Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (Library & Information Science) programme at Assam University, Silchar is a full-time doctoral research programme offered by the Department of Library and Information Science, established in 2009 under the Swami Vivekananda School of Library Sciences. The department is the first in the Barak Valley region to offer a full-fledged LIS programme with regular faculty, and has since grown to include M.L.I.Sc., M.Phil., and Ph.D. programmes. Research areas include Library Automation and Networking, Information Literacy, Library Computerization, Information Technology Applications, Information Retrieval, and Digital Library. The programme is conducted through coursework and research work, with a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years as per UGC norms. The total fees for the programme are approximately Rs. 55,380 for the entire course duration. Admission is based on a university-level entrance test and viva voce, and the seat intake for 2026-27 is 4 seats (UR: 2, SC: 1, OBC: 1, PWD: 1 horizontal reservation). The programme is offered in full-time, on-campus mode and is popular among library professionals and graduates seeking to advance their research in information science and digital librarianship.

Admissions for the 2026-27 batch have been completed. The admission portal opened on 26 September 2026, with classes commencing on 25 November 2026. For the upcoming 2027-28 session, the admission process is expected to begin tentatively in September-October 2027, based on the previous year's schedule.

Key Points

The department operates under the Swami Vivekananda School of Library Sciences, a dedicated school for LIS education at Assam University.
The department was the first in the Barak Valley and one of the few in Northeast India to offer a full-time, regular M.L.I.Sc. programme with dedicated faculty.
Research focus areas include Digital Libraries, Information Retrieval, Library Automation, ICT applications in libraries, and Information Literacy.
The university may provide Non-NET fellowship to selected full-time Ph.D. scholars on merit basis, subject to availability of UGC funds.
Students from the department have gone on to work as library professionals, researchers, and information managers in universities, colleges, and government institutions across India.

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Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

Assam University Ph.D. LIS Fees

The Ph.D. (Library & Information Science) programme at Assam University, Silchar carries a modest fee structure, as is typical of a central university. The total course fees for the entire duration are approximately Rs. 55,380, which includes tuition fees, registration charges, examination fees, and other institutional charges. Fees are paid annually. Refundable caution money deposits are also collected at the time of admission. Students seeking admission in Library & Information Science are required to pay an additional library deposit as per the prospectus.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Admission Fee (one-time)	2,000
Tuition Fee (Rs. 150/month x 36 months for 3 years coursework)	5,400
University Registration Fee (one-time)	300
University Development Fund (annual x 3 years)	4,500
Library Fee (annual x 3 years)	1,500
Sports Fee (annual x 3 years)	450
Basic Primary Health Services (annual x 3 years)	750
Medical Insurance (annual x 3 years)	960
Students Co-Curricular Fund (annual x 3 years)	1,050
Students Aid Fund (annual x 3 years)	900
Magazine Fee (annual x 3 years)	450
Title Registration Fee (one-time)	200
Examination Fee - Thesis Evaluation (one-time)	3,000
Identity Card (one-time)	100
Library Caution Money (refundable)	500
Computer Lab Fee (refundable)	500
Other Charges	~33,720
Total Fees (approx.)	55,380

Library Caution Money (Rs. 500) and Computer Lab Fee (Rs. 500) are refundable deposits.
Hostel fees are separate and not included in the above total.
Hostel accommodation is available on campus at approximately Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 per semester (subject to availability).
Hostel is not mandatory.
Fees are subject to revision each academic year as per university and UGC guidelines.
Application fee: Rs. 1,000 (General/OBC Creamy Layer), Rs. 900 (OBC-NCL/EWS), Rs. 800 (SC/ST/PWD).
SC/ST students may be eligible for fee concessions as per government norms.

Assam University Ph.D. LIS Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Library & Information Science) programme at Assam University are conducted annually through an online application process followed by a departmental entrance test and viva voce. For 2026-27, the admission process was completed with classes commencing on 25 November 2026. The next admission cycle for 2027-28 is expected to follow a similar schedule, tentatively opening in September 2026. With only 4 seats available, candidates are advised to apply early and prepare a strong research proposal aligned with the department's areas of specialisation.

Assam University Ph.D. Admission Schedule

Event	Date
Opening of Admission Portal	26 September 2026
Last Date of Online Application Submission	29 October 2026
Verification by the Department	Up to 31 October 2026
Entrance Test and Viva Voce (shortlisted candidates)	7 November 2026
Entry of Composite Score by Department	On or before 10 November 2026
Publication of First Merit List	12 November 2026
Date of Admission from First Merit List	12 to 14 November 2026
Publication of Second Merit List (if any)	19 November 2026
Admission from Second Merit List (if any)	19 to 24 November 2026
Commencement of Coursework Classes	25 November 2026

UGC NET Exam Dates

Event	Date
UGC NET Dec 2026 - Jan 2027: Registration Start	7 October 2026
UGC NET Dec 2026 - Jan 2027: Registration End	7 November 2026
UGC NET Dec 2026 - Jan 2027: Admit Card	28 December 2026
UGC NET Dec 2026 - Jan 2027: Exam Dates	31 December 2026 to 7 January 2027
UGC NET Dec 2026 - Jan 2027: Answer Key	14 January 2027
UGC NET Dec 2026 - Jan 2027: Result	4 February 2027
UGC NET June 2027: Registration Start (Tentative)	April 2027
UGC NET June 2027: Exam Date (Tentative)	June 2027

Note: UGC NET is not a mandatory requirement for admission to the Ph.D. programme at Assam University. However, qualifying UGC NET JRF makes candidates eligible for the Junior Research Fellowship, which provides a monthly stipend. Candidates without NET/JRF may be considered for the university's Non-NET Fellowship, subject to availability of UGC funds.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Library & Information Science (M.L.I.Sc. or equivalent) with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PWD/EWS categories).
Candidates who have completed an M.Phil. in Library & Information Science or an allied subject with at least 55% marks are also eligible.
Candidates with a 4-year undergraduate degree followed by a 1-year master's degree, or a 3-year undergraduate degree followed by a 2-year master's degree, are eligible as per UGC norms.

Admission Process

Apply online at https://www.ausexamination.ac.in/admission by paying the requisite application fee.
Shortlisted candidates are called for a departmental Entrance Test and Viva Voce.
A composite score (based on academic merit and entrance test/viva performance) is prepared by the department.
Merit list is published and admissions are offered in order of merit, subject to reservation norms.
Candidates may apply to a maximum of two allied departments with separate applications and fees.
Reservation of seats for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PWD/EWS is as per Government of India rules.

Assam University Ph.D. LIS Scholarships 2026

Ph.D. scholars at Assam University, Silchar can avail of multiple fellowship and scholarship options. The university actively disburses Non-NET fellowships to eligible full-time scholars, and students qualifying UGC NET JRF can receive the national fellowship. Additionally, government scholarship schemes through the National Scholarship Portal are available for reserved category students.

Scholarship Options

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount	Remarks
UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	Qualify UGC NET with JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (1st 2 years); Rs. 42,000/month (3rd year onwards)	Awarded by UGC; tenure of 5 years
Non-NET Fellowship (Assam University)	Full-time Ph.D. scholars without JRF, selected on merit	As per UGC Non-NET norms (approx. Rs. 5,000/month)	Subject to availability of UGC funds; disbursed by the university
National Fellowship for SC Students (NFSC)	SC category Ph.D. scholars	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF level)	Apply through National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
National Fellowship for ST Students (NFST)	ST category Ph.D. scholars	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF level)	Apply through NSP
OBC Post-Matric Scholarship	OBC students	Variable	Apply through NSP
CM's Jibon Anuprerana Scheme (Assam)	Ph.D. scholars enrolled in Assam universities	Rs. 25,000 (one-time, General); Rs. 40,000 (Divyang)	State government scheme
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)	SC/ST Ph.D. scholars	Rs. 37,000/month	Apply through UGC

Non-NET fellowship is disbursed bi-monthly and requires submission of claim forms (RF-1, RF-2, RF-6) as notified by the university.
Contingency grants are also available for Non-NET fellows for research-related expenses.
Scholars holding JRF/SRF from UGC, CSIR, or other national agencies must inform the university and are not eligible for Non-NET fellowship simultaneously.
Applications for NSP-based scholarships must be submitted at the start of the academic session and verified by the university.

Assam University Ph.D. LIS FAQs

Ques. What research areas are available for Ph.D. (Library & Information Science) at Assam University?

Ans. The Department of Library and Information Science at Assam University offers research in areas including Academic Library Systems, Library Automation and Networking, Information Literacy, Library Computerization, Information Technology Applications in Libraries, Information Retrieval, and Digital Libraries. Candidates should review the faculty profiles and their research interests before applying to ensure alignment with available supervisors.

Ques. Is a background in Library Science mandatory to apply for Ph.D. (LIS) at Assam University?

Ans. Yes, candidates must hold a Master's degree in Library & Information Science (M.L.I.Sc. or equivalent) with at least 55% marks. Candidates from allied disciplines may be considered if their research proposal is relevant to LIS, but the primary requirement is a postgraduate degree in LIS or a closely related field. Candidates are advised to contact the department directly for clarification.

Ques. How competitive is admission to Ph.D. (LIS) at Assam University given the limited seats?

Ans. With only 4 seats available for 2026-27, admission is competitive. The selection is based on a composite score derived from academic performance and the departmental entrance test/viva voce. Candidates with UGC NET/JRF qualification or prior research experience in LIS are likely to have an advantage. Preparing a well-defined research proposal is strongly recommended.

Ques. What is the Non-NET fellowship and how can Ph.D. LIS students at Assam University apply for it?

Ans. The Non-NET fellowship is a financial support provided by Assam University to full-time Ph.D. scholars who do not hold a UGC NET JRF or any other national fellowship. It is awarded on merit basis, subject to availability of funds received from UGC. After admission, scholars need to submit the RF-1 application form to the university's scholarship section. The fellowship is disbursed bi-monthly, and scholars must submit monthly claim forms (RF-6) to receive payments.

Ques. What are the career prospects after completing Ph.D. (Library & Information Science) from Assam University?

Ans. Ph.D. graduates in LIS from Assam University can pursue careers as Assistant Professors/Lecturers in library science departments of universities and colleges, University Librarians or Deputy Librarians, Information Managers in corporate, government, and research organisations, Digital Library Specialists, Knowledge Management Professionals, and Research Officers in documentation centres and archives. The growing demand for digital library professionals and information managers makes this a career-relevant research programme.

Ques. Does Assam University's LIS department have any industry or institutional collaborations for Ph.D. research?

Ans. The Department of Library and Information Science at Assam University has been building its research infrastructure since its establishment in 2009. The department has access to the university's central Rabindra Library and its digital resources. Ph.D. scholars can also collaborate with other libraries and information centres in the region for data collection and research. The department encourages interdisciplinary research integrating ICT, information management, and library science.