT)
- People, development and environment
- The higher education system in India
Paper 2 follows your subject at postgraduate level, usually in ten units. For example, political science covers political theory, Indian government and politics, comparative politics and international relations. Students who search for the NET exam syllabus in Hindi can download the Hindi version for many subjects from the same site.
CSIR NET, ICAR NET and the SET exam
UGC NET is only one of the eligibility tests. Depending on your subject and the state you want to work in, you may need another.
| Test | Who it is for | Where it is valid |
|---|---|---|
| UGC NET | Humanities, social sciences, commerce, languages, computer science, education and more | All of India |
| CSIR UGC NET exam (CSIR NET) | Chemical, earth, life, mathematical and physical sciences | All of India |
| ICAR NET | Agriculture and allied sciences | Agricultural universities across India |
| SET or SLET exam | Most subjects, conducted by a state | Only in that state |
The CSIR NET exam is conducted by NTA on behalf of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and has its own pattern with three parts, so read the CSIR NET exam pattern on its official site. ICAR NET is run by the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board.
What is SET exam? SET (State Eligibility Test), earlier called SLET, is the state version of NET. Passing it makes you eligible for Assistant Professor posts in colleges and universities of that state only. Examples include MH SET for Maharashtra and Goa, conducted by Savitribai Phule Pune University (students search for it as unipune SET exam), Gujarat SET (G SET), MP SET, JK SET and the SET exam Rajasthan holds. SET exam eligibility and SET exam qualification rules mirror NET: a master's with 55% (50% for reserved categories). The SET exam syllabus is usually the same as UGC NET, though the language of the paper may include the state language. NET is the better choice if you may move states.
How the UGC NET score is used
- Assistant Professor: NET, SET or SLET is the minimum eligibility for direct recruitment as Assistant Professor, as per UGC rules. A PhD is optional for this post, though it adds weight in selection. See the full assistant professor salary and selection guide.
- JRF: after revision by UGC, the JRF fellowship is ₹37,000 a month for the first two years, and ₹42,000 a month as Senior Research Fellow after that. This JRF salary is paid only after you join a PhD at a university or institute, and the JRF award is valid for three years.
- PhD admission: universities use NET scores for PhD admission along with an interview, as per UGC rules.
NET is also accepted for some research and teaching jobs in central bodies and public sector units that ask for it in their notifications. Check each one.
NET exam form, fees and frequency
The UGC NET exam form is filled only on the official website, ugcnet.nta.ac.in. The UGC NET exam fees in the latest bulletin were:
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General or Unreserved | ₹1,150 |
| General EWS and OBC non-creamy layer | ₹600 |
| SC, ST, persons with disabilities and third gender | ₹325 |
Bank charges and GST are extra. NTA usually holds UGC NET twice a year, in a June cycle and a December cycle. Exam dates, the city slip and the score card are all announced on the NTA website. If you are looking for today's UGC NET exam notice, only trust nta.ac.in and ugcnet.nta.ac.in.
Preparation plan for NET
Most master's students need four to six months of focused study. Here is a simple plan:
- Month 1: finish Paper 1 basics. Teaching aptitude, research aptitude and data interpretation are scoring and need little memory work.
- Months 2 to 4: go unit by unit through the Paper 2 syllabus. Use your master's notes and standard university textbooks, not just guide books.
- Month 5: solve previous NTA question papers. Many questions repeat in concept.
- Final weeks: full length timed tests of 150 questions in 3 hours.
Start in the final year of your master's so you can try in the next cycle. If you are still choosing a postgraduate subject, read courses after graduation jobs after BA and jobs after B.Sc. If school teaching suits you better, see CTET exam and government teacher.
Questions students ask
What is the UGC NET exam eligibility?
You need a master's degree with 55% marks, or 50% if you are OBC non-creamy layer, SC, ST, disabled or third gender. A 4 year bachelor's degree with 75% allows you to apply for JRF and PhD, but not for Assistant Professor. Final year students can apply.
Is there a NET exam age limit?
Only for JRF, which has an upper limit of 30 years with up to 5 years relaxation for eligible groups and women. There is no age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility or PhD admission.
What is the UGC NET exam pattern?
It is a 3 hour computer based test with two papers. Paper 1 has 50 questions for 100 marks on teaching and research aptitude, and Paper 2 has 100 questions for 200 marks on your subject. There is no negative marking.
What is the difference between NET and SET exam?
NET is national and valid across India. SET or SLET is conducted by a state and is valid only for Assistant Professor posts in that state. Eligibility rules are similar.
What is the JRF salary?
The UGC JRF fellowship is ₹37,000 a month for the first two years and ₹42,000 a month as SRF later. It starts only after you join a PhD programme.
What are the UGC NET exam fees?
In the latest bulletin the fee was ₹1,150 for General, ₹600 for General EWS and OBC non-creamy layer, and ₹325 for SC, ST, disabled and third gender candidates, plus bank charges and GST.
What is CSIR NET exam?
CSIR NET is the joint CSIR UGC test for science subjects such as chemistry, physics, life sciences, mathematics and earth sciences. NTA conducts it, and it leads to JRF, Assistant Professor eligibility and PhD admission in those subjects.
Sources and official websites
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources. Rules change with each notification, so always read the latest one before you apply.
- UGC NET, National Testing Agency (information bulletin)
- National Testing Agency
- University Grants Commission
- Joint CSIR UGC NET, National Testing Agency
- Ministry of Education press note on NET, SET and SLET as eligibility for Assistant Professor
Last checked on 11 October. Spot an error? Tell us on the contact page.