UGC NET Application Form 2025: Check All Guidelines

The UGC NET December 2025 application form is expected to be out in October 2025, with exact dates to be announced in the official notification on the NTA website.

Candidates who hold a Master’s degree with at least 55% marks will be eligible to apply online through the official portal. The notification will also provide the direct application link, step-by-step instructions, and other important details.

Important Points to Remember

• Applications that are incomplete or incorrectly filled will be rejected.
• NTA will provide an Application Correction Window for candidates to make necessary edits, if required.
• A category-wise application fee must be paid to successfully submit the form.
• Candidates should keep scanned copies of their photograph and signature ready in the prescribed format before starting the application process.

UGC NET Application Form Important Dates

The UGC NET December 2025 Application Portal will be activated soon. Candidates will be able to check all the important dates related to the application process, including the start and end date for form submission, the last date for fee payment, and the correction window. These details will be officially announced on the NTA website.

Cycle	UGC NET December 2025
UGC NET Application Start Date	TBA
UGC NET Last date to Apply	TBA
Last date to pay the application fee	TBA
UGC NET Application Correction Window	TBA

How to Fill Out the UGC NET Application Form

The UGC NET 2025 Application Form must be completed and submitted online. To apply, candidates will first need to register on the official portal by creating a login ID and password. Once logged in, they can fill out the form, upload the required documents, pay the application fee, and finally submit the application. After submission, applicants should wait for further updates from the NTA.

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Access the UGC NET Application Portal

• Visit the official UGC NET website.
• Under the Latest News section, click on the UGC NET December 2025 Registration Link.
• This will redirect you to the application portal.

Step 2: Generate OTP for Registration

• Click on New Candidate Registration at the bottom of the page.
• A page with instructions and prerequisites will appear. Read carefully and tick the checkbox to proceed.
• You will then be directed to the identity verification page.
• Select the verification method, enter details such as your Aadhaar Number, and generate an OTP.
• The OTP will be sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Enter it to verify and continue.

Step 3: Complete the UGC NET Registration Form

• After Aadhaar verification, the UGC NET December 2025 Registration Form will open.
• Basic details like your name, date of birth, and gender will be auto-filled from Aadhaar.
• Fill in the remaining details such as personal information, address, and contact details.
• Create a password and set security questions for your candidate account.

Details Required for UGC NET Application Form

Section	Details to be Filled
Personal Details	– Candidate’s Name
	– Father’s Name
	– Mother’s Name
	– Date of Birth
	– Gender
	– Identification Number
	– Identity Type (Note: Since December 2018, Aadhaar Card is not mandatory. Candidates may use any valid Government ID such as Passport, Bank Account Number, etc.)
Contact Details	– Complete Postal Address & Permanent Address
	– Email Address
	– Mobile Number
Password	– Password (to be created)
	– Security Question (to be chosen)
	– Security Answer
Security Pin	– Security Pin (as displayed on the screen)

Step 4: Complete the UGC NET Application Form Fill Up

Applicants need to click on the “Complete Application Form” button to proceed with entering the remaining details. This section will require candidates to provide the necessary information as part of the UGC NET application process.

Section	Fields to be Filled
Personal Details	Name; Gender; Nationality; PwD category option; Minority community option; Date of Birth; Father’s Name; Mother’s Name; Disabled option; Upload photo of candidate with signature
Apply For	Post name (Assistant Professor / JRF); Subject opted for UGC NET
Education Details	Post-graduation pass status; Post-graduation qualifying exam (India / outside India); Post-graduation course; Post-graduation subject; Post-graduation result mode; Post-graduation marking scheme; Post-graduation obtained marks; Post-graduation total marks; Post-graduation year of passing; Post-graduation year of admission
Research / MPhil / PhD / Ex-Service Details	Research specialization (if any); Whether MPhil passed/appearing; Whether Ex-servicemen; Whether PhD passed/appearing
Doctorate Details	Whether already a doctorate student
Security Pin	Security Pin (as displayed on the screen)

Step 5: Upload Images and Signature

Candidates must upload their scanned photograph and signature as per the prescribed specifications. Both should be in JPEG format.

Feature	Specification
Size of photo image	Greater than 10 kb and less than 200 kb
Size of signature image	Greater than 4 kb and less than 30 kb

Step 6: Pay UGC NET Application Fee

Candidates are required to pay the UGC NET Application Fee online to complete the submission. Payment can be made through SBI/HDFC/Syndicate/ICICI/Paytm gateways using debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.

Category-wise Application Fee (Expected):

• General: ₹1150
• General-EWS/OBC-NCL: ₹600
• SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender: ₹325

Step 7: Download the Confirmation Page

After successful payment, a confirmation page will be generated. Candidates must download and print this page for future reference. The application process will be considered complete only after this step.

Documents to Keep Ready for UGC NET Application Form

To ensure a hassle-free registration process, candidates should arrange the following documents and details in advance:

• A copy of the Board/University Certificate
• A valid Identity Proof (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, or any other Government-issued ID)
• Qualifying Degree Certificate or the marksheet of the final semester
• Mailing and Permanent Address with PIN code
• Names of four preferred exam cities (as per the official notification)
• Code of the NET Subject being applied for (as mentioned in the notification)
• Code of the Post-Graduation Subject (as per the notification)
• Code of the Post-Graduation Course
• Category Certificate (if applicable)
• EWS Certificate (if applicable)
• PwD Certificate (if applicable)
• A valid Email ID and Mobile Number
• Scanned Photograph in JPG/JPEG format (file size: 10 kb to 200 kb)
• Scanned Signature in JPG/JPEG format (file size: 4 kb to 30 kb)

Checklist for Filling Out the UGC NET Application Form

Before starting the online application, candidates should not only keep the required documents ready but also carefully verify the following details:

• Ensure that they meet all eligibility conditions as per the official UGC NET criteria.
• Confirm that gender and category have been entered correctly in the relevant fields.
• Double‑check that the postal and permanent addresses, along with the PIN code, are accurate.
• Verify that the chosen subject and preferred exam cities are correctly filled in.
• PwD candidates must ensure they have selected the appropriate column in the application form.
• Keep a printout of the application form (confirmation page) along with proof of fee payment and photographs (same as uploaded) for future reference.

UGC NET Application Form Eligibility Requirements

To successfully submit the form and appear for the exam, candidates must satisfy the prescribed eligibility conditions, which include educational qualifications and age limits.

Educational Qualifications

• Candidates must have secured at least 55% marks in their Master’s degree.
• A relaxation of 5% (minimum 50%) is provided to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non‑creamy layer)/PwD/Transgender categories.
• Candidates with a 4‑year bachelor’s degree are also eligible if they have obtained 75% marks (70% for reserved categories). However, such candidates will only be considered for PhD admissions and JRF positions, not for Assistant Professor eligibility.

Age Limit for JRF

• Applicants for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) must be below 30 years of age.

Age Limit for Assistant Professor

• There is no upper age limit for candidates applying for the post of Assistant Professor.
• Qualifying NET/SET/SLET remains the minimum eligibility requirement for recruitment and appointment.
• Exemptions from NET/SET/SLET are governed by UGC regulations and updates published in the Indian Gazette.
• Candidates who cleared the UGC/CSIR JRF exam before September 1989 are exempt from appearing in NET.

Age Relaxation Provisions (as per UGC norms)

• SC/ST/OBC (NCL)/PwD/Female/Third Gender candidates: up to 5 years.
• Research experience: up to 5 years, depending on the duration of research work.
• LLM degree holders: additional 3 years.
• Armed forces personnel: up to 5 years, based on the length of service.

UGC NET Application Form correction

After registration closes, a one-time correction window will be provided to edit specific details in your submitted application. Use this facility carefully, as further changes are not allowed once you resubmit the edited form.

Steps to edit the application

1. Visit portal: Go to the official UGC NET website.
2. Log in: Use your registered credentials to access your account.
3. Open correction link: Click the application form correction option on the dashboard.
4. Make changes: Update the permitted fields accurately.
5. Resubmit: Review thoroughly and submit the corrected form.

Fields you can edit

• Personal details: Limited demographic information as permitted in the window.
• Educational details: Qualification-related entries.
• Exam city choice: Preferred test centre cities.
• Uploads: Scanned photograph and signature.

Frequent mistakes during registration

• Wrong subject code: Selecting an incorrect NET subject code.
• Name spelling errors: Typos in name/surname.
• Incorrect exam city: Choosing an unsuitable or unintended city.
• Contact information errors: Mistakes in address, email, or phone number.
• Wrong category selection: Misreporting reservation category.
• Poor-quality uploads: Blurry or non-compliant photograph/signature.

Practical tips to avoid issues

• Read instructions: Follow the information bulletin and website guidelines before applying.
• Apply early: Submit well before the deadline to avoid last-minute errors.
• Verify contacts: Enter a correct email and mobile number, NTA uses these for all communications.
• Check uploads: Ensure photo and signature are clear and match the prescribed format.
• Review twice: Cross-check spellings, numbers, and factual entries thoroughly before final submission.

UGC NET Registration Trends

The UGC NET Registration Trends 2025 provide valuable insights into the number of candidates who register and actually appear for the exam across different cycles. Reviewing these figures helps aspirants understand the level of participation and the competitive nature of the test over the years.

Years	Number of registered candidates	Number of appeared candidates
2021 Merged Cycle	12,67,000	6,71,288
2020	8,60,976	5,26,707
2019 June	10,34,872	7,93,813
2019 December	9,42,419	6,81,718
2018 December	9,56,837	6,81,930

Recommended Read:

• UGC NET
• UGC NET Books
• UGC NET Exam Pattern

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)