Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. in Life Science (officially offered as Ph.D. in Life Science and Bioinformatics) at Assam University, Silchar is a full-time, on-campus doctoral programme of minimum 3 years duration, offered by the Hargobind Khurana School of Life Sciences. The programme covers a wide spectrum of research areas including Molecular and Cell Biology, Neurobiology, Aquatic Toxicology, Plant Taxonomy, Phytochemistry, Reproductive Biology, Microbial Biotechnology, and Ecotoxicology. The total academic fee for the programme is Rs. 55,380 for the entire duration, making it one of the most affordable doctoral programmes at a Central University. The primary entrance route is through UGC-NET/CSIR-NET qualification or the university's own Research Entrance Test (RET), with a total seat intake of 16 at Silchar HQ (plus 4 additional seats at Diphu Campus). Being a Central University established by an Act of Parliament, the programme is popular among students from Northeast India and beyond for its research infrastructure, experienced faculty, and the Non-NET fellowship support provided by the university.

Admission for the 2026-27 session is currently upcoming. Based on the 2025-26 cycle, the admission portal is expected to open around September-October 2026, with the last date for application likely in October 2026. For the 2026-27 July session, the last date to submit the application form is tentatively 10 April 2026 (as per available notifications). Candidates are advised to regularly check the official admission portal at ausexamination.ac.in for the latest updates.

Key Points

The department is housed under the Hargobind Khurana School of Life Sciences, named after the Nobel Laureate, reflecting the university's commitment to life sciences research.
Research areas span Molecular Biology, Neurotoxicology, Aquatic Toxicology, Plant Biosystematics, Reproductive Biology, Microbial Biotechnology, Virology, and Metabolomics.
The university offers a Non-NET fellowship to selected full-time PhD scholars on merit basis, subject to availability of UGC funds.
Candidates may apply to a maximum of two allied departments, but must submit separate applications with separate fees for each.
Seat reservation follows Government of India norms: UR-6, SC-3, ST-1, OBC-4, EWS-2, PWD-1 (total 16 seats at Silchar HQ).
The programme includes mandatory course work before the research phase, commencing from November each year.

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Fees
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FAQs

Assam University Ph.D. Fees

The Ph.D. in Life Science at Assam University, Silchar is highly affordable compared to most central and private universities. The total academic fee for the entire programme duration is Rs. 55,380 for the General category. Hostel accommodation is available on campus (not mandatory) at approximately Rs. 25,000 per year; students opting for hostel should budget separately for this. The application fee is Rs. 1,000 for General/OBC (Creamy Layer), Rs. 900 for OBC (NCL)/EWS, and Rs. 800 for SC/ST/PWD candidates.

Academic Fees

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Tuition / Academic Fee (Total for entire programme)	55,380
Application Fee - General / OBC (Creamy Layer)	1,000
Application Fee - OBC (NCL) / EWS	900
Application Fee - SC / ST / PWD	800
Total Fees	55,380

Hostel Fees (Optional - Not Mandatory)

Hostel Component	Amount (INR)
Hostel Fee (per year, approx.)	25,000
Total Hostel Fee (for 3 years, approx.)	75,000

The application fee is non-refundable.
Hostel accommodation is subject to availability and is not guaranteed to all students.
The university has 11 hostels (4 boys, 5 girls + additional) with a total capacity of approximately 749 students.
EMI or instalment options are not formally advertised; fees are typically paid annually as per the university's fee payment schedule.
Hostel fees are separate from academic fees and are not included in the Total Fees figure above.

Assam University Ph.D. Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. in Life Science at Assam University, Silchar are conducted annually, typically commencing in September-October each year. The selection is based on a composite score derived from the candidate's academic record, performance in the Research Entrance Test (RET) / Viva Voce (for those not exempted), and UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE scores. For the 2025-26 session, the admission process has been completed; the next cycle (2026-27) is expected to follow a similar schedule.

Assam University PhD Admission Schedule

Event	2025-26 (Actual)	2026-27 (Tentative)
Opening of Admission Portal	26 September 2025	September 2026
Last Date of Online Application	29 October 2025	October 2026
Verification by Departments	Up to 31 October 2025	October 2026
Entrance Test (RET) and Viva Voce	7 November 2025	November 2026
Entry of Composite Score by Department	10 November 2025	November 2026
Publication of First Merit List	12 November 2025	November 2026
Date of Admission (1st Merit List)	12-14 November 2025	November 2026
Publication of 2nd Merit List (if any)	19 November 2025	November 2026
Admission from 2nd Merit List (if any)	19-24 November 2025	November 2026
Commencement of Course Work	25 November 2025	November 2026

Note: For the 2026-27 July session, the last date to submit the application form is tentatively 10 April 2026 (as per available notifications). Candidates should verify from the official portal.

Key Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Registration	October 7 - November 7, 2025
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Exam	December 31, 2025 - January 7, 2026
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Result	February 4, 2026
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Registration (Tentative)	April 1 - May 1, 2026
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Exam (Tentative)	June 2026
CSIR-NET	Registration (Tentative)	May 1 - May 21, 2026
CSIR-NET	Exam (Tentative)	July 2026
GATE (Life Sciences - XL)	Registration	August 28 - October 13, 2025
GATE (Life Sciences - XL)	Exam	February 7-8, 14-15, 2026
GATE (Life Sciences - XL)	Result	March 19, 2026

Note: UGC-NET and CSIR-NET are the primary qualifying exams accepted for PhD Life Science admission at Assam University. GATE (Life Sciences) may also be considered. Candidates with valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET JRF or LS scores may be exempted from the university's RET.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master's degree in Life Science, Bioinformatics, or allied subjects with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PWD/EWS).
Candidates with a valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET (JRF or LS) or GATE score in Life Sciences are eligible and may be given preference or exemption from the university entrance test.
M.Phil. holders in the same or allied subject with at least 55% marks are also eligible.

Admission Process

Apply online at ausexamination.ac.in by paying the applicable application fee.
Candidates may apply to a maximum of two allied departments; separate applications and fees are required for each.
Shortlisted candidates appear for the Research Entrance Test (RET) and/or Viva Voce (candidates with valid NET/CSIR-NET/GATE may be exempted from RET as per university norms).
A composite score is computed by the department based on academic record and entrance performance.
Merit list is published on the university portal; selected candidates complete admission formalities within the stipulated dates.
Seat reservation follows Government of India norms for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PWD categories.

Assam University Ph.D. Scholarships 2026

Assam University, Silchar provides fellowship support to PhD scholars primarily through the UGC-funded Non-NET Fellowship scheme. Scholars who qualify UGC-NET/CSIR-NET JRF are eligible for the respective national fellowships, which are significantly higher in value. The university's Non-NET fellowship is awarded on merit basis to full-time PhD scholars who do not hold a national fellowship, subject to availability of funds from UGC.

Fellowship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount	Remarks
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	Candidates qualifying UGC-NET with JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (1st-2nd year); Rs. 42,000/month (3rd year onwards)	Awarded by UGC; valid for 5 years
CSIR-JRF	Candidates qualifying CSIR-NET with JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (1st-2nd year); Rs. 42,000/month (3rd year onwards)	Awarded by CSIR; valid for 5 years
UGC-AUS Non-NET Fellowship	Full-time PhD scholars without national fellowship, selected on merit	Rs. 8,000/month (as per UGC norms)	Subject to availability of UGC funds; awarded by Assam University
SC/ST/OBC/EWS Government Scholarships	As per category eligibility	Varies	Central and State government schemes applicable

The Non-NET fellowship is not guaranteed to all scholars; it is subject to availability of funds received from UGC by the university.
JRF holders must register their fellowship within the stipulated time as per UGC/CSIR guidelines.
Scholars are advised to check the official scholarship portal (scholarships.gov.in) for additional central government scholarship schemes.
Application deadlines for Non-NET fellowship are communicated by the university internally to enrolled scholars.

Assam University Ph.D. FAQs

Ques. Is UGC-NET or CSIR-NET mandatory for PhD admission in Life Science at Assam University, Silchar?

Ans. No, it is not mandatory. Candidates without a valid NET/CSIR-NET score can still apply and appear in the university's own Research Entrance Test (RET) and Viva Voce. However, candidates with a valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET (JRF or LS) score are generally given preference and may be exempted from the RET. Having a NET/CSIR-NET qualification also makes you eligible for the national JRF fellowship, which is a significant financial advantage.

Ques. What are the main research areas available in the Life Science and Bioinformatics department at Assam University?

Ans. The department offers research in a wide range of areas including Molecular and Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Neurotoxicology, Aquatic Toxicology and Remediation, Plant Taxonomy and Biosystematics, Phytochemistry and Natural Products, Reproductive Biology, Microbial Biotechnology, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Plant Stress Biology and Metabolomics, Extreme Biology and Virology, and Environmental and Human Toxicology. Students should check the specific faculty profiles and their current vacancy positions before applying.

Ques. Can I apply for PhD in Life Science at both Silchar HQ and Diphu Campus simultaneously?

Ans. Yes, you can apply to a maximum of two allied departments across both campuses. However, you must submit a separate application form with the requisite application fee for each department. The Silchar HQ has 16 seats in Life Science and Bioinformatics, while the Diphu Campus has 4 seats in Life Sciences.

Ques. Is hostel accommodation guaranteed for PhD scholars at Assam University?

Ans. No, hostel accommodation is not guaranteed. The university has 11 hostels with a total capacity of approximately 749 students across all programmes. PhD scholars can apply for hostel allotment, but allocation is subject to availability. It is advisable to apply for hostel accommodation as early as possible after admission. The hostel fee is approximately Rs. 25,000 per year, which is separate from the academic fee.

Ques. How long does the PhD programme typically take at Assam University, and what is the course work structure?

Ans. The minimum duration of the PhD programme is 3 years, which includes a mandatory course work phase (typically one semester) followed by the research phase. Course work commences in November each year. The maximum duration is generally 5-6 years as per UGC regulations. Scholars are required to complete the course work examination and submit their dissertation as per the university's PhD ordinance 2023.

Ques. Does Assam University provide the Non-NET fellowship to all PhD scholars, and how much is it?

Ans. The Non-NET fellowship is not provided to all scholars. It is awarded on merit basis to full-time PhD scholars who do not hold any national fellowship (JRF), subject to availability of funds received from UGC. The amount is Rs. 8,000 per month as per UGC norms. Scholars need to submit monthly claim forms through their respective departments to avail this fellowship. The university has been actively disbursing this fellowship to eligible scholars enrolled in the 2025-26 batch.