How to Apply for UGC NET December 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

The UGC NET application is entirely online, and the process is straightforward. Yet every cycle, candidates lose their chance to avoidable errors: a mismatched name, a blurry photograph, a wrongly chosen subject or an application started too close to the deadline. This guide gives you the dates and fees for the December 2026 cycle, the documents to keep ready and the exact steps to follow, so that your application is accepted the first time.

December 2026 Cycle: Key Dates

NTA released the notification for the December 2026 cycle on 8 October 2026. The dates below are as reported from the notification, and you should confirm them on the official website, ugcnet.nta.nic.in, before you act.

As of 12 October 2026, the application window is open. Do not wait for the last day. Portals slow down in the final hours, and payment gateways sometimes fail under heavy load.

Application Fee

The reported fee for the December 2026 cycle is as follows.

The fee is paid online through the options offered on the portal, such as UPI, net banking, debit card and credit card. The application fee is generally non-refundable, so be sure of your eligibility and subject before you pay.

Check Your Eligibility First

Spend ten minutes on this before you start. A rejected application is a lost cycle.

• Nationality: only Indian nationals can apply.

• Qualification: a master’s degree or equivalent from a recognised university, or you are in the final year of the degree.

• Minimum marks: 55% for General and EWS candidates, and 50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and third-gender candidates.

• Age (JRF only): reported as 30 years as on 1 December 2026, with relaxations. There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility.

• Subject: your master’s subject or a closely related one, as allowed in the bulletin.

Our UGC NET eligibility page explains each condition, and our guide to choosing your UGC NET subject helps if you are not sure which subject to pick.

Documents and Details to Keep Ready

Collect everything before you open the form.

• A recent photograph and your signature, in the format and size limits shown on the upload screen and in the bulletin. The portal may also ask for a live photograph.

• A valid photo identity document.

• Your master’s degree details: university, year of passing or appearing, and marks.

• A category certificate, if you are applying under EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST or another category.

• A PwD certificate, if applicable.

• A working email address and mobile number that you will keep active until the result.

Your name, date of birth and category should match your certificates exactly. A mismatch is one of the most common causes of problems later.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill the Application Form

Step 1: Open the official website. Go to ugcnet.nta.nic.in and read the information bulletin. It contains the final rules, the subject list and the instructions.

Step 2: Register as a new candidate. Click the registration link and enter your name, mobile number, email and the other details the form asks for. The system creates an application number. Save it, along with your password.

Step 3: Log in. Use your application number and password to enter the candidate portal. Change your password if the portal prompts you to.

Step 4: Fill in your personal details. Enter your name, parents’ names, date of birth, gender, category and other details exactly as they appear in your documents.

Step 5: Enter your academic details. Fill in your master’s degree information, including the university, subject, year and marks, and any other qualifications the form asks for.

Step 6: Choose your Paper 2 subject and exam cities. This is the most important choice in the form. Select the subject that matches your master’s degree and your strength. Do not assume you can change it later. Choose your preferred exam cities from the options offered.

Step 7: Upload your documents. Upload your photograph, signature, identity document and any certificates, following the format and size limits. Check that each file is clear and readable before you submit it.

Step 8: Pay the fee. Pay the correct fee for your category. Keep the payment receipt or transaction details.

Step 9: Review and submit. Read every field once more, then submit the form. Download the confirmation page and keep several copies, since you will need your application number again for the admit card and the result.

Correction Window

After the application period closes, NTA opens a short correction window, reported as 2 to 4 November 2026 for this cycle. The bulletin states which fields can be edited and which cannot. Do not assume that every field, including your subject, can be changed. If you notice a mistake, fix it in this window. After it closes, errors usually cannot be corrected.

Mistakes That Cause Rejection or Trouble

• Uploading blurred or oversized files. Use clear scans that meet the limits.

• Entering a name or date of birth that differs from your certificates.

• Choosing the wrong subject. Check eligibility before you choose.

• Applying in the last hours. Heavy traffic can cause errors or failed payments.

• Paying the wrong fee for your category.

• Forgetting to submit the form after filling it in. Filling is not the same as final submission.

• Losing the confirmation page and application number.

• Using an email address or mobile number you do not check regularly. NTA sends important updates there.

• Applying under a category without a valid certificate.

What Happens After You Apply

1. Wait for the correction window and use it if you need to fix an error.

2. Watch for the city intimation slip, which tells you the city of your exam centre.

3. Download your admit card a few days before your exam date.

4. Appear for the exam on your assigned date and shift.

5. Check the answer key and the result when NTA publishes them.

Our guide on UGC NET admit card and result explains the later stages in detail, and the UGC NET notification page lists the important dates.

Start Preparing While You Apply

Applying is the easy part. The exam is scheduled for 14 to 19 December 2026, which leaves roughly nine weeks from now. Use that time well. Read the UGC NET syllabus for Paper 1 and your subject, follow a week-by-week plan from our UGC NET preparation strategy, and test yourself with a UGC NET mock test early, so that you know where you stand.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

28 October 2026, until 11:50 PM, as reported from the notification. A late window with a ₹500 late fee has been reported for 29 to 31 October 2026.

How much is the UGC NET application fee? 

₹1,150 for General, ₹600 for General-EWS and OBC-NCL, and ₹325 for SC, ST, PwD and third gender candidates, as reported for this cycle.

Can I apply if I am in the final year of my master’s degree? 

Yes, final-year students may apply, and they must complete the degree with the required marks. Check the bulletin for the conditions and the date by which this must happen.

Can I edit my application after submission? 

Only during the correction window, and only for the fields that the bulletin allows to be edited.

Can I apply for more than one subject? 

You apply under one Paper 2 subject. Choose the one that matches your master’s degree and your strength.

What if the payment fails or I am charged twice? 

Keep the transaction details and contact the NTA helpline listed in the bulletin as soon as possible, with your application number.

When is the UGC NET December 2026 exam? 

14 to 19 December 2026, as reported from the notification. Confirm the date and your shift on your admit card.