Shimla, August 1: The Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) has invited online applications for admission to its Ph.D. programmes for the 2026-27 academic session, with the first phase of admissions open for candidates qualified through UGC-CSIR NET (Categories I, II & III), GATE, CEED and other recognised national-level fellowship or eligibility examinations.
According to the notification issued by the University’s Controller of Examinations, eligible candidates can submit their applications through the university portal from July 31 to August 12, 2026 (up to 5:00 p.m.).
Who Can Apply?
Candidates who have qualified UGC/CSIR-JRF, UGC/CSIR-NET, UGC-NET (Ph.D. admission category), GATE, CEED, or any other equivalent national-level examination recognised by the UGC or a competent statutory authority are eligible for the first stage of admissions.
Applicants who had already applied under the University’s earlier Ph.D. admission notification dated July 13, 2026, are not required to apply again.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must have:
- A Master’s degree with at least 55% marks (50% for reserved categories as per UGC norms), or
- A four-year Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 75% marks, or
- An M.Phil. degree meeting the prescribed eligibility requirements.
Government employees and candidates working in universities, research institutions, PSUs or private organisations may also apply, provided they submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and obtain study leave of at least six months before the commencement of coursework.
Selection Process
Admissions will be based on a 100-mark composite score, comprising:
- 70% weightage from the qualifying national-level examination, and
- 30% weightage from the Interview/Viva-Voce.
Interviews are tentatively scheduled to be held between August 17 and 19, 2026.
263 Ph.D. Seats Across Departments
The University has announced 263 Ph.D. seats across 29 departments and centres for the 2026-27 session. The highest number of seats are available in:
- Department of Physics & Astronomical Sciences – 32 seats
- Himachal Pradesh Kendriya Vishwavidyalaya Business School – 24 seats
- Department of Nanoscience & Materials – 23 seats
- Centre for Computational Biology & Bioinformatics – 21 seats
Seats are also available in disciplines including Journalism & Mass Communication, New Media, Environmental Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, Hindi, English, Commerce, Sociology, Social Work, Political Science, Tourism and Travel, and Visual Arts.
Application Fee
- General/EWS & OBC (Creamy Layer): ₹500
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): ₹400
- SC/ST/Divyang: ₹200
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online applications open | July 31, 2026 |
| Last date to apply | August 12, 2026 (5:00 p.m.) |
| Interview/Viva-Voce | August 17–19, 2026 |
| First selection list | August 20, 2026 |
| Fee deposition (First List) | August 20–21, 2026 |
| Second & Final Selection List | August 22, 2026 |
| Fee deposition (Final List) | August 22–23, 2026 |
The University has advised aspiring candidates to carefully read the detailed admission notification and ensure they meet all eligibility conditions before submitting their online applications.
