UGC NET exam is highly sought-after by the Arts/Humanities students interested in teaching and research work. It is conducted twice a year and provides the qualifiers with various career opportunities.
The merged cycles of UGC NET December 2021 and June 2022 is currently going on. The first phase was conducted from July 09-12, 2022, while the second phase is scheduled to be conducted between September 20 and 30, 2022. The admit card for the same is expected to be released soon. It will be available on the official website of UGC NET. This phase of exam is going to be conducted for about 64 subjects.
What is UGC NET?
UGC NET exam is conducted by National Testing Agency to determine the eligibility of candidates for Assistant Professorship and Junior Research Fellowship. It is a national-level exam conducted for more than 80 subjects.
To appear for UGC NET, it is important to have a Master’s degree in the relevant field from a recognised board or university. The General candidates are required to have at least 55% marks but there is a relaxation of 5% for the candidates from reserved categories. The candidates who are appearing in their final examinations or awaiting results can also apply for the exam. Those taking the exam for Junior Research Fellowship must be equal to or less than 31 years of age. Whereas there is no maximum age limit for the post of Assistant Professor.
UGC NET exam is conducted in CBT (Computer-Based Test) Mode. There are two papers consisting for multiple-choice questions. Paper 1 is the same and compulsory for all while Paper 2 is based on the subject chosen by the candidates.
- Language of Exam– English or Hindi (as chosen by the candidates)
- Number of Questions– 50 (Paper 1) + 100 (Paper 2)
- Total Marks– 100 (Paper 1) + 200 (Paper 2)
It must be noted that even though the exam pattern and syllabus for JRF and Assistant Professorship is the same, the cutoff marks are released separately for both. The candidates have to qualify the respective cutoff marks to clear the exam. Thus, it is important that candidates are careful while choosing the post. The career opportunities for JRF and Assistant Professorship are mentioned below.
Career After UGC NET JRF
The candidates who qualify UGC NET Exam for Junior Research Fellowship can enroll for Ph.D and pursue research work. They will receive a fellowship for five years. During this fellowship, they will be eligible for a stipend of about INR 31,000 per month in the first two years, and INR 35,000 for the remaining three years. The exact amount may vary based on the institute.
In addition to the stipend, they will also receive certain facilities and grants, like HRA, depending on the university’s policies.
Or, they can also work as a researcher in corporate organizations. Some corporate firms hire JRF-qualified candidates for the research work at their firm. This also comes with decent pay and perks.
Based on their skills and performance, they will have good chances of promotions and growth as well. Some of the posts that they can be promoted to are Senior Research Fellow, Project Associate, Senior Project Associate, and others.
Career After UGC NET Assistant Professorship
The candidates who qualify the UGC NET exam for lectureship will be eligible to join any institute as Assistant Professor. They will be required to teach undergraduate students, educate professional students or train Post-Doctor fellows, depending on their skills and experience. A salary between INR 25,000 and INR 40,000 can be expected in the beginning.
Alternatively, the candidates can also opt to join coaching institutes to train future aspirants of UGC-NET Exam.
Considering the opportunities available after UGC NET exam, it is obvious why it is a popular exam amongst the candidates from Arts/ Humanities background, especially those interested in teaching and research work.
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