LU mulls entrance test for PhD aspirants

Since November last,PhD enrolments on the basis of marks have been discontinued. Many students who were waiting for their forms to be processed have been asked to apply afresh once the new guidelines are implemented.

The ball is now in the Academic Council’s court. “Whenever Academic Council passes the proposal,we’ll implement it within a month,” Brar said adding that admissions for students enrolled in sponsored projects,schemes,national scholarship or those who have qualified UGC’s national eligibility test for junior research fellowships are going on even now.

The VC said once a student is enrolled in a PhD programme,he or she would have to clear the course work and present seminars within the first six months failing which he or she would be ousted from the course.

“All major universities have entrance exams for M Phil and PhD. Why should we not have it? Everyone need not do PhD. Only deserving students should be enrolled,” said Nishi Pandey,Dean,Students’ Welfare.

In previous sessions,the number of research scholars under each supervisor exceeded the number of students allowed for the programme. With the new rule in place,a professor cannot have more than 10 research scholars. Readers can have up to eight while lecturers cannot have more than five.

Pandey said once the Academic and the Executive Councils give their nod to the proposals,the admission process would start,but only after the declaration of the results of various post-graduate courses.