Savitribai Phule Pune University reduces PhD, MPhil seats by half

During the academic year 2015-16, PhD had 4,076 vacancies, while this year it has come down to 2,549. For MPhil aspirants, the varsity holds only 320 seats vacant.

Number of vacant seats for both PhD and MPhil courses at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) for the academic year 2017-18 has gone down by half percent, according to a list circulated by the university.

As per the officials, the cut in the vacancy could be because of the existing number of students under each guide, for PhD and MPhil research. (HT PHOTO)

During the academic year 2015-16, PhD had 4,076 vacancies, while this year it has come down to 2,549. In the previous academic year, applications for those 4,000 seats had gone over 13,000. For MPhil aspirants, the varsity holds only 320 seats vacant.

As per the officials, the cut in the vacancy could be because of the existing number of students under each guide, for PhD and MPhil research. Owing to an alternation in the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, the existing guides who could have a maximum of eight students under them, now hold limited vacancies.

As per the new guidelines, a stipulated limit of maximum six PhD or MPhil students, under a guide who is an associate of an assistant professor with a minimum of three years of experience, has been decided.

The entrance examination is to be taken in two parts, of 50 marks each, with the first part focused on research methodology, and the second being more subject-specific.

Eventually, the merit list of selected candidates will be declared at a later date, considering the cumulative performance of the entrance examination and the personal interview.