The National Testing Agency has opened registration for UGC NET December 2026. Candidates should check the application deadline, late fee period, correction window, eligibility requirements and examination schedule before applying.
The application process for the UGC NET December 2026 examination is underway, giving eligible candidates an opportunity to apply for one of India’s major national-level eligibility tests. The National Testing Agency (NTA) started the registration process on October 8, 2026. According to the schedule provided, the last date to submit the application form is October 28, 2026.
Candidates planning to qualify for Assistant Professor positions, Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), or PhD admission through UGC NET should complete their applications before the deadline. Applicants should also check the latest official notification for examination rules, fee details and any changes to the schedule.
UGC NET December 2026: Important Dates
The following dates are provided in the examination schedule shared for this update. Candidates should confirm them against the latest official NTA notification before relying on them.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration begins | October 8, 2026 |
| Application deadline | October 28, 2026 |
| Application with late fee | October 29–31, 2026 |
| Application correction window | November 2–4, 2026 |
| Examination dates | December 14–18 and December 21, 2026 |
Candidates should avoid waiting until the last day to register. Heavy website traffic, payment failures or technical problems may delay the application process.
What Is UGC NET?
The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is a national-level examination conducted by the National Testing Agency on behalf of the University Grants Commission.
The examination assesses candidates seeking eligibility for Assistant Professor positions and the Junior Research Fellowship. UGC NET scores are also used for PhD admission under the applicable admission framework and eligibility rules.
Qualifying for UGC NET does not automatically guarantee a teaching job, a research fellowship or admission to a PhD programme. Candidates must meet the relevant institutional requirements and other applicable conditions.
Who Can Apply for UGC NET December 2026?
Eligibility depends on the candidate’s educational qualifications, category and the purpose for which they are applying.
Educational qualification: Candidates generally need a master’s degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university, with the minimum marks prescribed in the official information bulletin. The applicable percentage and relaxation rules depend on the candidate’s category.
Final-year students: Candidates pursuing their qualifying postgraduate degree may be eligible to apply provisionally, subject to the conditions and deadlines specified by NTA.
Junior Research Fellowship: JRF applicants must satisfy the applicable age limit and relaxation rules mentioned in the official notification.
Assistant Professor and PhD admission: Eligibility requirements differ according to the purpose of the examination. Candidates should read the relevant provisions before selecting their eligibility category.
Applicants should not rely solely on general eligibility summaries. The official December 2026 information bulletin is the final reference for the applicable rules.
UGC NET December 2026 Application Fee
The application fee depends on the candidate’s category. The exact fee amounts and available payment methods should be checked in the official notification for the December 2026 session.
Candidates should verify the amount displayed on the official application portal before making a payment. They should also save the payment receipt and confirmation page after submitting the form.
How to Apply for UGC NET December 2026
Candidates can follow these steps to complete the online application:
- Visit the official website:click here
- Open the link for the UGC NET December 2026 application form.
- Complete registration using the details requested by NTA.
- Fill in personal information, educational qualifications and examination preferences.
- Upload the required photograph, signature and other documents in the prescribed format.
- Select the appropriate category and subject, and review all the information.
- Pay the application fee through an available payment method.
- Submit the form and download the confirmation page for future reference.
Candidates should enter their name, date of birth, educational details and other information carefully. Incorrect details may cause problems during verification or later stages of the examination process.
Late Fee and Application Correction Window
Candidates who miss the October 28 deadline may have an additional opportunity to apply with a late fee between October 29 and October 31, according to the schedule provided. The applicable late fee and payment conditions must be confirmed through NTA’s official notice.
The proposed correction window runs from November 2 to November 4, 2026. During this period, applicants may be permitted to correct specific details in their submitted forms. However, not every field is necessarily editable, and changes may be subject to NTA’s rules.
Candidates should therefore complete the application accurately the first time rather than depend on the correction window.
UGC NET December 2026 Exam Pattern
UGC NET is generally conducted as a computer-based test (CBT). The examination has two papers conducted in a single session, without a break between them.
Paper I assesses general teaching and research aptitude. It covers areas such as reasoning ability, comprehension, general awareness and research-related skills.
Paper II tests subject-specific knowledge based on the subject selected by the candidate during registration.
Under the established examination pattern, Paper I carries 50 questions for 100 marks, while Paper II carries 100 questions for 200 marks. The combined examination carries 300 marks. Candidates should verify the December 2026 bulletin for confirmation of the applicable pattern and any changes.
What Should Candidates Do Next?
With the application deadline approaching, candidates should first check the official notification, confirm their eligibility and gather the required documents. They should complete registration early, save the confirmation page and regularly check the NTA website for announcements about admit cards, examination city information and other updates.
