Top PhD Entrance Exams 2025

If you’re planning to pursue a PhD in India, knowing about the top PhD entrance exams is essential. These exams determine your eligibility for doctoral programs in various fields. They assess your knowledge, research aptitude, and academic potential. The most common PhD exams in India include UGC NET, JNU PhD entrance, BITS PhD entrance exam, and AIIMS PhD Entrance exam. Since most universities conduct these exams to shortlist candidates, understanding the format and preparation strategies can help you secure a spot in your desired research program. Let’s take a look into some of the most important PhD entrance exams you should know about.

List of Top PhD Entrance Exams in India

Here is a table with the exams and their descriptions:

Exam	Description
UGC NET Exam	The joint entrance exam for PhD and integrated PhD programs in Biology and Life Sciences, accepted by multiple institutions.
CSIR-UGC NET Exam	A national-level exam for JRF and lectureship in Science subjects, conducted by CSIR and UGC.
JGEEBILS	A joint entrance exam for PhD and integrated PhD programs in Biology and Life Sciences, accepted by multiple institutions.
DBT JRF Biotech Entrance Test	Conducted by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), this exam provides JRF fellowships for biotechnology research.
TIFR Graduate School Admission Test	Entrance test for admission to PhD and integrated PhD programs at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
ICMR Junior Research Fellowships	Conducted by ICMR, this exam grants JRF positions in biomedical research.
NIMHANS PG/PhD Entrance Test	Online entrance test for postgraduate, superspeciality, and PhD programs in neuroscience and mental health.
JNU PhD Entrance	Entrance exam for PhD programs at Jawaharlal Nehru University, covering various disciplines.
JRF-GATE	Fellowship program for GATE-qualified candidates pursuing PhD research in Science and Engineering.
NIPER PhD Entrance Exam	Conducted by NIPER for admission to PhD programs in pharmaceutical sciences.
University of Hyderabad PhD Entrance Exam	Exam for PhD admissions at the University of Hyderabad across multiple disciplines.
GTU PhD Entrance Exam	PhD entrance test conducted by Gujarat Technological University.
NBRC PhD Entrance Exam	Entrance exam for neuroscience PhD programs at the National Brain Research Centre.
BITS PhD Entrance Examination	Conducted by BITS Pilani for admission to PhD programs in various fields.
AIIMS PhD Entrance Exam	Admission test for PhD programs in medical and allied sciences at AIIMS.
IISC PhD Entrance Exam	Entrance test for PhD programs at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
NDRI PhD Entrance Exam	Conducted by the National Dairy Research Institute for PhD admissions in dairy sciences.
BBAU PhD Admissions Test	PhD entrance exam for Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Lucknow.
GJUST PhD Entrance Test	PhD admission test conducted by Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology.
BARC PhD Admission Test	Exam for PhD admission at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in nuclear sciences and engineering.
CVVET	Combined entrance exam for Vidyavaridhi (PhD) programs in Sanskrit and related fields.
ISM Dhanbad PhD Admission Test	Entrance exam for PhD programs at the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad.
IVRI PhD Admission Test	PhD entrance test for admission to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly.
RMAT PhD Entrance Exam	PhD entrance test conducted by Aligarh Muslim University.
JMI PhD Admission Test	PhD entrance exam for admission to Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
Jamia Hamdard PhD Admission Test	Entrance test for PhD programs at Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi.
Kurukshetra University PhD Entrance Exam	PhD admission test for various research programs at Kurukshetra University.
NMIMS University PhD Entrance Exam	Exam for PhD admissions in management and other disciplines at NMIMS University, Mumbai.
TISS RAT	Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Research Aptitude Test for PhD admissions.
DU PhD Entrance Exam	Conducted by Delhi University for PhD admissions across multiple fields.
IGNOU PhD Entrance Exam	Entrance exam for PhD programs at Indira Gandhi National Open University.
Pondicherry University Entrance Exam	PhD admission test for various disciplines at Pondicherry University.
University of Pune PhD Entrance Exam	PhD admission test in various disciplines at Savitribai Phule Pune University.
Symbiosis University PhD Entrance Exam	Entrance test for PhD programs at Symbiosis International University.

List of Top PhD Entrance Exams

Whether you are opting for a PhD in IIT, IIM, or any other higher education institution in the country, there is generally a specified entrance exam that one needs to qualify. To help you understand some of these tests, below we have elaborated the top PhD entrance exams that you must know about:

UGC NET Exam

Many Indian universities ask candidates for their UGC NET scores in order to apply for PhD degrees. University Grant Commission (UGC) NET Exam is the national level exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) twice a year (in the month of June and December). It is one of the major PhD entrance exams and aims to determine the eligibility of aspirants for the posts of Assistant Professor only or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or both.

The UGC NET syllabus table below shows the Exam Pattern of Paper 1 and Paper 2:

UGC NET Paper	Maximum Marks	No. of Questions
Paper 1	50	100
Paper 2	100	200

CSIR-UGC NET Exam

Another important mention in our list of PhD entrance exams is CSIR-UGC NET, i.e. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test. Commonly referred to as CSIR NET, it is a national exam conducted by NTA twice a year (in the month of June and December) to choose candidates for awarding JRF and determining their eligibility for appointment of lecturers in Indian universities and colleges. Further, those wanting to apply for the fellowship need to register for a PhD course at a recognised institution while one needs to have attained a doctoral degree in order to apply for the lecturership through this exam. CSIR-UGC NET Exam is conducted for the following subjects:

• Chemical Sciences
• Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
• Life Sciences
• Mathematical Sciences
• Physical Sciences 

The question paper segments for this PhD entrance exam into 3 sections, i.e. Section A (considered common section and questions are related to General Aptitude, Graphical Analysis, Logical Reasoning, and Numerical ability), Section B (questions are for Engineering Sciences, questions from Mathematics and Engineering Aptitude included as well) and Section C (high stature questions which evaluate the candidate’s knowledge of scientific concepts and their application). 

TIFR GS Exam

Located in Mumbai, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) is a deemed university which offers various PhD and various integrated programmes. Featuring amongst the popular PhD entrance exams, the TIFR GS (Graduate School) test is organised for the institute’s offered postgraduate programs in several specialisations in Science. The integrated M.Sc-PhD course offered by TIFR includes an array of specialisations such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics as well as research-oriented programs in the field of Computer science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. 

TIFR GS Exam Pattern for Mathematics

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TIFR GS exam pattern for Mathematics is divided into two parts. The total duration of the exam is 3 hours (1.5 hours each per section). Negative marking is there for each wrong answer in both sections.

Part	Types of Questions	Number of Questions
1	Objective (True/False)	30
2	Subjective	10

TIFR GS Exam Pattern for Physics and Chemistry

TIFR GS exam pattern for Physics and Chemistry is not prescribed by TIFR. As per the availability of information from the official website, both subjects will contain MCQs which students need to complete in 3 hours. Negative Marking is there for each wrong answer in both subjects.

TIFR GS Exam Pattern for Computer and System Sciences

TIFR GS Exam pattern for Computer and System Sciences will contain MCQs and students have to complete the exam in 3 hours. The paper will be divided into 3 parts

Part	Subject
A	Mathematical Aptitude
B	Computer Science
C	Systems Science

Among these three sections, students have the choice of doing only one. Negative Marking is there.

List of Universities in India Offering PhD

Name of the University	Location
All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS)	New Delhi
National Institute of Technology	Punjab
Institute of Microbial Technology	Chandigarh
IITs	Various Locations
PEC University of Technology	Punjab
Amity School Of Engineering And Technology	Uttar Pradesh
SRM University	Sonipat
Jamia Millia Islamia	Delhi
Chandigarh University	Chandigarh
Jawaharlal Nehru University	Delhi
Jamia Hamdard	Delhi
University of Petroleum and Energy Studies	Dehradun
University of Delhi	Delhi
Birla Institute of Technology Science	Pilani
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University	Delhi
Symbiosis International University	Maharashtra
Osmania University	Telangana
ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute Bareilly	Uttar Pradesh
University of Hyderabad	Hyderabad
Indian Institute of Science	Bangalore
Vellore Institute of Technology	Tamil Nadu

Ph.D. Specializations 

Before moving on to the top Ph.D. entrance exams, let’s first take a look at the plethora of specializations that fall under the domain of this degree. The following table elucidates some of the popular Ph.D. courses that are commonly pursued by graduates. 

1. Education
2. Police Administration
3. Psychology
4. Pharmacy
5. Biotechnology
6. Urdu
7. Public Administration
8. Renewable Energy
9. Political Science
10. Artificial Intelligence
11. Mathematics
12. Chemistry
13. Finance
14. Accounting
15. Economics
16. Computer Science
17. Law
18. Commerce
19. Nursing
20. English
21. Physics
22. Electronics
23. Physical Education
24. Total Quality Management
25. Pomology
26. Sociology
27. Cosmetology
28. Rural Development
29. Sustainable Development
30. Yoga
31. Zoology
32. Women Studies
33. Social Work
34. Technology Policy
35. Statistics
36. Agriculture
37. Botany
38. Geology
39. Sports Science
40. History
41. Home Science
42. Geography
43. Mass Communication
44. Labour and Social Welfare
45. Mathematics
46. Music
47. Linguistics
48. Management Studies
49. Hospitality Management
50. Library Science
51. Nanotechnology
52. Biochemistry
53. Horticulture
54. Bioinformatics
55. Fashion Technology
56. Fine Arts
57. Business Administration
58. Disaster Management
59. Human Rights
60. Entrepreneurship

How to Apply for PhD Course in India?

There are various universities in India where students can apply for a PhD and take PhD entrance exams. These institutes provide a variety of research degrees. Each university in India has a set number of seats available. Some of these universities make their selections based on PhD entrance exams, interviews, and research proposals.

• The PhD application process is offered in both online and offline formats in India.
• To apply to a university, applicants must obtain or download the application form and prospectus for their individual courses by writing to the institution or obtaining the same online from the university’s official website.
• For some universities, the PhD application forms must be delivered to the university’s official address before the deadline, together with the relevant documentation.
• When it comes to the fee structure for a PhD programme, the average or tentative course fee is between INR 20,000 and INR 90,000 every year (varies from course to course and university to university).

PhD Entrance Exams for Studying Abroad

Pursuing a PhD abroad requires clearing specific entrance exams based on the country and university you are applying to. These exams assess your academic proficiency, research aptitude, and language skills. Below are some of the key PhD entrance exams required for different countries:

1. USA

• GRE (for most PhD programs)
• GMAT (for business and management fields)
• MCAT (for medical and healthcare fields)
• LSAT (for law programs)

2. UK & Europe

• GRE (accepted in some universities)
• IELTS & TOEFL (English language requirement)

3. Canada

• GRE/GMAT (for certain programs)
• IELTS/TOEFL (for English language proficiency)

4. Australia & New Zealand

• IELTS/TOEFL/PTE (for English language proficiency)
• GAMSAT (for medical programs)

[Bonus] Pursuing PhD Abroad 

Other than the top PhD entrance exams, we have compiled a list of our major blogs on pursuing PhD abroad that you must check out:

Universities in Australia for PhD	PhD in France	PhD in Germany
PhD in Europe	PhD in Canada	PhD in Australia

PhD Scholarships for Indian Students in India & Abroad

•  Maulana Azad National fellowship 
• Prime Minister Fellowship for Doctoral Research
• Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships
• Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships
• Physical Research Laboratory Junior Research Fellowship
• Google PhD Scholarships
• ICHR Junior Research Fellowships (JRF)
• Raman-Charpak Fellowship
• MEXT Scholarship
• ICSSR Doctoral Research Fellowship

Know More About PhD Scholarships in UK for Indian Students

Syllabus for PhD Entrance Exams

PhD is offered a wide range of courses from Engineering to Natural Sciences to Fine Arts. Most Indian and foreign entrance exams have two papers- one for General Studies and Research and the other is subject specific. The subject-specific papers can either be objective or subject in nature depending upon the exam and conducting authority. Here are the syllabus and topics covered in the general studies and research paper for all PhD entrance exam-

• General Knowledge
• Research Methodology
• English Comprehension
• Quantitative Aptitude
• Maths 
• Reasoning
• Environmental Studies 
• Teaching Aptitude
• Communication Skills

Job Prospects After PhD

A PhD opens doors to prestigious career opportunities in academia, research, industry, and government. Below is a table highlighting the key job prospects after completing a PhD:

Sector	Job Role
Academia	Professor/LecturerPostdoctoral ResearcherAcademic Administrator
Research & Development (R&D)	Research ScientistLab DirectorClinical Researcher
Corporate	Data ScientistConsultantProduct Manager
Government & Policy-Making	Policy AnalystScientific Advisor
Media & Writing	Author & WriterJournalistPhilosophical JournalistEditor & Critic
Social Services & NGOs	Human Services WorkerResearcher at UN/WHO/World Bank

FAQs

Interesting Reads

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Integrated PhD: Course Details, Eligibility, Top Universities	PhD (Doctor of Philosophy): Top Programs, Eligibility, Fees

Cracking any of the above-mentioned PhD entrance exams can turn out to be a difficult task for many. An alternative option to these tests is to apply for a doctoral degree abroad which can further provide you with international exposure into your chosen field of interest. Reach out to our Leverage Edu experts and we’ll help you in finding a suitable course and university as per your preferences and aspirations. Not only for this, but our head coaches will also assist you in drafting a perfect application that can get you successfully shortlisted. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.