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Lucknow University PhD Admission 2026-27 forms closed on August 7, 2026. The window had opened on May 27, 2026. The university extended the last date three times before shutting the portal.
Lucknow university has listed 1,114 vacant full-time PhD seats for the 2026-27 session. Part-time vacancies stand at 468. Both figures come from the revised seat list issued on August 7, 2026.
Selection runs in three phases for both modes. Phase 3 candidates are ranked on 70 percent weightage for the Research Entrance Test (RET). The interview carries the other 30 percent.
Applications were filed on the Samarth portal at lkounivadm.samarth.edu.in. The fee was INR 2,000 for General, OBC and EWS candidates. SC, ST and PwD candidates paid INR 1,000.
Check: University of Lucknow Ph.D Education: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility
Lucknow University PhD Admission 2026-27 Notification
The Office of the Admission issued the PhD notice on May 27, 2026. It covered Full-Time (Regular) and Part-Time doctoral programmes together. Both routes were opened on the same Samarth portal.
The notice asked candidates to read two documents before applying. The first is the Ph.D. Ordinance 2026. The second is the set of Guidelines for Ph.D. admissions 2026-27 released with the notice.
The ordinance fixes a twice-yearly cycle for doctoral intake. PhD admission is advertised in May and in December each year. All notices sit on the lkouniv.ac.in notices page.
check: Lucknow University PhD Admission 2026-27 Notification (Official PDF
Lucknow University PhD Admission 2026-27 Last Date and Important Dates
The last date moved three times during this cycle. Each extension was issued as a separate notice by the admission coordinator.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application opened | May 27, 2026 |
| Original last date | June 30, 2026 |
| Last date after first extension | July 15, 2026 |
| Last date after second extension | July 30, 2026 |
| Final last date to apply | August 7, 2026 |
The RET date for 2026-27 is expected on the university website. In the 2025-26 cycle the test ran on March 30 and March 31, 2026. Admit cards for that test went live three days before the exam.
Lucknow University PhD Vacant Seats 2026-27 Department Wise
The university revised its seat list several times through June and July. The version dated August 7, 2026 is the current one. It splits full-time seats between supervisors working in the university and those in affiliated colleges.
| Seat Type | Number of Seats |
|---|---|
| Full-time under university teachers | 597 |
| Full-time under affiliated college teachers | 526 |
| Total full-time seats | 1,114 |
| Part-time seats | 468 |
Management Studies leads the full-time list. Law leads the part-time list by a wide margin. The table below shows the fifteen largest subjects.
| Subject | Full-Time Seats | Part-Time Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Management Studies | 87 | 59 |
| Chemistry | 76 | 11 |
| Physics | 70 | 20 |
| Commerce | 68 | 10 |
| Political Science | 60 | 13 |
| Economics | 56 | 10 |
| Sociology | 53 | 31 |
| Education | 52 | 24 |
| Zoology | 49 | 0 |
| Hindi | 47 | 23 |
| Law | 44 | 70 |
| Botany | 36 | 6 |
| Applied Economics | 34 | 10 |
| Sanskrit | 34 | 20 |
| English | 32 | 47 |
Example: Law lists 44 full-time seats against 70 part-time seats. A practising advocate therefore has more room in the part-time route. English shows the same pattern with 32 full-time and 47 part-time seats.
The university has said these numbers may be raised or lowered. The full 51-subject list is in the department-wise seat notice.
Download :Lucknow University seart matrix PDF 2026-27
PhD Eligibility Criteria 2026-27
The 2026-27 guidelines follow the UGC route structure. Four qualification routes are accepted.
| Qualification Route | Minimum Marks | Extra Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Two-year master's after a three-year bachelor's degree | 55% | None |
| One-year master's after a four-year bachelor's degree | 55% | None |
| Four-year or eight-semester bachelor's degree | 75% | At least one paper in a peer-reviewed or refereed journal |
| M.Phil degree | 55% | None |
A relaxation of 5 percent applies to several categories. It covers SC, ST, OBC non-creamy layer, differently-abled and EWS candidates. The same relaxation applies to the 75 percent bar for four-year degree holders.
Degrees from foreign institutions are also accepted. The awarding institution must be accredited by a recognised assessment agency in its home country.
PhD Selection Process in Three Phases
Seats are filled in a fixed order. Each phase runs only on the seats left by the phase above it.
| Phase | Who Is Considered | Selection Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Fellowship holders in UGC-JRF, CSIR-JRF, ICAR, ICMR, DBT-JRF or AICTE doctoral fellowship | Interview before the DRC |
| Phase 2 | UGC-NET or CSIR-NET qualified, for Assistant Professor or for PhD | Interview before the DRC |
| Phase 3 | All remaining applicants on the seats still vacant | 70% RET plus 30% interview |
The interview is not a formality in Phase 1 or Phase 2. Candidates present their research area before the Departmental Research Committee. The committee checks competence, feasibility at the university, and whether the work adds new knowledge.
Example: A UGC-NET qualified Sociology candidate enters Phase 2. That candidate faces only the DRC interview. A Sociology applicant without NET waits for Phase 3 and the RET.
Who Is Exempt from the RET?
Only Phase 1 and Phase 2 candidates skip the written test. That means JRF holders and NET qualified candidates. Everyone else takes the RET before the interview stage.
RET 2026-27 Exam Pattern and Qualifying Marks
The RET is a written test run by the university. Half the paper is research methodology and half is subject specific.
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Paper split | 50% research methodology, 50% subject specific |
| Subject syllabus | Same as the LU postgraduate programme syllabus |
| Duration | 90 minutes as per the last cycle |
| Qualifying marks, General | 50% |
| Qualifying marks, SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD | 45% |
Candidates who clear the cutoff move to a DRC interview. The DRC awards interview marks under Annexure B-2 of the Ph.D. Ordinance 2026. Final Phase 3 merit is RET marks plus interview marks.
The 2025-26 test ran in two shifts a day. The morning shift was 10:30 AM to 12 noon. The evening shift was 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM.
How to Apply for LU PhD Admission 2026-27
The application runs fully online through Samarth. The steps below match the process used in this cycle.
- Open the admission portal at lkounivadm.samarth.edu.in and register with an email ID and mobile number.
- Log in with the credentials sent to that mobile number and email ID.
- Fill in personal details, category details and educational qualifications.
- Upload a scanned photo and signature in JPEG format.
- Choose the mode, either Full-Time (Regular) or Part-Time.
- Preview every entry, then pay the application fee by card or net banking.
- Print the submitted form and the fee receipt for later use.
Part-time applicants need a separate form for each part-time category. A candidate applying under both categories fills two forms. Employed applicants also need a No Objection Certificate from their employer.
Lucknow University PhD Fees 2026-27
Full-time fees are low compared with the part-time slabs. Laboratory charges apply only to science and technical departments.
| Fee Head | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee, General, OBC and EWS | INR 2,000 |
| Application fee, SC, ST and PwD | INR 1,000 |
| Full-time PhD annual fee | INR 10,126 plus laboratory fee where applicable |
| Part-time PhD annual fee, employed with NOC | INR 52,580 |
| Part-time PhD annual fee, working professional route | INR 1,52,830 |
Part-Time PhD Fee Categories
The part-time route has two categories with different fees. Category one covers candidates employed somewhere and holding an employer NOC. They pay INR 52,580 a year.
Category two covers an outstanding working professional from a non-government organisation. That slab is INR 1,52,830 a year. Part-time selection follows clause 7.5.3 of the Ph.D. Ordinance 2026.
Lucknow University PhD Admission 2026-27 FAQs
Ques. Can candidates apply for Lucknow University PhD Admission 2026-27 without UGC-NET?
Ans. Yes. Candidates who do not have UGC-NET or JRF qualification can still apply. Such applicants are considered under Phase 3 of the admission process and must qualify the Research Entrance Test (RET) followed by the Departmental Research Committee (DRC) interview.
Ques. Is the Lucknow University PhD Admission 2026-27 application form still open?
Ans. No. The application window closed on August 7, 2026, after the university extended the deadline three times. As per the Ph.D. Ordinance 2026, the next admission notification is expected to be released in December 2026.
Ques. When will the Lucknow University PhD RET 2026-27 be conducted?
Ans. The university has not yet announced the RET schedule for the 2026-27 cycle. Candidates should regularly check the official PhD notices page for updates. In the previous admission cycle, the RET was conducted on March 30 and 31, 2026.
Ques. Can candidates apply for both full-time and part-time PhD at Lucknow University?
Ans. Yes. Candidates are allowed to apply for both full-time and part-time PhD programmes. However, a separate online application form must be submitted for each category, and applicants seeking admission under multiple part-time categories must submit separate forms accordingly.
Ques. What is the minimum residence requirement for full-time PhD scholars at Lucknow University?
Ans. Full-time PhD scholars must complete at least three years of residence at the university. During this period, they are not permitted to undertake paid employment, except for approved research fellowships or assistantships.
Ques. Is the interview mandatory after qualifying the Lucknow University RET?
Ans. Yes. Qualifying the RET alone does not guarantee admission. Candidates must also appear for the DRC interview, which carries 30% weightage in the final merit. Those who skip the interview are not considered for admission.
Ques. Does Lucknow University PhD Admission 2026-27 have a separate category for international students?
Ans. Yes. The university offers admission under an International Research Scholar category in addition to the regular full-time and part-time PhD programmes, as specified in the admission guidelines.
Ques. What documents need to be uploaded for the Lucknow University PhD application form?
Ans. Candidates must upload a recent passport-size photograph and signature in JPEG format while filling out the online application form. Supporting documents such as category, EWS, or income certificates are verified during the counselling and admission process.
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