UGC-NET December 2026 is open: apply by 28 October for the 14–19 December exam
The National Testing Agency has opened applications for UGC-NET December 2026 in 87 subjects. The form and fee close at 11:50 pm on 28 October, a ₹500 late-fee window runs to 31 October, corrections are on 2–4 November, and the computer-based test is scheduled for 14 to 19 December.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) opened the application portal for UGC-NET December 2026 on 8 October 2026. The test is held for the University Grants Commission and decides three things: eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) plus Assistant Professor, for Assistant Professor plus PhD admission, or for PhD admission only in Indian universities and colleges. This cycle covers 87 subjects, all in computer-based mode.
The dates
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application | 8 to 28 October (till 11:50 pm) |
| Last date to pay the fee | 28 October (till 11:50 pm) |
| Late application, with ₹500 late fee | 29 to 31 October (till 11:50 pm) |
| Correction window | 2 to 4 November (till 11:50 pm) |
| Exam city slip and admit card | To be announced |
| Examination | 14 to 19 December |
NTA's own exam calendar keeps 20 and 21 December as buffer days for this cycle. Your actual date and shift will appear only on the admit card.
What it costs
- General / Unreserved: ₹1,150
- General-EWS and OBC (non-creamy layer): ₹600
- SC, ST, PwD and third gender: ₹325
Pay by card, net banking or UPI. Applying in the late window adds ₹500.
Before you hit submit
- One form only. NTA allows a single application per candidate, and says no changes are possible after final submission except in the 2–4 November correction window.
- Use Aadhaar verification if you can. The notice says it speeds up checks at the exam centre and the later processing of JRF awards.
- Give a phone number and email you will keep. They must be yours or a parent's. Admit cards, city slips and any change of plan reach you only through these.
- Registration can also be done through Meri Pehchan, the government's single sign-on.
- Every date above is marked tentative. Check the UGC-NET site again before each step.
Who should sit this one
Final-year master's students hoping to start a PhD in 2027 can use this sitting to qualify before admissions open. Anyone who missed the JRF cut-off in June gets another try here. Read the information bulletin on the portal for your subject's eligibility and age rules before you pay.
CareerBox News Desk — reporting on the National Testing Agency’s public notice of 8 October 2026 on applications for UGC-NET December 2026. Official portal: ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Dates and eligibility change; confirm them on the official portal before you act.