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New Delhi: Delhi University will conduct an in-house entrance examination for students who have completed the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) and want to pursue PhD programmes directly, without first completing a master's degree. 

DU Registrar Vikas Gupta told ANI that the university is expected to launch an application portal for the PhD admission process in the coming week. The initiative follows the graduation of the first batch of students enrolled under the DU's Four-Year Undergraduate Programme. 

DU To Hold Entrance Test for FYUP Graduates 

The proposed entrance test will provide an admission route for eligible FYUP graduates seeking direct entry into PhD programmes at Delhi University. 

"We will conduct a test for students moving from FYUP to the PhD programme. We will launch a website for students to apply for PhD admissions," Gupta said. 

The examination will be conducted in line with the University Grants Commission's PhD Regulations. These regulations permit Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to admit candidates either through national-level fellowship or scholarship examinations followed by an interview, or through an entrance examination conducted by the institution itself. 

DU Allows Direct PhD Entry After Four-Year UG Programme 

Delhi University has amended Ordinance VI to enable students who complete the fourth year of the undergraduate programme to apply directly for PhD programmes. 

The amendment received approval from both the university's Academic Council and the Executive Council. Under the revised provision, students completing the fourth year can pursue the direct PhD admission route without obtaining a master's degree first. 

For the 2026-27 academic session, students will need a minimum 7.5 CGPA to be eligible for direct PhD admission. The minimum requirement for SC/ST students is 7 CGPA. 

First FYUP Batch Graduated in 2026 

DU introduced its first FYUP batch in the 2022-23 academic session under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) 2022, which was implemented in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 

University data shows that 75,948 students were admitted to the first FYUP batch. Of these, 40,005 students exited after three years in 2025, while approximately 35,943 students continued into the optional fourth year. 

The figures also include students admitted through the School of Open Learning. 

The fourth year was introduced with a greater emphasis on research and entrepreneurship at the undergraduate level. The programme also seeks to align Indian undergraduate degrees with global standards and develop graduates with stronger academic and research capabilities. 

DU One-Year PG Programmes Offer 5,857 Seats 

Alongside the direct PhD pathway, Delhi University has introduced one-year postgraduate programmes in 46 disciplines under the Postgraduate Curriculum Framework (PGCF) 2025. 

These programmes have a combined 5,857 seats, including 2,807 seats in regular mode and 3,035 seats through Open and Distance Learning mode. 

For the 2026-27 academic session, DU has retained the same number of seats in its two-year PG programmes, particularly for students who completed three years of undergraduate study and exited from the FYUP. 

12,111 Fourth-Year Students Applied for One-Year PG Courses 

Of the 35,943 students who continued into the fourth year of the FYUP, 12,111 applied for admission to DU's one-year PG programmes for the 2026-27 academic session. 

This represents 34.27 per cent of the students who continued into the fourth year. 

Against the total availability of 5,857 seats in the one-year PG programmes, the number of applications means that the available seats are equivalent to 48.36 per cent of the number of applicants. 

The proposed PhD entrance test will therefore provide a direct academic progression route for eligible FYUP graduates as Delhi University implements the provisions introduced under its revised undergraduate structure.