UGC NET is conducted every year to determine the eligibility of Indian students for JRF, an Assistant Professor, or a PhD. UGC NET is the derivative of the University Grants Commission- National Eligibility Test. The registration for the UGC NET December 2025 is from 07th October 2025 to 07th November 2025; the examination will be conducted from 31st December 2025 to 07th January 2026. 

Students will get into universities based on their score card and cut-off. Clearing the UGC NET doesn’t determine that students are eligible for JRF or Assistant Professor; they need to enroll in a University based on their preference.

Students who got a score below the cut-off or couldn’t crack the University’s recruitment process need not worry. They can get their doctoral degree from an Online DBA, which is being offered by many prestigious universities abroad. A DBA stands for Doctorate in Business Administration, which is equivalent to a regular PhD.

Top Universities accepting

Here are a few top universities that accept UGC NET based on your scorecard.

Universities	Type	Research Area
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)	Institution of National Importance	Engineering, Technology, Science
Jawaharlal Nehru University	Central University	Social Sciences, International Studies
Jamia Millia Islamia	Central University	Humanities, Social Sciences, Science
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore	Institution of National Importance	Science, R&D
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh	Central University	Multidisciplinary
University of Delhi (DU), Delhi	Central University	Multidisciplinary
University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad	Central University	Humanities, social sciences
Calcutta University, Kolkata	State University	Multidisciplinary

Selection process

After clearing the UGC NET competitive examination, students need to enroll themselves in their preferred Universities to do a PhD or to get a fellowship. The selection process of each university is different. Here are a few significant steps for students to consider:

• After getting the scorecard from the official website of UGC NET, students need to check whether they are eligible for a fellowship (JRF), an assistant professor, or only for a PhD.
• Students can then apply directly to the university they wish to attend through their website.
• The university then shortlists the applications based on its criteria.
• Short-listed candidates are then contacted for an interview. Students need to visit the University for their interview or be told otherwise.
• Students are selected based on their performance at their interview.

Key takeaways

Students preparing for the interview need to consider these:

• Students who have cleared the JRF are eligible to get a fellowship for their PhD research.
• Assistant Professors are eligible for teaching in any college and continue their PhDs, but are not eligible for any kind of fellowship.
• Students who have only cleared the PhD are only eligible to enroll in higher education. They need to pay for their tuition fees.
• Students, before applying to any university, should check whether the university aligns with the research area they are interested in.
• Students should consider pursuing research and publishing the work, as it increases their chances of getting selected.
• Students applying for an assistant professor position can highlight their teaching experience.
• Make professional connections or attend conferences to stay updated about job openings.
• Students should be updated about the recent developments in their field.

Students who do not want to go for an interview can consider applying for an online DBA program for their doctoral degree. An online DBA doesn’t require any competitive exam score or an interview.

Achieve your doctoral goals with DBA

Students can also consider doing an online DBA if they are not able to get into any university for their PhD. A Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) is an online three-year program that holds the same value as the regular full-time PhD.

An online DBA is the most desired option for students who are working professionals who want to get their doctoral degree but want to continue working side by side.

Key features of an Online DBA program:

• An online DBA is a three-year program.
• Students will get a chance to pursue their PhD from globally recognized universities.
• The DBA program focuses on practical knowledge and management.
• Students can take classes based on their convenience.
• DBA is considered one of the highest degrees to study business markets, which students can use both in the National and International markets.
• Students will also get to conduct research and submit it within three years.

Eligibility:

a) Students who completed their bachelor's degree with 5 years of experience

b) Master's degree or equivalent in an area related to the topic of research.

Online DBA Program

Here is a list of universities that offer an online DBA program:

Universities Offering DBA	Specialization
Birchwood Online University DBA Online	Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Generative AI Human Resource Emerging Technology Data Science Business Data & Analytics Finance Management Supply Chain Management Marketing Management Healthcare Management Leadership and strategy International Business Sustainability Accounting  Cyber Security Information Technology Computer Science Project Management Social Impact Management Digital Leadership Big Data Tourism and hospitality Strategic Marketing General Management Cloud Computing Blockchain Management and Technology Big Data and Robots FinTech Performing Arts Management Digital Transformation Public Policy Digital Marketing Electric and Hybrid Vehicles AR and VR Circular Economy Internet of Things Product Life Cycle Talent Management Quantum Computing E-commerce Customer Behaviour Management Corporate Governance Green Energy Robotics and Automation Real Estate Management Public Relations Risk management
Golden Gate University DBA Online	Generative AI Finance Marketing Emerging Technology Business Data & Analytics Leadership & Strategy Digital Leadership
Rushford Business School DBA Online	International Business Finance Healthcare Management HR Management Marketing Supply Chain Management Big Data Data Science Sustainabilty Business Analytics General Management
ESGCI International School of Management Paris DBA Online	Online DBA course
EIMT Online DBA	HR Finance Logistics & Supply Chain Toursim & Hospitality Generative AI Strategic Marketing  Machine Learning AI Data Science Emerging Technology Green Energy
Swiss School of Business Management DBA Online	Business Analytics Finance management HR Management Marketing Management Healthcare Management Machine Learning Supply Chain Management Data Science Accounting Cyber Security Technology Entrepreneurship Project Management Social Impact Management Operations Management Strategic Management IT Management Crisis Management International Business Leadership AI Big Data Public Policy Product Life Management Digital Marketing
Edgewood College DBA Online	Leadership Finance Healthcare