Updated coverage — 24 October 2026: UGC-NET December 2026: October 28 Application Cutoff Approaches, Late-Fee Window Is Separate. Read the newer coverage alongside the original article below.
Update checked 17 October 2026
NTA issued an updated bulletin on October 16. Examinations are now listed for December 14–18 and December 21, with city intimation from November 23 and admit-card download from December 7. Read the full UGC-NET corrigendum update.
Official notice: 8 October 2026 | Information checked: 15 October 2026.
Students considering research or a teaching career should put the UGC-NET December application deadline in their calendar now. NTA's registration notice remains relevant this week; it is an October 8 announcement, rather than a new October 14 notification.
The dates to record
The official NTA notice lists normal applications and fee payment from October 8–28, ending at 11:50 PM. Late applications run October 29–31, up to 11:50 PM, with an additional ₹500. Corrections are scheduled for November 2–4, up to 11:50 PM.
The computer-based test covers 87 subjects. The October 16 updated bulletin lists examinations for December 14–18 and December 21. City intimation is listed from November 23 and admit-card download from December 7; the subject-wise schedule will follow separately.
Application fees
- General/Unreserved: ₹1,150.
- General-EWS/OBC-NCL: ₹600.
- SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender: ₹325.
Use the category accepted under the current application rules. Before selecting a concession, check whether the certificate you hold meets the bulletin's requirements. A state-level label alone should not replace that check.
Who should review this application?
The notice covers qualification categories for JRF and Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor and PhD admission, and PhD admission only. These are different outcomes. Read the current bulletin for the qualification, age and subject conditions applicable to your route before paying.
If you are deciding how research fits your longer-term plan, our career planning guide for 2027–2030 can help you frame the questions to discuss with a counsellor.
A practical submission routine
- Start at the official UGC-NET portal and read the December bulletin.
- Match your name and academic details against your documents. Check the subject selection deliberately.
- Submit only one application. Save the application number, fee receipt and confirmation page together.
- Set separate reminders for the normal deadline and correction window. Do not treat corrections as permission to omit required information now.
If you have already submitted successfully, review the saved form rather than creating another account. Keep an error list ready for the permitted correction window.
Frequently asked questions
Is October 31 the normal deadline?
No. The normal window ends October 28; October 29–31 is the late-fee window.
What changed in the October 16 update?
The revised exam dates are December 14–18 and December 21. Check the subject-wise schedule and your admit card before making travel commitments.
Does submitting the form establish eligibility?
No. Submission is an application step; eligibility and the eventual qualification outcome depend on the applicable rules and examination process.
Need help with your next step?
For course selection, college comparison or an application plan, call The Scholar Portal on +91 93796 86586 or email hello@thescholarportal.com. Speak to our counselling team. Guidance does not guarantee admission, funding or immigration permission.