The Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai (MNLU, Mumbai) has officially released the notification for admission to its Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programme for the academic year 2025-26. This includes both a general PhD programme in Law and a specific vacancy under the DPIIT IPR Chair in Intellectual Property. Aspiring research scholars can find all critical details regarding eligibility, the application process, important dates, and available fellowships outlined in this comprehensive guide.
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Maharashtra National Law University PhD Admission 2025-26: An Overview
Established under the Maharashtra National Law University Act, 2014, MNLU Mumbai invites applications for its full-time and part-time PhD programmes. The Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) PhD Admission 2025-26 is open in Law or interdisciplinary areas interfacing with Law. The university conducts its own Ph.D. Admission Test (PAT) for selection, with exemptions for candidates with UGC-NET/JRF, CSIR, SLET, GATE, or M.Phil qualifications.Eligibility Criteria for MNLU Mumbai PhD
To apply for the Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) PhD Admission 2025-26, candidates must meet one of the following criteria:- Master’s degree in Law with at least 55% marks or equivalent grade ‘B’ in the UGC 7-point scale.
- OR A Master’s Degree in any discipline with a minimum of 55% marks from a recognized university. Candidates from Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities can pursue research interfacing with public policy or law.
- OR Associate Membership of ICSI (ACS) or Membership of ICAI, along with a regular LL.B. degree, for research focusing on public policy or law.
Relaxation: A 5% relaxation (i.e., 50% marks) is granted to SC/ST/OBC (Non-creamy layer)/EWS/Differently-Abled candidates.
Candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying examination are also eligible to apply, subject to producing original mark sheets later.
Categories of Enrollment for MNLU PhD Programme
The Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) PhD Admission 2025-26 offers two modes of enrollment:- Full-time: Minimum residency of 3 years (at least 18 months on campus). Maximum duration is 6 years.
- Part-time: Minimum duration of 4 years, including coursework. Maximum duration is 6 years. Conversion between modes requires Doctoral Committee approval.
Maharashtra National Law University PhD Admission Process
The admission process for the Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) PhD Admission 2025-26 involves multiple stages designed to evaluate research aptitude and subject knowledge.- Application Submission: Fill the online form available on the university’s Google Form link and pay the application fee online.
- Entrance Test (PAT): An offline test at the MNLU Mumbai campus. Exemption for UGC-NET/JRF/CSIR/SLET/GATE/M.Phil qualified candidates.
- Research Proposal & Interview: Shortlisted candidates must submit a 1500-word research proposal and appear for a personal interview.
Payment Links for Application Fee
General PhD Programme Payment Link: https://payments.cashfree.com/forms?code=PhDAdmission2025fortheapplicationfee
DPIIT IPR Chair Payment Link: https://payments.cashfree.com/forms/PhDAdmission2025undertheDPIITIPRChairMNLUMumAppFee
PhD Admission Test (PAT) Scheme
| Component | Marks | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Research Aptitude | 50 | Evaluates research methodology and analytical abilities. |
| Essays/Answers on Law & Interdisciplinary Topics | 50 | Topics include Jurisprudence, Constitutional Law, IPR, Criminal Law, Environmental Law, etc. |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹ 2000 |
| SC / ST / Other Reserved Categories | ₹ 1500 |
Important Dates for MNLU Mumbai PhD Admission 2025-26
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | December 2, 2025 |
| Last Date for Application Submission | January 15, 2026 |
| PhD Admission Test (PAT) – Tentative | February 8, 2026 |
| PAT Result Declaration – Tentative | February 10, 2026 |
| Last Date for Research Proposal Submission | February 28, 2026 (Tentative) |
DPIIT IPR Chair PhD Admission 2025-26 (One Vacancy)
MNLU Mumbai also invites applications for one specific PhD vacancy under the DPIIT IPR Chair in the field of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).Key Highlights & Eligibility
- Eligibility: Master’s degree in Law (55% marks) OR Master’s in any discipline with domain knowledge/publications in IPR. UGC-CSIR NET qualification is mandatory.
- Preference: Given to candidates with IPR domain knowledge and publications.
- Mode: Full-time enrollment only.
Corrected Fellowship Structure under DPIIT IPR Chair
| Research Phase | UGC-CSIR NET/JRF Qualified | UGC-CSIR NET Qualified |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Research Fellow (JRF) 1st & 2nd Year | ₹ 37,000 per month + Annual Contingency Grant as per UGC norms | ₹ 28,000 per month + ₹ 25,000 annual contingency + HRA (as admissible) |
| Senior Research Fellow (SRF) 3rd, 4th & 5th Year | ₹ 42,000 per month + Annual Contingency Grant as per UGC norms | ₹ 32,000 per month + ₹ 25,000 annual contingency + HRA (as admissible) |
Important Note: The fellowship grant from the DPIIT IPR Chair Scheme is admissible only if UGC-CSIR NET grant is NOT claimed by the candidate.
Important Dates for IPR Chair Admission
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | December 11, 2025 |
| Last Date for Application | January 9, 2026 |
| Research Proposal Submission | February 28, 2026 (Tentative) |
Contact Information & Important Notes
For any clarifications regarding the Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) PhD Admission 2025-26, candidates can contact:- Convenor, PhD Programme 2025-26: Prof. (Dr.) Amol Chavhan (Mob: 9420706040)
- Ms. Dipali Ahire (Mob: 7045092292) / Mr. Akash Chandra (Mob: 8840322898 – for IPR Chair)
- Email: phdadmission@mnlumumbai.edu.in
Note: Candidates must regularly check the official website (https://www.mnlumumbai.edu.in) and their registered email for updates. The university reserves the right to change the schedule or process.
