Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (Drama and Theatre Arts) programme at Pondicherry University (PU), Puducherry, is a full-time doctoral research programme offered under the School of Performing Arts. The programme is designed for scholars who wish to pursue advanced research in Drama, Theatre Arts, and related Performing Arts disciplines. It has a minimum duration of 3 years (full-time), with total fees of approximately Rs. 48,180 for the entire course. Admission is based on a University-conducted entrance examination (PHD 140 - Slot I), and the programme offers a tentative intake of 1 seat for 2026-27. The course is offered in full-time, on-campus mode and is suited for candidates with a background in Drama, Theatre Arts, or Performing Arts who aspire to academic and research careers.

Admissions for 2026-27 (Entrance Category) are currently ongoing. The last date to apply was extended to March 31, 2026. The entrance examination is scheduled for May 2, 2026. Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET/CSIR-NET with JRF are given preference and may be admitted through the Exempted Category route (last date for exempted category was February 20, 2026).

Key Points

The programme is offered under the School of Performing Arts at Pondicherry University, one of the few Central Universities in India with a dedicated doctoral programme in Drama and Theatre Arts.
Eligible candidates include those with a Master's degree in Drama and Theatre Arts or any discipline in Performing Arts, with a minimum of 55% marks and demonstrated knowledge and experience in Drama and Theatre Arts.
The entrance exam (PHD 140) consists of 100 MCQs in 2 hours, with 50% questions on Research Methodology and 50% on subject-specific Drama and Theatre Arts content.
Selection is based on Entrance Exam (70%) and Personal Interview and Academic Record (30%).
Full-time Ph.D. scholars admitted to university departments are eligible for a Non-NET Fellowship of Rs. 8,000 per month from the university.
The university uses PU-RAMS (Pondicherry University Research Scholars Academic Activity Management System), an online platform to manage the entire PhD research lifecycle.
Pondicherry University is accredited with "A+" Grade by NAAC and is a Central University established by an Act of Parliament.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

Pondicherry University Latest Updates and News

03 Feb, 2026 Pondicherry University Ph.D Drama & Theatre Arts Fee Structure 2026 is out. The total academic fee is ₹ 59,655 .

PU Ph.D. (Drama & Theatre Arts) Fees

The Ph.D. (Drama and Theatre Arts) programme at Pondicherry University falls under the Humanities category for fee purposes. The initial payment at the time of admission is Rs. 19,430, which includes one-time charges such as Registration Fee, Matriculation Fee, Recognition Fee, Alumni Association Fund, Caution Deposit, University Development Fund, and Group Medical Insurance, along with the first-year Research Fee and other recurring charges. From the second semester onwards, a semester-wise fee of Rs. 5,750 is payable. The total fees for the minimum 3-year (6-semester) duration amount to approximately Rs. 48,180.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Initial Payment (at Admission)	Subsequent Semester-wise Payment
Research Fee per annum (Humanities)	Rs. 2,500	Rs. 2,500
Registration Fee	Rs. 1,000	-
Matriculation Fee	Rs. 500	-
Recognition Fee	Rs. 500	-
Sports Fund	Rs. 250	Rs. 250
Medical Examination / Facilities Fund	Rs. 250	Rs. 250
Library Fund	Rs. 1,000	Rs. 1,000
Amenities Development Fund	Rs. 600	-
Students' Welfare Fund	Rs. 250	Rs. 250
Alumni Association Fund	Rs. 500	-
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	Rs. 1,000	-
ICT Fund and Computer	Rs. 1,500	Rs. 1,500
Group Medical Insurance (Full-time only)	Rs. 1,180	-
University Development Fund	Rs. 2,000	-
Advanced Lab Facility Fund	Not applicable (Humanities)	Not applicable (Humanities)
Total Fees (Initial + 5 subsequent semesters)	Rs. 19,430	Rs. 5,750 per semester
Total Fees (3-year / 6-semester duration)	Rs. 48,180	-

Caution Deposit of Rs. 1,000 is refundable upon leaving the university after deducting all dues.
Differently abled students are exempted from payment of all fees except the refundable caution deposit and Group Medical Insurance premium.
SC/ST students eligible for Post-Matric Scholarships may pay fees after receiving the scholarship amount, within 90 days of admission.
A late payment fine of Rs. 5 per day for the first 10 days and Rs. 10 per day thereafter is levied for delayed fee payment.
Hostel fees are separate and will be notified by the Hostel Office on the university website.
Hostel accommodation is optional.
All fee payments can be made online through the PU-RAMS portal.

PU Ph.D. (Drama & Theatre Arts) Admission 2026

Pondicherry University offers Ph.D. (Drama and Theatre Arts) admissions for 2026-27 through two routes: (1) University Entrance Examination (PHD 140) and (2) Exempted Category for UGC-NET/CSIR-NET qualified candidates. The application process is entirely online through the university's admission portal. For 2026-27, the application deadline (entrance category) was extended to March 31, 2026, and the entrance exam is scheduled for May 2, 2026. Candidates shortlisted based on entrance exam performance will be called for a personal interview.

Admission Dates

Event	Date
Application Start Date (Entrance Category)	November 19, 2025
Last Date to Apply (Entrance Category)	March 31, 2026 (Extended)
Last Date to Apply (Exempted Category - NET/JRF)	February 20, 2026
Admit Card Download	April 25, 2026 (Tentative)
Ph.D. Entrance Examination (PHD 140 - Slot I)	May 2, 2026
Result / Merit List Announcement	Approximately 1 month after exam (Tentative: June 2026)
Personal Interview	To be notified on university website
Batch Commencement	July/August 2026 (Tentative)

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Relevance	Exam Date / Status
Pondicherry University Ph.D. Entrance Exam (PHD 140)	Mandatory for entrance category candidates	May 2, 2026
UGC-NET / CSIR-NET (with JRF)	Exempted category - direct interview eligibility (Preference 1)	As per NTA schedule
UGC-NET (without JRF, qualified for PhD admission)	Exempted category - direct interview eligibility (Preference 2)	As per NTA schedule

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Drama and Theatre Arts or any discipline in Performing Arts from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/Differently Abled candidates), and should have knowledge and experience in Drama and Theatre Arts.
Candidates who have studied under the 10+2+3+2 pattern (17 years of education) are eligible to apply.
Final year PG students are also eligible to apply, subject to producing mark sheets/degree certificates before the notified date.

Admission Process

Apply online at pondiunivadmission.samarth.edu.in (Entrance Category) or submit request to the School of Performing Arts (Exempted Category).
Pay the application fee: Rs. 1,500 for General/OBC-NCL/EWS; Rs. 750 for SC/ST; Nil for PH/Transgender candidates.
Download hall ticket from the candidate's dashboard (not shared via email).
Appear for the Computer-Based Test (CBT) - 100 MCQs, 2 hours, with negative marking (4 marks for correct, -1 for wrong answer).
Candidates scoring 50% or above in the entrance test are eligible to be called for the personal interview.
Submit a written research proposal at the time of interview and obtain consent of a recognized research supervisor.
Final selection based on Entrance Exam (70%) + Personal Interview and Academic Record (30%).
A candidate can apply for a maximum of two Ph.D. programmes; each application must be submitted and paid separately.

PU Ph.D. (Drama & Theatre Arts) Scholarships 2026

Ph.D. scholars at Pondicherry University can avail multiple fellowship and scholarship options depending on their qualification and category. The university's own Non-NET Fellowship provides financial support to full-time scholars who do not hold a national fellowship, while UGC/CSIR JRF holders receive significantly higher fellowships. Additionally, government scholarships for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Minority students are available through national schemes.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount	Duration
PU Non-NET Fellowship	Full-time PhD scholars in university departments (without national fellowship)	Rs. 8,000 per month + contingency grant	Duration of PhD programme
UGC / CSIR JRF Fellowship (Initial)	NET-JRF qualified candidates	Rs. 37,000 per month	First 2 years
UGC / CSIR SRF Fellowship (Enhanced)	After 2 years of JRF, on assessment	Rs. 42,000 per month	Remaining tenure
National Fellowship for SC Students (NFSC)	SC category PhD scholars	As per UGC norms	Duration of PhD
National Fellowship for OBC Students (NFOBC)	OBC category PhD scholars	As per UGC norms	Duration of PhD
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)	Minority community PhD scholars	As per UGC norms	Duration of PhD
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students	As per state/central government norms	Annual

JRF/NET qualified candidates are given admission preference (Preference 1 and 2) over entrance exam candidates.
The Non-NET Fellowship requires an undertaking that the scholar will reimburse the amount if they leave the programme before thesis submission.
SC/ST students eligible for Post-Matric Scholarships may defer fee payment until receipt of scholarship, within 90 days of admission.
Differently abled students are fully exempted from all fees (except caution deposit and Group Medical Insurance).
Scholars must be enrolled in university departments (not affiliated colleges) to be eligible for the PU Non-NET Fellowship.

PU Ph.D. (Drama & Theatre Arts) FAQs

Ques. What is the eligibility for Ph.D. (Drama and Theatre Arts) at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Drama and Theatre Arts or any discipline in Performing Arts with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/Differently Abled). Importantly, candidates should also have demonstrated knowledge and experience in Drama and Theatre Arts, which is assessed during the personal interview stage.

Ques. Is there a practical/performance component in the Ph.D. (Drama and Theatre Arts) entrance exam?

Ans. The entrance exam (PHD 140) is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) consisting of 100 MCQs in 2 hours, covering Research Methodology (50%) and subject-specific Drama and Theatre Arts content (50%). There is no separate practical/performance test in the entrance exam; however, the personal interview may assess the candidate's practical knowledge and research aptitude.

Ques. What research topics can I pursue in Ph.D. (Drama and Theatre Arts) at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Research topics can span a wide range including Indian classical theatre traditions, folk theatre, contemporary drama, theatre history, performance theory, dramaturgy, theatre education, and comparative theatre studies. The specific research topic is finalized in consultation with a recognized supervisor from the School of Performing Arts.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. (Drama and Theatre Arts) at Pondicherry University in 2026-27?

Ans. The tentative intake for Ph.D. (Drama and Theatre Arts) for 2026-27 is 1 seat. The actual number may vary based on supervisor availability and administrative decisions. Candidates are advised to check the university website for the latest updates.

Ques. What career options are available after Ph.D. (Drama and Theatre Arts) from Pondicherry University?

Ans. Ph.D. (Drama and Theatre Arts) graduates can pursue careers as Assistant Professors/Lecturers in Drama and Performing Arts departments of colleges and universities, theatre directors and practitioners, cultural researchers, arts administrators, and content creators for theatre and media. UGC-NET qualification in Drama/Theatre opens doors to teaching positions across India.

Ques. Can candidates from disciplines other than Drama apply for Ph.D. (Drama and Theatre Arts) at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Yes, candidates with a Master's degree in any discipline of Performing Arts (not just Drama and Theatre Arts specifically) are eligible to apply, provided they have a minimum of 55% marks and demonstrated knowledge and experience in Drama and Theatre Arts. This makes the programme accessible to candidates from Music, Dance, Fine Arts, and related Performing Arts backgrounds.