13 July 2022, NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is likely to allow part-time PhD programmes for working professionals from the next academic year. According to the proposed UGC regulations, any PhD completed full-time or part-time will be considered regular mode.
To be eligible for the part-time PhD program, working candidates will have to produce a no-objection certificate (NOC) from their respective organizations. UGC has initiated this regulation, taking into account the many working people who cannot take long leaves to pursue PhDs. The new regulation will be applied to every central and state Indian university.
This article will discuss the eligibility criteria and other information regarding this regulation in detail. Working people who wish to pursue part-time doctoral programmes are advised to read the whole article before applying for the same.
UGC Part-Time PhD – Eligibility Criteria
- The assessment process for both full-time and part-time PhDs is the same.
- Candidates will have to submit a no-objection certificate (NOC) from their employers.
- The NOC must clearly state that the employer will allow the candidates enough time to do their research work.
- Employers will have to submit an undertaking stating that candidates will be relieved from the duty to attend the coursework.
- Candidates must have a four-year undergraduate degree or a two-year postgraduate degree to be eligible.
UGC Part-Time PhD – Supervisors and Guidance
- Permanent faculty members who hold a PhD degree and work as professors or associate professors with over three research publications to their names can become PhD supervisors for candidates.
- Part-time PhD candidates will work mostly independently, but will be under regular consultation with their respective supervisors.
- Candidates must complete their course work before seeking guidance from their supervisors.
FAQs
Who is eligible for a part-time PhD?
Any person working or not working who has either a four-year graduate degree or a two-year postgraduate degree is eligible for the part-time PhD. In addition to this, candidates must have obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) from their respective employers.
What are the specifications for NOC?
The NOC must mention that the employer will allow sufficient time for the candidate for the research work and that they will be relieved from the job for their coursework.
Is a part-time PhD approved by the UGC?
A part-time PhD is going to be approved by the UGC as a regular mode of PhD.
