Central University of Kerala (CUK) is invting applications for PhD admission 2022. The last date to submit the application form is March 31, 2022. Admission to the PhD program is based on the marks secured in the entrance examination followed by a personal interview conducted by the university. Central University of Kerala offers admission to Ph.D. programs twice a year depending on the availability of seats. Candidates can register for the Ph.D. program in their relevant field of specialization on a full-time or part-time basis.

  • Candidates engaged in research projects in Departments of the CUK shall be eligible for full-time/part-time registration if the Research Guide and the Principle Investigator of the project are one and the same
  • Permanent faculty members/research staff of a Recognized Research Centre (RRC) of the CUK shall be eligible for part-time Ph.D. programme
  • Students working in relevant research projects at an RRC shall be eligible to seek full-time registration only

Eligible candidates will be required to appear for Doctoral Entrance Test (DET) after qualifying which they should seek the consent of Research Guides. In the last stage, candidate has to clear the interview which will be conducted before the Departmental Research Committee (DRC) after which he/she will be granted admission to the Ph.D. programme. Check CUK Admission

Candidates can register for admission by downloading the application form available on the university website. Completed applications along with the processing fee in the form of Demand Draft should reach the concerned Head of Department within the stipulated time.

CUK Ph.D. Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed the Master’s Degree in the concerned subject with 55% marks or CGPA of 6.0 in the 10 point scale in the qualifying examination, from a recognized University. For SC/ST candidates, there is a relaxation of 5% in the minimum required aggregate.

Eligible candidates will be required to appear for Doctoral Entrance Test (DET) for admission to the Ph.D. programme.

The following candidates are exempted from taking the DET and will directly qualify for the next step of admission process:

  • Candidates qualified under INSPIRE / UGC-CSIR NET / ICMR / GATE / ICAR / DBT / NBHM / ICSSR / KSCSTE or State Eligibility Tests recognized for the purpose by the University
  • Candidates with research fellowships awarded by a Governmental agency / Government in India
  • MPhil degree holders, including Integrated MPhil Degree holders of this University, with a minimum CGPA of 6.0, provided the candidate intends to pursue the doctoral programme in the same/allied/relevant subject as that of the MPhil degree
  • Students engaged in a sandwich doctoral programme of collaborative research between this University and another institution as approved by the Executive council
  • Student of Indian origin, working in an overseas institution and involved in a collaborative research programme with a Research Guide of this University
  • Teachers of Universities / aided colleges / Government or Quasi-Government institutions, Scientists or Class A / Class B officers working in Universities or in Government / Governmental institutions / laboratories in India with a minimum continuous service of five years as permanent employees
  • Foreign students, self-funded or sponsored by Governmental agencies / Government, subject to clearance of Government of India as per rules.

CUK Ph.D. Selection Process

The selection procedure for admission to Ph.D. programme of Central University of Kerala is a 3-step process:

Step 1: All the eligible candidates will be required to take the Doctoral Entrance Test (DET) conducted by the University Department concerned. Candidates securing a minimum of 50% marks in DET will be deemed to have qualified in the Test.

Step 2: All candidates who qualify in DET or exempted from DET must seek the consent of Research Guides of the University for permission to take on doctoral research under their supervision. Candidates who obtain such consent letters may submit the same to the office of the Head of the Department (HOD) concerned.

Step 3: Candidates with the aforementioned consent letters will be required to give a presentation and discuss their research interest at an interview before the Departmental Research Committee (DRC) or a sub-committee constituted by it. Those certified as successful by the DRC shall be served with an advice for admission on the same day.

How to Apply for CUK Ph.D.?

Candidates who wish to apply for the doctoral programme can download the prescribed application form available on the university website.

Duly filled-in applications should be submitted along with the Demand Draft (DD) of INR 1000 (INR 500 for SC/ST/PWS candidates) to the concerned HOD. DD should be drawn in favor of “Registrar, Central University of Kerala”, payable at Periye/Kasaragod.

Completed applications along with the DD should reach the concerned HOD on or before the last date. In case of candidates who wish to conduct their research at a RRC of the university, the application shall be submitted to the Head of the University Department to which the Centre is attached through the Head of the RRC, along with his recommendation and facility certificate.