Candidates who wish to pursue PhD from the next academic year may have to qualify in an entrance exam conducted either by the university or the National Eligibility Test. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has drafted new regulations which make the test mandatory for all candidates, including those joining PhD after undergraduation and postgraduation.
The regulations are likely to be implemented by April, said P. Duraisamy, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Madras and a member of the committee that had drafted the regulations. The draft has been uploaded for comments.
The draft had also dropped the award of M.Phil degree, a year-long programme. Universities in the State might not be able to offer M.Phil degree once the UGC implemented the new regulations, Mr. Duraisamy said.
