Pondicherry University, a Central University accredited with an “A+” Grade by NAAC, is inviting applications for its Ph.D. programs for the academic year 2026-27 under the entrance examination category. Established in 1985, the university prides itself on fostering innovation, research-enriched education, and industry-focused programs. With a commitment to the National Education Policy (NEP) and a vibrant campus life, it’s a top choice for aspiring researchers across India. The university boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure, including ICT-enabled campuses, well-equipped labs, and off-campuses in Karaikal and Port Blair.
Important Dates
- Online Registration Starts: 19th November 2025
- Last Date for Online Registration: 30th December 2025
Applications must be submitted online via the university website: pondiunivadmission.samarth.edu.in/index.php . Late submissions will not be entertained.
Application Fees
The application fee per program is as follows:
| Category | Fee (in INR) |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 750 |
| PH/Transgender | Nil |
| Others | 1500 |
- Payment is made online only.
- Use a separate application for each program.
- Fees are subject to submission of relevant certificates (e.g., SC/ST certificate or medical certificate for PH/Transgender).
- Any claims based on incorrect information (e.g., category, course code) will not be considered later.
For candidates without a valid community certificate (EWS/OBC Non-Creamy Layer), a self-declaration/undertaking form must be submitted during application, promising to provide the certificate at counseling.
Eligibility Criteria
- General: Master’s degree in the relevant or allied subject with at least 55% marks (or equivalent grade) under the 10+2+3+2 pattern (or 10+2+5 for certain fields).
- Relaxation: 5% for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/Differently-abled/EWS candidates (50% marks).
- Final-year PG students can apply but must produce proof of eligibility before admission.
- For part-time (internal/external): Additional experience requirements apply (e.g., 2+ years teaching for internal, 10+ years professional for external with publications).
Detailed subject-specific eligibility is available in the information brochure.
Mode of Selection
- Entrance Exam: 70% weightage (100 MCQs, 120 minutes; +4 for correct, -1 for wrong).
- Personal Interview & Academic Record: 30% weightage.
- Syllabus: 50% Research Methodology, 50% Subject-Specific.
- Exam Type: Computer-Based Test (CBT).
- Tie-Breaking: Positive marks > Negative marks > PG percentage > UG percentage > Age.
Defense personnel can take the test at notified centers.
Exam Centers
The entrance exam will be held at the following 24 centers (subject to sufficient candidates; indicate 3 preferences in your application):
- Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
- Guwahati, Assam
- Patna, Bihar
- Chandigarh
- Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
- Kozhikode, Kerala
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- Mumbai, Maharashtra
- New Delhi
- Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Puducherry
- Mahe, Puducherry
- Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
- Hyderabad, Telangana
- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Kolkata, West Bengal
- Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
- Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
The university may allot centers based on availability.
Campuses for Ph.D. Programs
- Main Campus (Pondicherry): Hosts most departments, with excellent facilities like labs, libraries, and hostels. ICT-enabled with e-learning and virtual classrooms.
- Karaikal Campus: Offers select programs (e.g., Commerce, Computer Science).
- Port Blair Campus (Andamans): Focuses on programs like Disaster Management, Marine Biology. Candidates must provide an undertaking for joining at own risk and take insurance (Rs. 5 lakhs).
Interdisciplinary research is encouraged across campuses.
Number of Seats (Tentative Vacancies) Department-Wise
The total tentative intake includes university departments and affiliated institutions/MoU categories. Seats are subject to change based on supervisor availability. Reservations: Gen (UR), OBC (27%), SC (15%), ST (7.5%), EWS (10%), PH (5%).
University Departments
| Department/Subject | Tentative Intake | Reservation Breakdown | Slot (Exam Timing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology | 7 | Gen-2, OBC-2, SC-1, ST-1, EWS-1 | IV |
| Banking Technology | 43 | Gen-16, OBC-12, SC-6, ST-3, PH-2, EWS-4 | I |
| Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | 18 | Gen-6, OBC-5, SC-3, ST-1, PH-1, EWS-2 | I |
| Bioinformatics | 29 | Gen-11, OBC-8, SC-4, ST-2, PH-1, EWS-3 | VI |
| Biotechnology | 24 | Gen-9, OBC-6, SC-4, ST-2, PH-1, EWS-2 | II |
| Chemistry | 57 | Gen-20, OBC-15, SC-9, ST-4, PH-3, EWS-6 | III |
| Commerce (Puducherry:5, Karaikal:12, Community College:6) | 23 | Gen-9, OBC-6, SC-3, ST-2, PH-1, EWS-2 | V |
| Computer Science & Engineering/Computer Science (Puducherry:27, Karaikal:14, Community College:3) | 44 | Gen-16, OBC-12, SC-7, ST-3, PH-2, EWS-4 | IV |
| Disaster Management (Port Blair) | 5 | Gen-2, OBC-1, SC-1, EWS-1 | IV |
| Drama & Theatre Arts | 1 | Gen-2, OBC-1, SC-1, EWS-1 | I |
| Hindi | 3 | – | I |
| Philosophy | 1 | – | II |
| Earth Sciences | 32 | Gen-11, OBC-9, SC-5, ST-2, PH-2, EWS-3 | IV |
| Ecology & Environmental Sciences | 11 | Gen-3, OBC-3, SC-2, ST-1, PH-1, EWS-1 | IV |
| Economics | 15 | Gen-5, OBC-4, SC-2, ST-1, PH-1, EWS-2 | II |
| Education | 10 | Gen-2, OBC-3, SC-2, ST-1, PH-1, EWS-1 | II |
| Electronic Media | 2 | Gen-3, OBC-3, SC-2, ST-1, PH-1, EWS-1 | IV |
| Mass Communication (Puducherry:7, Community College:2) | 9 | – | V |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering | 5 | Gen-2, OBC-1, SC-1, EWS-1 | III |
| English (Puducherry:1, PUCC:4) | 5 | Gen-2, OBC-1, SC-1, EWS-1 | III |
| Environmental Technology | 11 | Gen-3, OBC-3, SC-2, ST-1, PH-1, EWS-1 | V |
| Food Science & Technology | 18 | Gen-6, OBC-5, SC-3, ST-1, PH-1, EWS-2 | I/II |
| French | 4 | Gen-2, OBC-1, SC-1 | III |
| Green Energy Technology | 39 | Gen-13, OBC-11, SC-6, ST-3, PH-2, EWS-4 | I |
| International Business | 24 | Gen-9, OBC-6, SC-4, ST-2, PH-1, EWS-2 | III |
| Library & Information Science | 7 | Gen-2, OBC-2, SC-1, ST-1, EWS-1 | VI |
| Management (Puducherry:20, Karaikal:16) | 36 | Gen-12, OBC-10, SC-5, ST-3, PH-2, EWS-4 | VI |
| Marine Biology (Port Blair) | 5 | Gen-2, OBC-1, SC-1, EWS-1 | VI |
| Mathematics (Puducherry:37, Community College:3) | 40 | Gen-14, OBC-11, SC-6, ST-3, PH-2, EWS-4 | IV |
| Microbiology | 8 | Gen-3, OBC-2, SC-1, ST-1, EWS-1 | III |
| Nanoscience and Technology | 23 | Gen-9, OBC-6, SC-3, ST-2, PH-1, EWS-2 | V |
| Physical Education & Sports | 9 | Gen-4, OBC-2, SC-1, ST-1, EWS-1 | VI |
| Physics | 74 | Gen-26, OBC-21, SC-11, ST-4, PH-4, EWS-8 | II |
| Politics & International Studies | 7 | Gen-2, OBC-2, SC-1, ST-1, EWS-1 | VI |
| History | 1 | Gen-2, OBC-1, SC-1, EWS-1 | II |
| Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy | 1 | – | I |
| Sociology | 3 | – | VI |
| Sanskrit | 7 | Gen-2, OBC-2, SC-1, ST-1, EWS-1 | II |
| Social Work | 6 | Gen-2, OBC-2, SC-1, EWS-1 | II |
| South Asian Studies | 8 | Gen-3, OBC-2, SC-1, ST-1, EWS-1 | V |
| Statistics | 32 | Gen-11, OBC-9, SC-5, ST-2, PH-2, EWS-3 | VI |
| Tourism Studies | 14 | Gen-5, OBC-4, SC-2, ST-1, PH-1, EWS-2 | V |
| Tamil (PU:3, PUCC:2) | 5 | Gen-2, OBC-1, SC-1, EWS-1 | III |
| Women’s Studies | 5 | Gen-2, OBC-1, SC-1, EWS-1 | VI |
Affiliated Institutions/MoU Categories
Additional seats are available in affiliated colleges/institutes like ICMR-VCRC, RMRC Port Blair, ZSI Port Blair, etc. For example:
- Zoology (ICMR-VCRC): 1
- Microbiology (ICMR-VCRC): 2
- Chemistry (ICMR-VCRC): 1
- And more—refer to the brochure for full lists.
These include specific reservations and are often on an all-India basis.
Tuition and Other Fees
Ph.D. Full-Time/Part-Time Internal (Per Annum, in INR)
- Research Fee: Non-Science 2500, Science 3500
- Registration: 1000 (one-time)
- Other fees: Matriculation 500, Recognition 500, Sports 250/sem, Medical 250/sem, Library 1000/sem, etc.
- Total Initial (Humanities): ~19430; Science: ~26430
- Subsequent Semesters: Humanities ~5750; Science ~11750
Part-Time External
Similar structure, initial Humanities ~18250; Science ~25250.
Foreign nationals pay in USD (e.g., SAARC Humanities $250/annum). Differently-abled students are exempt from most fees.
Hostel Facilities
The university offers 21 hostels (13 boys, 8 girls) with mandatory mess dining. Fees for 2026-27 will be announced separately. Ragging is strictly prohibited.
Financial Assistance
- University Fellowship: Rs. 8000/month + contingency for full-time scholars.
- Other: UGC Non-Net, JRF, etc.
For queries, contact: admissionpu@pondiuni.ac.in or affiliated institutions directly.
Apply before December 30, 2025!