Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) programme at Pondicherry University (PU), a NAAC A+ accredited Central University, is a full-time on-campus interdisciplinary doctoral programme offered under the School of Education. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 5 years, with an initial fee of approximately Rs. 17,628 for Humanities/Social Science category scholars. The programme covers a wide range of interdisciplinary research areas including Literacy Development, Skill Development, Non-formal Education, Lifelong Learning, Vocational Education and Training, Youth and Community Development, and Extension and Field Outreach Activities. Admission is through the University's own Computer-Based Entrance Test (CBT), with UGC-NET/JRF qualified candidates exempted from the entrance exam. The programme is popular for its interdisciplinary approach, combining education, social sciences, and community development research in a single doctoral framework.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session opened on 12th November 2025 with the last date for online registration being 30th December 2025. The entrance examination date is yet to be notified on the university website. As of March 2026, the registration window has closed and the university is expected to announce the entrance exam schedule shortly. Candidates who have already registered should monitor the official university website (pondiuni.edu.in) for updates on exam dates, interview schedules, and batch commencement.

Key Points

The programme is interdisciplinary in nature, offered under the School of Education, and covers Literacy Development, Skill Development, Non-formal Education, Lifelong Learning, Vocational Education, Youth and Community Development, and Extension Activities.
The Centre provides facilities for intensive training and field outreach activities, making it unique among doctoral programmes.
Candidates from Humanities, Social Sciences, or any related discipline are eligible, making it accessible to a wide range of graduates.
The entrance exam covers General Knowledge, General English, and Research Methodology.
Candidates holding UGC-NET/JRF qualifications are exempted from the entrance examination.
The programme is offered in both Full-Time and Part-Time (Internal/External) modes.
All full-time scholars admitted to University departments are eligible for the Ph.D. Non-NET Fellowship of Rs. 8,000 per month.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

Pondicherry University Latest Updates and News

03 Feb, 2026 Pondicherry University Ph.D Adult Continuing Education & Extension Fee Structure 2026 is out. The total academic fee is ₹ 59,655 .

PU Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) Fees

The Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) programme at Pondicherry University is highly affordable, being a Central University with government-subsidised fees. As an interdisciplinary Humanities/Social Science programme, the total initial payment is Rs. 17,628, covering registration, research fee, caution deposit, amenities development fund, group medical insurance, and other charges. The annual recurring fee (Research Fee) is Rs. 2,500 per year from the second year onwards. Hostel accommodation is optional and available at nominal charges.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Registration Fee (one-time)	1,000
Research Fee (Per Annum)	2,500
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	1,000
Amenities Development Fund	6,000
Group Medical Insurance (Full-time only)	378
Other Initial Fees (Matriculation, Recognition, Funds, etc.)	6,750
Total Fees (Initial Payment - Year 1)	17,628

Hostel Fees (Optional - Not Mandatory):

Hostel Fee Components

Hostel Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Room Rent for Ph.D. Scholars (Per Annum)	1,800
General Amenities Fund (Per Annum)	700
Establishment Charges (Per Annum)	300
Caution Deposit (Refundable, one-time)	3,000
Application Fee (at the time of admission only)	75

Caution Deposit of Rs. 1,000 (course fees) and Rs. 3,000 (hostel) are fully refundable upon completion/exit.
SC/ST students are exempted from room rent in hostels.
Differently-abled students are exempted from all fees except refundable caution deposits and Group Medical Insurance.
Research Fee of Rs. 2,500 per annum is payable every year from Year 2 onwards.
Hostel mess fees are paid separately each semester as per prevailing rates; exact amounts are notified at the time of hostel admission.
No EMI options are mentioned; fees are payable at the beginning of each academic year.
Application fee for the Ph.D. programme: Rs. 1,500 (General/EWS/OBC), Rs. 750 (SC/ST), Nil (PH/Transgender).

PU Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) Admission 2026-27

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) programme at Pondicherry University for the 2026-27 session are conducted through a Computer-Based Entrance Test (CBT), followed by a personal interview and academic record evaluation. The registration window for 2026-27 opened in November 2025 and closed on 30th December 2025. Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET/JRF are directly eligible for the interview round without appearing in the entrance exam. The entrance exam date is yet to be announced; candidates should check the official university website regularly.

Admission Dates

Event	Date
Online Registration Start	12th November 2025
Last Date for Online Registration	30th December 2025
Entrance Exam (CBT)	To be notified on university website
Result Declaration (Entrance Exam)	Tentatively June 2026
Interview Schedule	Tentatively July 2026
Batch Commencement	Tentatively August 2026

Relevant Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Exam Date	31st December 2025 - 7th January 2026
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Result Date	4th February 2026
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Registration Start	1st April 2026 (Tentative)
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Exam Date	June 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Humanities, Social Sciences, or any other related discipline with a minimum of 55% marks (or equivalent grade).
SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-abled candidates are eligible with a minimum of 50% marks (5% relaxation).
For Part-Time Ph.D., candidates must have continuous teaching or research experience as specified in the university prospectus.

Admission Process:

Apply online through the Pondicherry University Admission Portal (pondiunivadmission.samarth.edu.in) by paying the application fee.
Candidates with UGC-NET JRF/Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship/DBT-INSPIRE are exempted from the entrance exam and directly called for interview.
Other candidates appear for the CBT (100 MCQs, 120 minutes, +4/-1 marking) covering General Knowledge, General English, and Research Methodology.
Final merit list is prepared based on Entrance Exam score (70%) and Personal Interview + Academic Record (30%).
Minimum cut-off for General category: half of the average entrance marks scored by all candidates; OBC/SC/ST/Differently-abled: 10% below General cut-off.
Candidates must produce mark sheets/degree certificates before the date notified by the university.

PU Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) Scholarships 2026-27

Ph.D. scholars at Pondicherry University have access to multiple fellowship and scholarship options, making the programme financially accessible. The most significant is the Ph.D. Non-NET Fellowship for full-time scholars, which provides Rs. 8,000 per month along with a contingency grant. Additionally, JRF-qualified candidates receive substantially higher fellowships from UGC. Students are eligible for only one scholarship at a time.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount
Ph.D. Non-NET Fellowship (UGC)	Full-time Ph.D. scholars in University Departments	Rs. 8,000 per month + contingency grant
UGC JRF Fellowship	UGC-NET qualified JRF holders	Rs. 25,000 per month (enhanced to Rs. 28,000 after 2 years) + contingency
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship	SC/ST Ph.D. scholars	As per UGC norms
Maulana Azad National Fellowship	Minority community Ph.D. scholars	As per UGC norms
Government of India SC/ST/OBC Scholarship	SC/ST/OBC candidates	As per respective state/central government norms

Students are eligible for only one scholarship/fellowship at a time.
JRF fellowship and contingency grants are subject to approval by UGC.
Differently-abled students are exempted from all fees (except refundable deposits and Group Medical Insurance).
Fellowship amounts and conditions are subject to revision by the respective funding agencies.

PU Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) FAQs

Ques. What makes the Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) at Pondicherry University different from a regular Ph.D. in Education?

Ans. The Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) is an interdisciplinary programme that goes beyond formal education research. It focuses on non-formal education, adult literacy, lifelong learning, vocational training, community development, and field outreach activities. Unlike a regular Ph.D. in Education (which focuses on school/higher education pedagogy), this programme emphasises grassroots-level education, social inclusion, and community empowerment research.

Ques. Who is eligible to apply for Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Candidates with a Master's degree in Humanities, Social Sciences, or any related discipline with a minimum of 55% marks are eligible. This broad eligibility makes the programme accessible to graduates from Education, Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Economics, and other social science disciplines. SC/ST/OBC/Differently-abled candidates need a minimum of 50% marks.

Ques. What are the research areas covered in the Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) programme?

Ans. The programme covers: (1) Literacy Development and Non-formal Education, (2) Skill Development and Vocational Education and Training, (3) Lifelong Learning and Continuing Education, (4) Youth and Community Development, (5) Extension and Field Outreach Activities, (6) National Service Scheme (NSS), (7) Rural and Community Health, and (8) Livelihood Training for Women from Marginalised Groups.

Ques. What is the entrance exam pattern for Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) at Pondicherry University?

Ans. The entrance exam is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) of 120 minutes duration with 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). The paper covers General Knowledge, General English, and Research Methodology. There is negative marking (-1 for wrong answers, +4 for correct answers). Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET/JRF are exempted from this entrance exam.

Ques. Is the Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) programme available in Part-Time mode at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Yes, the programme is available in both Full-Time and Part-Time (Internal/External) modes. Part-time candidates must meet specific experience requirements such as continuous teaching or research experience. However, only full-time scholars are eligible for the Ph.D. Non-NET Fellowship of Rs. 8,000 per month.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after completing Ph.D. (Adult Continuing Education & Extension) from Pondicherry University?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as: (1) Faculty/researchers in universities and colleges offering Education and Social Work programmes (after qualifying UGC-NET/SET), (2) Programme officers and researchers in NGOs and development organisations working in adult literacy and community development, (3) Policy researchers and consultants in government bodies like NLMA (National Literacy Mission Authority), (4) Trainers and curriculum developers for vocational education programmes, and (5) Researchers in international development organisations working on education and community empowerment projects.