Panjab University, Chandigarh (PU) has released the Ph.D. Prospectus 2026, announcing that the Ph.D. Entrance Test (PU CET Ph.D.) 2026 will be conducted on 13 September 2026 (Sunday) for admission across the Faculties of Arts, Business Management & Commerce, Design & Fine Arts, Education, Languages, Laws, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Science. Interested candidates can register online at the official admission portal phdadmissions.puchd.ac.in.
IMPORTANT DATES
Starting Dates : 27-07-2026 (Monday)
Last Date : 27-08-2026 (Thursday)
Admit Card Available Online : 08-09-2026 (Tuesday)
PU Ph.D. Entrance Test 2026 : 13-09-2026 (Sunday)
Tentative result declaration : 17-11-2026 (Tuesday)
Exam centre for the Ph.D. Entrance Test is Chandigarh only.
IMPORTANT LINK
Registration Link : Click Here For Registration Link
Official Ph.D. Admissions Portal: Click Here For Phd Website
Panjab University main website: Click Here for Pu main Website
Objection email: arcet@pu.ac.in
Admission query email: phdadmissions@pu.ac.in
EXAM DATE SHEET (13-09-2026, SUNDAY)
Paper-I (Objective Type): 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Paper-II (Subjective, all faculties except UIAMS): 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Paper-II (Subjective, UIAMS Department only): 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
APPLICATION FEE (NON-REFUNDABLE)
General Category : Rs. 2,850/-
SC/ST/PwD Category : Rs. 1,425/-
Additional Paper (if applying for both UBS & UIAMS) : Rs. 1,000/-
The fee, once paid, is non-refundable and non-transferable.
EXAM PATTERN
Paper-I – Objective Type (MCQ)
Duration: 1 hour | Max marks: 50 | 50 questions (no negative marking)
25 questions on Research Methodology + 25 on subject specialization
Paper-II – Subjective/Descriptive
Duration: 2 hours | Max marks: 50 | 8 questions, attempt 5
4 questions on Research Methodology + 4 on subject specialization (Part A & B); attempt at least 2 from each part
Calculators allowed (non-programmable only)
Qualifying Criteria: Paper-II is evaluated only if a candidate scores at least 40% (35% for SC/ST/BC/PwD) in Paper-I. The overall qualifying marks for Paper-I + Paper-II combined is 50%.
Selection weightage for interview stage: 70% Academic Performance Index + 30% Interview/Viva-voce.
FACULTIES & DEPARTMENTS OFFERING PHD (2026)
PU CET Ph.D. 2026 covers seats across:
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Faculty of Arts – Ancient Indian History & Archaeology, Economics, Gandhian Studies, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sikh Studies, Sociology
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Faculty of Science – Anthropology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Biotechnology, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Geology, Nuclear Medicine, Home Science, Human Genome Studies, Medical Physics, Microbial Biotechnology, Statistics, Stem Cell & Tissue Engineering, Zoology
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Faculty of Business Management & Commerce – Accounting & Finance, HR, Marketing, Strategic Management, Business Economics, Information Systems, Operations, Banking & Insurance, Retail, Hotel & Tourism Management, Healthcare & Infrastructure Management
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Faculty of Languages – English, Sanskrit, Punjabi
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Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences – Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy
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Faculty of Education – Physical Education
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Faculty of Laws – Law
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Faculty of Design and Fine Arts – Music
HOW TO APPLY FOR PANJAB UNIVERSITY PHD 2026 (STEP-BY-STEP)
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Visit the official portal: https://phdadmissions.puchd.ac.in/
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Register online with your basic details to generate your Login ID and Password (before 27-08-2026).
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Log in and pay the entrance test fee online (before 30-08-2026).
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Upload your photograph, signature, and complete the remaining application details (before 01-09-2026), then Save and Confirm.
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SC/ST/PwD or PU Class B/C employee candidates claiming a fee concession must send a signed printout with category certificate to the Assistant Registrar, CET Cell, Aruna Ranjit Chandra Hall, PU Chandigarh – 160014 by 04-09-2026.
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Download your Roll Number/Admit Card from the portal using your login (available from 08-09-2026). No physical admit cards are dispatched.
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Appear for the entrance test on 13-09-2026 at the Chandigarh test centre.
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Check the answer key, raise objections (if any) via email to arcet@pu.ac.in, and later check your result at https://results.puchd.ac.in.
IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS (CET CELL)
Assistant Registrar (CET): 0172-2534829
Superintendent (CET): 0172-2534829, 9814666346
Dealing Official (CET): 9872812339
Controller of Examinations: 0172-2534811
Main Enquiry Office: 0172-2534818 / 2534819 / 2534866 / 1800-180-2065