Failed In UGC-NET DEC 2025? - What to Do, Alternatives 2025

UGC NET Examination is known as one of India’s toughest exams that is attempted by students looking to pursue higher studies or research in the relevant study field. Every year lakhs of students appear for the UGC-NET Examination, but only thousands of them get selected and many students get disheartened and face a lot of stress. Today in this blog we will give some amazing career and job opportunities for the students who do not clear the NET Examination. 

What are the other jobs and career options other than the UGC-NET Examination? 

There are various job options that students can pursue apart from UGC-NET. UGC-NET Examination is conducted to recruit assistant professors and to offer Junior Research Fellowships. You can pursue our future in lectureship as well as in research fellowship. But this is a tough and competitive examination and qualifying can take a lot of hard work. Also Read | Is UGC-NET Mandatory for Professorship Jobs in India?

After pursuing your master's degree or postgraduation degree, students can take up a career in various fields apart from the UGC-NET Examination. Here are some career professions that you can opt for apart from UGC-NET or lectureships.  

1) Teaching at Schools or Colleges

One of the most sought-after careers for students is becoming a teacher. The profession is somewhat most chosen in India, due to its high demand. If you want to become a teacher in India, you have to earn a degree in teaching. You can pursue D.el.ed, B.Ed or M.Ed depending on the qualifying degree. The students can further go for other options like special education courses that are specially designed for disabled students.

You can be any of these mentioned below:-

• Primary Teacher
• Trained Graduate Teacher
• Post Graduate Teacher 
• College Professor

2) Content Writing and Journalism

In the digital era, websites and digital marketing are at an emerging state, make the best out of it and get yourself into a content writing job. A content writer is a professional content creator for websites, social media and Facebook ads. The role of the content writer is to get the user on the website and fetch useful information for them.

They create SEO-friendly content on the website for better engagement and consumer reach. Content writers can further pursue jobs in various roles like content creator, copywriter, social media management and many more. The students can pursue some short-duration courses for writing and work according to the opportunity. Also Read | Content Writing: What It Is, Top 10 Tips, Courses!

3) Government Jobs

You can also apply for government jobs. Apply for exams like UPSC CSE, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, Bank exams for PO and other posts. These exams generally test the aptitude skills of the students. These examinations help students to get into job roles like Assistant, Divisional Accountant, Auditor, Inspector, and many more. The candidates have to complete graduation, or higher secondary education depending on the eligibility requirement of the examination.

Some top government jobs are:-

• IBPS PO
• SSC CGL
• RRB JE SSE
• SBI PO
• RBI Grade B
• IBPS Clerk
• RRB ALP
• IBPS SO
• SSC CHSL

4) Private Sector Jobs

There are numerous job opportunities in the Corporate world. You can apply to many different industries depending on the educational qualifications and the skills you have. The metropolitan cities like Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore and many more cities have abundant jobs for the students. The more you will research and sort the best, the more opportunities you will get. The salary potential in the Private sector varies, it totally depends on your skills, your company size and reputation, and your contribution to the company which can be the deciding factor.

Here are some job roles you can pursue after graduation:-

• Marketing Management
• CA
• Product Management
• Investment Manager
• Business Manager 
• Arts Director 
• Corporate Lawyer
• Fashion Designer
• Journalist
• UX Designer 

5) Entrepreneurship

If you have completed your masters in a subject field like business and management or you have India to initiate a business, you can also become a successful entrepreneur. The students can start with the strategy and simultaneously work on the NET preparation. India is attracting various MNCs and big companies that can fuel the Indian Economy. In such cases the scope of booming business is vast and it may flourish at an amazing rate with time. Students can pursue some certificate or shirt-duration courses to polish their entrepreneurship skills.

6) Skill-Based Courses and Certifications

After pursuing the postgraduate programs, students can excel in the skills by enrolling in a skill-based or certificate course. You can easily get into any related course with these skills and today’s industry demand is attracting such young talent. With that skill certificate program, they can simultaneously prepare for the examination of UGC-NET. 

Alternatives other than UGC-NET!

If you are interested in lectureship and research, you can directly go for a PhD. Many universities and Institutes in India allow students to pursue PhD in their respective subjects even without any UGC-NET degree. But there are certain conditions and other eligibility criteria that students have to fulfil like appearing for the university entrance examination for pursuing a PhD.

Students can pursue a Doctoral Degree Online for Working Professionals which offers enormous opportunities to the students. However, students have to prepare for the university entrance examinations and the interview as well for getting admission to any government or private institute. 

Some of the institutes that offer Doctorate programs for working professionals are:-

• SSBM Geneva Online
• Golden Gate University Online
• Ecole de Commerce International (ESGCI) Online

Also, you can apply for the online doctorate programs that are offered by Upgrad associated universities. These programs are offered by the top abroad universities and institutes and have a high reputation. Some of the programs offered by Upgrad associated universities are DBA(Doctorate of Business Administration), Executive Doctor of Business Administration, Executive Doctor of Business Administration, Doctor of Juridical Science and many more. 

Prepare for the next UGC-NET attempt with your job

Instead of dropping out for one year, you can prepare for your next attempt with these career options. Here we have given some tips that you can follow while pursuing some other career field.

Prepare for the next attempt

 

Tips and hacks to prepare for the UGC-NET examination if you are a full-time working professional.

• Always keep digital notes with you and keep this tab open on your mobile phone or desktop. 
• Avoid wasting time and tea breaks, make the most out of it. You can use this time to revise the notes or just go through some online material.
• Use the time while travelling. Like, if you are travelling from the metro or cab, use this time to revise and listen to the audio content. You can also practice the chapter or topic-wise questions during this duration. 
• Use your weekends or Sundays very strategically. Always try to plan your day to avoid any time wasted.
• Start with analysing the previous year's papers and other sample papers. This can help you do smart work.
• Study from your handwritten notes, you can keep the pdf of your handwritten notes on your mobile phone. 

UGC Net Latest update 2024

UGC Form release date	20th April 2024
Last date to fill Application Form for UGC-NET	19th May 2024
Fee payment last date	20th May 2024
Application Form Correction	21st May 2024 to 23rd May 2024
Admit card UGC NET 2024	The 2nd week of August
UGC NET Exam Date(December 2024)	21st August to 4th September 2024

How to prepare for Paper 1 of the UGC-NET Examination?

Students get a lot of difficulty while preparing for the UGC-NET entrance examination, not just for the subject paper, but also for paper 1 of the examination.  

Today we have mentioned some tips that can ease your paper 1 preparation of UGC-NET.

• You need to check the syllabus.
• Always start preparing with the previous year's pacers.
• Strategically plan and make notes.
• Make your handwritten notes.
• Revision can take your preparation to the next level.
• Practice mock examinations and sample papers,.
• Strictly follow the study schedule.
• Practice time management
• Do not rush to do everything. Finish topics with high weightage first.

About UGC NET 2024

UGC NET 2024 Notification has been released on 20th April by the NTA(National Testing Agency). UGC NET examination is conducted twice a year in June and December cycle. It is conducted to check the eligibility criteria of the students for Assistant Professorships, JRF(Junior Research Fellowship) or for both of these to Indian Institutes and Universities. The forms for the UGC-NET Examination are closed for the June cycle and the examination will be conducted between 21st August to 4th September 2024.

The examination consists of two papers, paper 1 which consists of 50 questions and paper 2 which consists of 100 questions and the overall duration of the examination is 3 hours(180 minutes). The paper is of 300 marks and is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT). The examination will be soon conducted by NTA. Here is some basic information about UGC NTA NET.

Conducted by	NTA (National Testing Agency)
Examination Name	UGC NET June 2024
Also known by(Full Name)	University Grants Commission (NET)
Level of Examination	National Level Examination
Exam frequency	2 times a year
Mode	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Registration dates(Closed)	20th April 2024 to 19th May 2024
Exam Duration	3 hours
Medium of Examination	English & Hindi
Total Subjects	83
Examination Cities	239
Application Fee	General Fee(For unreserved category)- INR 1150/- General(EWS/ OBC-NCL)- INR 600/- SC/ST/PwD- INR 325/- Third Gender- INR 325/-
For more information(Official Website)	www.ugcnet.nta.nic.in

Well if you fail in UGC-NET this year, fasten up your seat belts for the next attempt. You can prepare for the next attempt even with your regular jobs. Also, you can take part in any part-time PhD along with preparation for UGC-NET, to avoid risking your year!