Comprehensive regulations governing doctoral admission, registration, supervision, coursework, thesis submission, and viva voce examination at Adichunchanagiri University, in compliance with UGC norms (2022 Updated).
Adichunchanagiri University's doctoral programme is designed to foster a vibrant research culture across all disciplines. The programme enables scholars to pursue original research that addresses real-world challenges while meeting the highest standards of academic rigour.
Established in compliance with UGC regulations, ACU's Ph.D programme offers structured pathways for junior research fellows, faculty members with research grants, university employees, and candidates from collaborative centres. Every scholar benefits from expert supervision, state-of-the-art facilities, and a supportive academic community.
The programme encompasses 8 faculties and over 40 research areas, providing a multidisciplinary environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, and impactful scholarship.
The doctoral programme admits candidates through four distinct pathways, each designed to accommodate different research backgrounds and career stages.
Candidates with valid UGC-NET JRF, CSIR-NET JRF, DST INSPIRE, or equivalent national fellowship. Selected on the basis of interview and research aptitude assessment.
ACU faculty members with externally funded research projects of minimum 2 years duration with provision for appointing research scholars.
Teaching and non-teaching staff of ACU with minimum 3 years of experience, admitted through proper administrative channel with institutional endorsement.
Researchers from ACU's collaborative institutions and MoU partners. Must submit no-objection certificate from the appropriate authority of the research centre.
All candidates must fulfill the following requirements to register for the doctoral programme.
Master's Degree with minimum 55% aggregate marks (50% for SC/ST candidates as per UGC norms)
Valid Research Proposal with clearly defined objectives, literature survey, methodology, expected outcomes, and research plan schedule
Identified Research Supervisor with valid guideship recognition from Adichunchanagiri University
No-Objection Certificate from employer (mandatory for employed candidates and collaborative centre researchers)
Research supervisors must meet rigorous academic and research standards to guide doctoral scholars at ACU.
Ph.D degree with minimum 3 years of post-doctoral research experience in the relevant discipline
MD/MS/MCh degree holders with minimum 8 years of post-graduate teaching experience
Minimum 10 years of combined research and teaching experience in the relevant field
At least 3 post-graduate dissertations supervised to successful completion
Minimum 5 publications as first or corresponding author in Scopus/Web of Science/UGC-CARE indexed journals
Ongoing research projects or active external funding preferred for supervisors guiding doctoral scholars
Experts from reputed industries can serve as Co-Supervisors for interdisciplinary research with approval from the Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC). Co-supervisors must hold relevant domain expertise and demonstrate active engagement in the research area.
The number of scholars a supervisor can guide at any given time is regulated by UGC norms and ACU policy. This ensures each scholar receives adequate mentorship and supervision quality throughout their doctoral journey.
All doctoral scholars must complete mandatory coursework within the first 6 months of registration, with a minimum passing score of 55%.
Qualitative and quantitative research methods, research design principles, sampling techniques, data collection strategies, and formulation of research questions.
Statistical analysis fundamentals, data interpretation, hypothesis testing, software tools (SPSS, R), regression analysis, and result validation techniques.
Publication ethics, scientific writing conventions, peer review process, plagiarism prevention, ethical research conduct, and responsible authorship practices.
Coursework assessments include written examinations, assignments, seminar presentations, and practical components. Scholars must attain a minimum of 55% aggregate marks across all coursework modules.
The thesis submission process follows a structured pathway from research completion through external review and open defence.
Minimum 3 publications as first author in UGC-CARE listed or Scopus/Web of Science/PubMed indexed journals. Research supervisor must be corresponding author. Published or granted patents on thesis topic can serve as substitutes.
Minimum 2 oral or poster presentations at national or international conferences and seminars with supporting certificates of presentation.
Submit a comprehensive synopsis of the thesis to the university. The synopsis is reviewed by the Research Committee and supervisor before the full thesis can be submitted.
The completed thesis is submitted to external examiners appointed by the university for a blind review process. Examiners assess the originality, methodology, and contribution of the research.
Public defence of the thesis before an examination committee comprising the supervisor, external examiners, and university representatives. The scholar must satisfactorily answer all queries on the research.
The doctoral programme offers full-time and part-time modes with defined minimum and maximum timelines.
ACU provides financial support to doctoral scholars through fellowships and contingency grants.
Junior Research Fellowship for the first 2 years of the doctoral programme
Senior Research Fellowship from year 3 to year 5 upon satisfactory progress
Annual contingency grant for research consumables, travel, and conference expenses
Registration may be cancelled under the following conditions. Scholars are advised to maintain regular progress.
Missed Progress Reports -- Failure to submit progress reports for 2 consecutive semesters to the Doctoral Advisory Committee
Plagiarism -- Any instance of plagiarism detected in thesis, publications, or submitted research work
Coursework Non-Completion -- Failure to complete mandatory coursework with minimum 55% marks within the stipulated time period
Publication Deadline -- Failure to meet the minimum publication requirements within the maximum stipulated timeline
Access the official Ph.D regulations document, application forms, and related resources.
Apply for the doctoral programme or contact the Dean of Research for guidance on your research aspirations across any of our 8 faculties.