Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Pondicherry University (PU), a NAAC A+ accredited Central University established in 1985, offers a full-time Ph.D. in Politics and International Studies through its School of Social Sciences and International Studies. The programme is a research-intensive doctoral degree with a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, focusing on political science, international relations, area studies, public administration, and defence studies. With a seat intake of 7 for 2026-27 (General: 2, OBC: 2, SC: 1, ST: 1, EWS: 1), the programme is offered on the main Puducherry campus in full-time mode. The fees are highly affordable, making it one of the most cost-effective doctoral programmes in political science and international studies in India. The programme is popular among students of Political Science, International Relations, and Public Administration who wish to pursue advanced research in these disciplines.

Admissions for 2026-27 are currently ongoing. The last date to submit the online application has been extended to 31st March 2026. The entrance examination is expected to be held in May 2026 (tentative) under SLOT-VI, followed by personal interviews. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official university website (www.pondiuni.edu.in) for the exact entrance exam date and interview schedule.

Key Points

The programme is housed under the School of Social Sciences and International Studies, which also offers Ph.D. in South Asian Studies, Sociology, and Social Work, making it a hub for interdisciplinary social science research.
Admission is based on a two-stage process: a Computer Based Test (CBT) entrance examination (70% weightage) followed by a personal interview and academic record evaluation (30% weightage).
The entrance exam paper consists of 100 MCQs to be answered in 120 minutes, with 50% questions on Research Methodology and 50% on subject-specific Political Science/International Studies content.
JRF-qualified candidates (UGC-NET in Political Science) are given Priority 1 in admissions and are eligible for a monthly fellowship of Rs. 31,000/month.
Full-time scholars admitted to university departments who do not hold a JRF are eligible for the UGC Non-NET Fellowship of Rs. 8,000 per month along with a contingency grant.
Pondicherry University has signed an MoU with the Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi, providing additional research and networking opportunities for students of Politics and International Studies.
The university's unique location in Puducherry, with its French colonial heritage and proximity to Southeast Asia, provides a distinctive environment for research in international relations and area studies.

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FAQs

Pondicherry University Latest Updates and News

03 Feb, 2026 Pondicherry University Ph.D Politics & International Studies Fee Structure 2026 is out. The total academic fee is ₹ 59,655 .

PU Ph.D. Politics & International Studies Fees

The Ph.D. in Politics and International Studies falls under the Humanities/Non-Science category at Pondicherry University. The fees are structured as an initial payment at the time of admission and subsequent semester-wise payments. The total course fee for the minimum 3-year (6-semester) duration is Rs. 48,180 (excluding hostel), making it one of the most affordable doctoral programmes in India. The initial payment at admission is Rs. 19,430, and each subsequent semester costs Rs. 5,750.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Initial Payment (at Admission)	Subsequent Semester-wise Payment
Research Fee (Non-Science/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. 6,000	-
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	-
Total (Humanities / Non-Science)	Rs. 19,430	Rs. 5,750 per semester
Total Fees (3 years / 6 semesters)	Rs. 48,180 (Rs. 19,430 + 5 x Rs. 5,750)

The Caution Deposit of Rs. 1,000 is fully refundable upon leaving the university after clearing all dues.
Differently abled (PwD) students are exempted from 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/day for the first 10 days and Rs. 10/day thereafter is levied for delayed fee payment.
Hostel fees are separate and are announced by the Hostel Office on the university website. Hostel accommodation is not mandatory.
Application fee: Rs. 1,500 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 750 for SC/ST; Nil for PwD/Transgender candidates.

PU Ph.D. Politics & International Studies Admission 2026

Pondicherry University's Ph.D. admissions for 2026-27 are currently ongoing, with the application deadline extended to 31st March 2026. The selection process involves a university-level entrance examination (CBT mode) followed by a personal interview. Candidates with UGC-NET/JRF qualifications in Political Science are given priority in admissions. The entrance exam for Ph.D. Politics and International Studies falls under SLOT-VI.

Ph.D. Admission Schedule

Event	Date
Online Application Start Date	12th November 2025
Last Date to Apply (Original)	30th December 2025
Last Date to Apply (Extended)	31st March 2026
Entrance Examination (CBT Mode) - SLOT VI	May 2026 (Tentative)
Hall Ticket Download	To be announced on university website
Personal Interview	To be announced after entrance exam results
Batch Commencement	July/August 2026 (Tentative)

UGC NET Exam Dates

Event	Date
UGC NET Phase 1 Registration Start	7th October 2025
UGC NET Phase 1 Registration End	7th November 2025
UGC NET Phase 1 Admit Card	28th December 2025
UGC NET Phase 1 Exam	31st December 2025 - 7th January 2026
UGC NET Phase 1 Answer Key	14th January 2026
UGC NET Phase 1 Result	4th February 2026
UGC NET Phase 2 Registration Start	1st April 2026 (Tentative)
UGC NET Phase 2 Exam	June 2026 (Tentative)

Note: UGC-NET qualified candidates in Political Science (JRF / Assistant Professor eligibility / Ph.D. admission only category) are given priority in Ph.D. admissions at Pondicherry University. Qualifying UGC-NET is not mandatory to apply but gives admission priority.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Political Science, International Relations, Area Studies, Public Administration, or Defence Studies with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/EWS).
Candidates studying in the final year of their Master's programme are also eligible to apply, subject to submission of mark sheets before the date notified by the university.
For Part-time (Internal) Ph.D.: Minimum 2 years of continuous teaching experience at degree/PG level is required; for Part-time (External): Minimum 10 years of work experience after Master's degree with relevant research publications.

Admission Process

Apply online at pondiunivadmission.samarth.edu.in by the last date.
Pay the application fee online (Rs. 1,500 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 750 for SC/ST).
Download hall ticket from the university portal after the application deadline.
Appear for the Computer Based Test (CBT) entrance examination at the chosen centre (SLOT-VI for Politics and International Studies).
Candidates scoring 50% or above in the entrance exam are shortlisted for the personal interview.
Attend the personal interview and present a written research proposal to the Admission Committee.
Final merit list is prepared based on 70% entrance exam marks + 30% interview and academic record.
JRF-qualified candidates are given Priority 1; NET-qualified (non-JRF) candidates are Priority 2; PU entrance exam candidates are Priority 3.
Selected candidates must complete document verification and fee payment to confirm admission.

PU Ph.D. Politics & International Studies Scholarships 2026

Pondicherry University offers multiple fellowship and scholarship options for Ph.D. scholars, making the programme financially accessible. JRF-qualified candidates receive a substantial monthly stipend from UGC, while non-NET full-time scholars are supported through the university's own Non-NET Fellowship. Additionally, government-funded national fellowships are available for SC, ST, OBC, and minority students.

Fellowship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount	Duration
UGC-NET JRF Fellowship	UGC-NET qualified with JRF (Political Science)	Rs. 31,000/month (Years 1-2); Rs. 35,000/month (Years 3-5)	Up to 5 years
UGC Non-NET Fellowship (PU)	Full-time Ph.D. scholars at PU campus (non-JRF)	Rs. 8,000/month + contingency grant	Duration of Ph.D.
National Fellowship for SC Students (NFSC)	SC category Ph.D. scholars	Rs. 31,000/month (JRF level)	Up to 5 years
National Fellowship for OBC Students (NFOBC)	OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) Ph.D. scholars	Rs. 31,000/month (JRF level)	Up to 5 years
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)	Minority community Ph.D. scholars	Rs. 31,000/month (JRF level)	Up to 5 years
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students	Covers tuition and maintenance	Annual

UGC Non-NET Fellowship scholars must submit an undertaking that they will reimburse the fellowship amount if they leave the programme before thesis submission.
NFSC, NFOBC, and MANF fellowship holders are treated on par with JRF-qualified candidates for admission priority at Pondicherry University.
Differently abled (PwD) students are fully exempted from all university fees.
Scholarship applications for national fellowships are made through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).

PU Ph.D. Politics & International Studies FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between Ph.D. Politics and International Studies and Ph.D. South Asian Studies at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Both programmes are offered under the School of Social Sciences and International Studies. Ph.D. Politics and International Studies (PHD 116) has a broader scope covering political science, international relations, area studies, public administration, and defence studies, with 7 seats. Ph.D. South Asian Studies (PHD 150) is more specialized, focusing specifically on the South Asian region, with 8 seats. Candidates with a background in Political Science or International Relations can apply for either programme, but should choose based on their specific research interest.

Ques. What research areas are available under Ph.D. Politics and International Studies at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Research areas include Indian foreign policy, India-US relations, India-China relations, India-ASEAN relations, nuclear security and arms control, United Nations and multilateralism, comparative politics, electoral politics in India, federalism and centre-state relations, public policy and governance, civil-military relations, terrorism and counter-terrorism, and international political economy. The university's MoU with ICWA (Indian Council for World Affairs) provides additional research resources and networking opportunities.

Ques. Is there a specific syllabus for the Ph.D. Politics and International Studies entrance examination at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Yes, the entrance examination consists of 100 MCQs in 120 minutes. The paper is divided into two equal halves: 50% questions on Research Methodology (common for all subjects) and 50% on subject-specific Political Science/International Studies content at the postgraduate level. The university provides a syllabus link on its admissions portal (admissions.pondiuni.edu.in/admissions/phd_syllabus.php) for reference.

Ques. Can candidates with a background in Public Administration or Defence Studies apply for Ph.D. Politics and International Studies at Pondicherry University?

Ans. Yes, the official eligibility criterion explicitly includes Master's degrees in Political Science, International Relations, Area Studies, Public Administration, and Defence Studies. Candidates from these backgrounds are fully eligible to apply. The programme's broad scope accommodates research in all these areas.

Ques. What are the career prospects after completing Ph.D. Politics and International Studies from Pondicherry University?

Ans. Career prospects include academic positions (Assistant Professor/Associate Professor) in Political Science and International Relations departments across Indian universities, research positions at think tanks such as ICWA, IDSA (Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses), ORF (Observer Research Foundation), and CPR (Centre for Policy Research), government advisory roles in the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence, and other policy bodies, and positions in international organizations and NGOs working on governance and international affairs.

Ques. How many seats are available and how competitive is the Ph.D. Politics and International Studies programme at Pondicherry University?

Ans. For 2026-27, there are 7 seats available (General: 2, OBC: 2, SC: 1, ST: 1, EWS: 1). The programme is competitive, especially for the general category with only 2 seats. Candidates with UGC-NET/JRF qualifications in Political Science have a significant advantage as they are given Priority 1 in the merit list. The entrance exam cut-off is set at half the average marks scored by all candidates in the respective subject, with a 5% relaxation for reserved category candidates.