Fees
Fees at University of Lucknow for the Bachelor of Arts + Bachelor of Laws (B.A.L.L.B.) program range from approximately INR 51,000 to INR 55,000 annually, depending on the semester structure, with specific charges of about INR 25,580 to INR 27,500 per semester. The total cost for completing the five-year course is around INR 2.5 to 2.75 lakh. An initial enrollment fee of INR 500 is also applicable. Scholarships are available through the Uttar Pradesh government and central government schemes, offering financial assistance that can cover the full tuition for eligible SC/ST and zero-income families.
Additional scholarships, such as the Chhatra Kalyan Scholarship, provide further aid based on merit and need. The UP fee reimbursement program also supports students in managing their educational expenses. Each semester's fee includes miscellaneous costs, but excludes library fees, which are approximately INR 400. Hostel fees are separate and not included in the annual tuition.
About Ph.D
University of Lucknow (LU) offers full-time doctoral programmes across more than 40 departments covering Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, Commerce, Law, and professional fields. Duration is a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years. A total of 1,434 seats are available for the 2026-27 cycle, with 533 seats on the main campus and 901 seats at affiliated colleges. Total programme cost is about INR 1.19 lakh for the minimum 3-year duration.
📋 Admission Status: Applications closed. RET expected to begin October 2026.
LU PhD Fees 2026
The annual programme fee at LU for PhD is about INR 14,260 for General category students. A government concession of INR 4,000 reduces the effective annual outgo to about INR 10,260. Including registration, coursework, and thesis-related charges, the total cost for the minimum 3-year programme is about INR 1.19 lakh. Professional departments such as Management and Law may carry slightly higher fees.
| Fee Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual Programme Fee (General Category) | INR 14,260 |
| Effective Annual Fee after Government Concession | INR 10,260 |
| Application Fee (General/OBC) | INR 2,000 |
| Application Fee (SC/ST/PwD) | INR 1,000 |
| Caution Money (Refundable) | INR 5,000 |
| Total Programme Cost (3-year minimum) | INR 1.19 lakh |
- Fees vary by department and candidate category.
- Verify final fee from official LU admission notice before payment.
LU PhD Admission 2026
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Window Opened | May 27, 2026 |
| Application Deadline (Extended) | July 15, 2026 |
| Department-wise Seat Notification | July 23, 2026 |
| Research Entrance Test (RET) | October 2026 |
| Personal Interview | November 2026 |
| Merit List and Admission | November to December 2026 |
- Deadline extended from June 30 to July 15 per official notice.
- RET and interview dates are extrapolated from prior cycles.
The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
- Master’s degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% aggregate for General and OBC candidates.
- SC/ST/PwD candidates require a minimum of 50% aggregate in the qualifying master’s degree.
- UGC-NET or CSIR-NET JRF holders are exempt from the RET and proceed directly to the interview stage.
Admission Process
- Register on the official LU Samarth portal and generate a Lucknow University Registration Number (LURN).
- Submit the online application with academic documents, a research proposal, and the applicable application fee.
- Appear in the Research Entrance Test (RET): 100 MCQs in 90 minutes, with 50% on Research Methodology and 50% on the chosen subject.
- Shortlisted candidates attend a personal interview or viva-voce by the respective department.
- Final merit is calculated with 70% weightage to RET score and 30% weightage to the interview.
- Selected candidates confirm admission by paying the programme fee and submitting original documents.
LU PhD vs Other Colleges
Here is how University of Lucknow PhD compares with comparable North Indian universities on fees, entrance exams, and research programmes.
| University of Lucknow | BHU Varanasi | Allahabad University | AMU Aligarh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | 1.19 L (3 yr) | 33 K (3 yr) | 1.5 L (3 yr) | 40 to 78 K (3 yr) |
| Exams | RET UGC-NET JRF (exempt) | NTA-PhD UGC-NET JRF (exempt) | CRET UGC-NET JRF (exempt) | AMU Entrance UGC-NET (exempt) |
| Cutoff | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Salary | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| CD Rating | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated |
✓ Opt for this if
- You are based in Lucknow and want to avoid relocation costs during a 3 to 6 year programme
- Your master’s is from LU and you already have a supervisor in mind within the university
- You want access to 40-plus departments under one roof for inter-disciplinary research
✗ Skip if
- You hold UGC JRF and prefer a centrally funded IIT or IISc with higher research output rankings
- Your research needs specialized laboratory infrastructure not available at LU
- You need strong international academic recognition for postdoctoral applications abroad
LU PhD Scholarships 2026
PhD scholars at LU can access research fellowships through UGC and CSIR, along with state government fee concessions. JRF and SRF are the primary funding sources for full-time scholars.
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) | INR 37,000/month (first 2 years) | UGC-NET JRF qualified | As per UGC-NET cycle |
| UGC Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) | INR 42,000/month (year 3 onwards) | Continuing JRF scholars after review | As per UGC review |
| CSIR Research Fellowship | INR 37,000 to INR 42,000/month | CSIR-NET JRF qualified (science disciplines) | As per CSIR-NET cycle |
| UP Government Post-Matric Scholarship | Full fee waiver | SC/ST/OBC candidates from Uttar Pradesh | September to October 2026 |
- JRF and SRF amounts include HRA and annual contingency grants.
- Check NTA and UGC websites for current scholarship deadlines.
LU PhD FAQs
Ques. What is the difference between a main campus PhD seat and an affiliated college seat at LU?
Ans. Of the 1,434 seats, 533 are on the main LU campus in Lucknow, giving access to the central library, university labs, and senior faculty. The remaining 901 seats are at affiliated colleges in Lucknow and nearby districts. The degree awarded is identical, but the research environment and lab quality can differ considerably. If your research is infrastructure-intensive, prioritise securing a main campus supervisor before applying.
Ques. Can I apply to more than one PhD department at LU in the same cycle?
Ans. Yes, you can apply to multiple departments by submitting separate applications and paying the fee for each. However, the RET is subject-specific, with 50% of the paper covering your chosen department’s content. Spreading across too many departments dilutes preparation. Most candidates focus on one or two departments where they have the strongest background and a potential supervisor identified in advance.
Ques. How many publications are required before submitting the PhD thesis at LU?
Ans. Under UGC PhD regulations, at least one research paper in a UGC-CARE-listed or Scopus-indexed journal is required before thesis submission. LU also mandates a pre-submission seminar where you present findings to a departmental committee. Individual departments may impose additional requirements in their ordinances, so confirm the exact number with your supervisor early in the programme to plan your publication timeline.
Ques. Can a working professional do a part-time PhD at LU?
Ans. LU primarily offers full-time programmes. Some professional departments have provisions for sponsored or part-time scholars where an employer deputes a candidate with a no-objection certificate, but this is not universally available. Full-time scholars must attend two semesters of coursework in person and remain accessible to supervisors throughout. Check the specific department’s notification for part-time provisions before applying.
Ques. How does the JRF-to-SRF upgrade work for LU PhD scholars?
Ans. The upgrade is governed by UGC, not LU. After two years as a JRF scholar, you present your research progress to a departmental committee. If satisfactory, your supervisor recommends the upgrade and UGC raises your fellowship from INR 37,000 per month to INR 42,000 per month as SRF. Submit the upgrade paperwork before your two-year JRF tenure ends to avoid a funding gap between the two stages.
Ques. What career paths are most common for LU PhD graduates?
Ans. The most common path is academic teaching. A PhD combined with UGC-NET is the mandatory qualification for most Assistant Professor positions in Indian colleges and universities. For science PhD graduates, roles at CSIR, DRDO, ICMR, and state research councils are the primary alternative. Management and law PhD graduates increasingly move into policy research and consulting. A strong publication record during your PhD significantly strengthens prospects across all three paths.