DU Direct PhD Admission 2026: The University of Delhi has introduced a direct pathway for PhD admission 2026-27 for eligible students completing its four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP). This provides them with an opportunity to directly enroll in the doctoral programme without completing their master’s degrees. This provision was introduced as part of an amendment to the university's Ordinance-6, which has been approved by the Academic Council and Executive Council.
According to the University’s press release, “The Ordinances of the University have been amended to include the same with the approval of the Academic Council and Executive Council. The Ph. D. admissions for the academic session 2026-27 shall allow the fourth-year students who complete the programme with 7.5 CGPA (7 CGPA for SC/ST students) to apply directly for the Ph. D. Programme. Accordingly, the University concurs with the comment of the retired Professor of DU that students who complete the FYUP are not necessary to do a master’s programme, and the necessary track for the same has already been provided by the University”.
FYUP Graduates Eligible For PhD Courses
Students enrolled under the four-year undergraduate program at DU are eligible for this provision of direct admission to the PhD courses for the 2026-27 academic year without a master’s degree. However, they are required to meet the prescribed eligibility criteria of the program.
The university implemented the four-year undergraduate program from the 2022-23 academic year with the aim of providing greater research and entrepreneurship experience at the UG level. Based on the National Education Policy 2020, the program was carried out under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) 2022.
Total Enrollment In FYUP 2022-23
For FYUP 2022-23, a total of 75,948 students enrolled, out of which 40,005 exited the program after completing three years in 2025. As per the DU release, only 35,943 students chose to continue for the fourth year. Among these, 12,111 applied for DU's One-Year Postgraduate (PG) programmes for the 2026-27 academic session. This accounts for 34.27% of the students who continued into the fourth year.