The University of Delhi (DU) has extended the registration deadline for its PhD admissions for the 2026–27 academic session to September 16, 2026. The extension applies to eligible students who have completed four-year undergraduate programmes under the National Education Policy (NEP) and the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF). The earlier deadline was September 14.

The extension gives eligible four-year undergraduate students additional time to complete their applications for the university's newly introduced direct PhD admission route. DU's official admission portal lists a dedicated section for PhD Admissions 2026–27 for Four-Year Undergraduate students.

Direct Pathway from UG to PhD :

DU approved amendments allowing students who complete a four-year undergraduate programme to pursue doctoral studies directly, without first completing a master's degree. The decision was approved by the university's Academic Council in July and subsequently cleared by the Executive Council.

For the 2026 admission cycle, reports state that eligible applicants need a minimum 7.5 CGPA in their four-year undergraduate programme, with a lower threshold reported for certain reserved categories. The admission framework is part of the university's implementation of the four-year undergraduate structure under NEP and UGCF.

The new pathway marks a change from the conventional route in which students generally complete postgraduate study before entering doctoral programmes. It provides eligible four-year graduates with an opportunity to move directly toward research at the university.

Commenting on the broader four-year UG-to-PhD pathway, Prof. Yogesh Singh, Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi, previously said :

“In most of the IITs, students with a 4-year BTech degree can directly enrol for PhD programmes with 75% aggregate marks.”

He added that the approach had been opened to other disciplines and could encourage more students to enter the research ecosystem.

Application Deadline and Process :

Candidates eligible under the four-year UG category can complete their registration through the University of Delhi's official admission portal. Applicants are required to provide their personal and academic information, upload the necessary documents and complete the applicable fee payment before submitting the form.

Candidates are also advised to carefully review their academic details and research proposal before final submission. According to the reported revised schedule, registration, fee payment and research-proposal updates are due by September 16, 2026.

The direct-entry PhD provision has also generated discussion within the university. During the approval process, some elected council members raised questions about the academic preparedness of students entering doctoral programmes immediately after undergraduate study and about aspects of the admission framework. These concerns were recorded in a dissent note during the Executive Council process.

For students who meet the prescribed requirements, the September 16 extension provides additional time to complete the application process. The development also reflects how universities are adapting doctoral admission structures alongside the four-year undergraduate model introduced through the NEP and implemented through frameworks such as the UGCF.