UGC NET December 2026: Last Date, Fees and Exam Dates

Meera finished her MA in Hindi from Lucknow University last year. She wants to teach in a college one day, and her guide has told her to "at least clear NET first". She keeps meaning to fill the form. If you are in the same spot, this is the week to stop meaning and start filling.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) opened the online form for UGC NET December 2026 on 8 October, and the normal last date is 28 October 2026. Here is everything you need to finish the form on time, and what comes after.

UGC NET December 2026: key dates

All dates below are from NTA’s public notice of 8 October 2026.

The late window exists, but treat it as a safety net, not a plan. Paying Rs 500 extra because of a slow cyber cafe on the last night is avoidable.

Application fee

NTA’s notice lists these fees:

You can pay by credit card, debit card, net banking or UPI. Keep the payment confirmation. If money is cut from your account but the form still shows "fee not paid", contact NTA before the deadline, not after.

What does clearing UGC NET actually give you?

NET is not one result. Depending on your score, NTA places you in one of three categories, as explained in the Information Bulletin:

• Category 1: eligible for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor and PhD admission.
• Category 2: eligible for Assistant Professor and PhD admission, but not JRF.
• Category 3: eligible only for PhD admission.

So even if you miss JRF, a Category 2 or 3 result can still open doors to teaching or a PhD seat. That is a good reason to write the exam even if you feel underprepared.

Who can apply?

From the Information Bulletin:

• Master’s degree marks: at least 55% (without rounding off) for General/Unreserved and EWS candidates, and at least 50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and third gender candidates.
• Final-year students can apply. They are admitted provisionally and must complete the master’s degree within two years from the date of the NET result. For PhD-only qualifiers, it is one year.
• Four-year undergraduate degree holders can also apply. The bulletin asks for at least 75% marks in aggregate, with a relaxation of 5% for certain categories. Read the bulletin’s exact wording on this if you are applying with a four-year UG degree, because the rules on which subject you can choose are specific.

Age limit

• JRF: not more than 30 years as on 1 December 2026. The bulletin gives relaxation of up to 5 years for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, third gender and women candidates, and also for research experience and armed forces service. LLM degree holders get 3 years.
• Assistant Professor: no upper age limit.
• PhD admission: no upper age limit.

This is where many people get confused. If you are 33, you cannot get JRF (unless a relaxation applies to you), but you can still qualify for Assistant Professor and PhD admission.

UGC NET exam pattern

The bulletin describes the exam like this:

• Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT).
• Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes) for both papers together, with no break.
• Marking: 2 marks per question, and no negative marking.

The NTA notice says the December exam covers 87 subjects. Pick your subject carefully in the form, because it decides your Paper II.

No negative marking matters a lot. Never leave a question blank. If you are unsure, eliminate what you can and mark your best guess.

Filling the form: a quick checklist

Before you open the UGC NET website, keep these ready:

1. Master’s marksheets (or the latest semester marks if you are in the final year).
2. Category certificate in the current format, if you are claiming OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST or PwD.
3. A recent passport-size photo and signature scanned as the form asks.
4. A working mobile number and email ID that you will use until the result. All updates come there.
5. Your first choices of exam city. Choose cities you can actually reach on a December morning.

Once you submit, download the confirmation page and save it in two places. If you spot a mistake later, the correction window from 2 to 4 November is your only chance to fix most details.

How to use the next seven weeks

From the end of October to 14 December, you have roughly seven weeks. That is enough for a focused plan.

Weeks 1 to 2: Paper I base

Paper I is the same for everyone and often decides who clears. The bulletin says it tests teaching and research aptitude, reasoning ability, reading comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness. Many of these are scoring with a little daily practice.

Weeks 3 to 5: Paper II revision

Go back to your MA or MSc notes. Make one-page summaries for each unit of your subject. Focus on the units you studied least, because those are where marks are hiding.

Weeks 6 to 7: Mocks and previous papers

Take full 3-hour timed tests. Sit in one place for three hours without breaks, just like the real exam. Check where you lose time, not only where you lose marks.

Small habits that help

• Study at the same time every day as your shift, once the admit card is out.
• Keep a mistakes notebook. Revise it every Sunday.
• If you work full time, two focused hours on weekdays and longer sessions on weekends can still cover the syllabus.

Frequently asked questions

What is the last date to apply for UGC NET December 2026?

The normal last date is 28 October 2026, up to 11:50 pm, for both form and fee. NTA also allows late submission from 29 to 31 October 2026 with a late fee of Rs 500.

When is the UGC NET December 2026 exam?

NTA has announced the exam for 14 to 19 December 2026. Your exact date, shift and centre will be on your admit card. The city slip and admit card dates are yet to be announced.

Is there negative marking in UGC NET?

No. The Information Bulletin says there is no negative marking for incorrect responses. Each question carries 2 marks.

What is the age limit for UGC NET JRF?

Not more than 30 years as on 1 December 2026, with relaxations of up to 5 years for some categories. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor or PhD admission.

Can final-year master’s students apply?

Yes. They are admitted provisionally and must complete the master’s degree within two years from the date of the NET result.

Where can I get help with the form?

NTA’s notice gives the helpline numbers 011-40759000 and 011-69227700, and the email [email protected].

Sources

• NTA public notice: opening of online registration for UGC-NET December 2026 (8 October 2026)
• NTA: Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026
• UGC NET official website (NTA)