A view of the Bangalore University at the Jnanabharathi campus.
Credit: DH File Photo
Bengaluru: From this year, PhD aspirants at Bangalore University (BU) must score 30% marks in the interview, as per the revised admission regulations.
The new rules allocate 30% weightage to the interview and 70% to post graduate examination scores and entrance test marks.
The 'Regulations Governing the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Bangalore University 2024', approved by Governor and Chancellor Thawaachand Gehlot, make the interview mandatory.
"Earlier, seat allotment was based on a 50:50 ratio between PG scores and the entrance test. Now, following University Grants Commission guidelines, we have incorporated the interview component," said CS Karigar, Registrar (Evaluation), Bangalore University.
Candidates applying under the non-entrance test category can seek admission anytime during the year, subject to vacancy. "Seat allotment under this category will not exceed 50%. They need not wait for the PhD admission notification,” clarified Karigar. Earlier, even such candidates could apply only after a notification.
For SC and ST candidates, the eligibility criteria are 50% aggregate in PG examinations, compared to 55% for others. The university will convert PG and entrance test scores to 70% of the total weightage.
The PhD admission notification for the 2025-26 academic year will be issued in September.
New regulations
Professors with less than three years of service left before retirement will not be allotted students under the new regulations.
Officials said this move avoids disruptions, as PhD programmes typically take five to six years. This may reduce the number of seats available this year.