Career Options after Qualifying UGC NET Exam: Some Traditional and Non Traditional Opportunities

Career Options after Qualifying UGC NET Exam: Some Traditional and Non Traditional Opportunities
December 2, 2024
Teaching Exams . UGC NET

There are lots of candidates out there preparing for the UGC NET exam or thinking about starting the preparation. The candidates are always anxious about their careers and sometimes believe that the UGC NET exam, has limited their career opportunities to two paths: 1) Assistant Professor or 2) Eligibility to pursue a PhD with JRF at prestigious universities. However, these notions are not always true. There will be a large number of alternatives for the candidate.

Career Options After UGC NET

This article will discuss such opportunities to help you plan your future. This article is intended for a specific audience; let’s find out who will benefit from it:

  • Individuals who have completed the UGC NET are currently looking for work.
  • Candidates are looking for UGC NET-related professional opportunities.
  • The aspirants aim to pass the UGC NET exam.

Overview of UGC NET

 The UGC-NET exam is conducted primarily to select lecturers or assistant professors and grant junior research fellowships. The NET Exam is becoming more competitive, so anyone hoping to apply needs to study hard. Almost 5–6 lakh candidates sit for this exam twice a year. 

Candidates who only apply for the position of assistant professor will be ineligible for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). The UGC NET Exams are held twice a year and administered in a CBT format. Before considering other job alternatives, aspirants should grasp the courses covered in the UGC NET Exam, as well as the selection process.

Job Description and Salary:

Upon successfully passing the National Eligibility Test (NET), individuals become eligible for numerous teaching and research positions. Aspiring assistant professors have the opportunity to apply to prestigious universities and colleges across India.

Candidates who have cleared the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) not only receive a substantial stipend but also gain the advantage of pursuing a doctoral degree.

Here is a brief overview of UGC NET salary and job description:

Name

UGC NET (LS)/Assistant Professor

UGC NET-JRF

Salary

25000Rs-40000Rs

350000Rs

Job Description

This is a permanent role that involves both teaching and research. A doctoral degree is typically required. Assistant professors may be promoted to associate professor or professor. Responsibilities include research, conference presentations, and teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Active participation in academic committees and other service duties is expected.

A Research Fellow is responsible for conducting research projects in academic or government institutions. Their duties include designing and implementing research projects, analyzing data, presenting findings, and writing grant applications. They also collaborate with colleagues, supervise students, and participate in outreach activities.

Opportunities for JRF candidates

  1. After clearing the NET JRF, candidates who aspire to become research scholars can choose a suitable research area and start applying to universities for Ph.D. admission at their convenience.
  2. Candidates, who are from science disciplines can choose to work with the laboratories of DRDO, ICMR & SERB, ICAR, and so on.
  3. Candidates may try teaching at Govt. Owned/Sponsored Schools or Private Schools & Collages.
  4. Candidates who have cleared the UGC NET JRF are eligible for the positions of project manager, author, or project assistant in different PSUs and government-funded organizations. 
  • The JRF award is valid for 3 years from the date of issuance of the certificate and after getting admission for P.hD, a scholar can get 5 years to complete their research procedures.

If you choose to become a research scholar here is details you need to know:

About JRF

About SRF

JRF (Junior Research Fellow)

SRF (Senior Research Fellow)

Get a stipend of 35000/- in first 2 years 

Get a stipend of 42000/- in next 3 years

Those who qualified JRF can get the stipend after resuming their work.

SRF is a promotional position, recommendations are needed from  the review committee 

Career scope for NET – LS candidates:

The most preferable job opportunity for any NET-qualified candidate is to become an assistant professor in colleges and universities across the nation. This is one of the dreams they carry within their hearts immediately after starting their preparation for UGC NET. After successfully clearing the exam, one can easily apply for an assistant professor position. Candidates may have to teach undergraduate and postgraduate students, and educate, and train doctoral fellows.

However, candidates can choose to work as a part-time lecturer in colleges after qualifying for NET-LS.

If you choose to become an assistant professor/lecturer, here are some details you’d love to look at:

  • Candidates who have cleared UGC NET and want to become an assistant professor can easily apply for lectureships or assistant professorships in any institution at their convenience. 
  • The expected salary for an assistant professor will range from 25000/- to 40000/- per month. It may increase with your experience.
  • The eligible candidate can also join as a part-time lecturer or they can join as a faculty and train aspirants preparing for the UGC-NET exam. 

Also Read: Eligibility Criteria For UGC NET

Career after UGC NET – Other options

There are a lot of other career options after qualifying for UGC NET. If a candidate is not willing to take the conventional route of becoming an assistant professor or pursuing research with JRF, they can explore other sectors and find a suitable job for them.

Let’s find out some other options that you can try:

  • Author
  • Editor
  • Lab Trainer
  • Guest Faculty
  • Consultant
  • Tutor/ Trainer- Online & Offline

The salary structure varies from one place to another due to their policy. Students who are not willing to pursue their career in academia can opt for these positions. Though we have mentioned a few, there are a pool of other options you can choose from. 

Learn More: Coaching or Self Study Which Way is Better for You

Opportunities after UGC NET – Public Sector Undertakings

After qualifying for the UGC NET, becoming an assistant professor or pursuing a research career are not always the norm. Some candidates want to consider other career paths for their success. 

Many Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) directly hire candidates qualified for the UGC NET exam with a lucrative salary. UGC has permitted all the PSUs to access the UGC- NET exam database. So the candidates who have qualified for the UGC NET exam and also the candidates preparing for the NET exam are advised to keep an eye on the websites of PSUs for any recruitment notification. 

Here are the lists of PSUs, hire UGC NET qualified candidates:

PUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKINGS

WEBSITE

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)

https://www.bhel.com

Indian Oil Corporation Limited(IOCL)

https://iocl.com

National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)

https://ntpc.co.in

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)

https://ongcindia.com/

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)

https://bel-india.in/

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL)

https://www.powergrid.in/

Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) Ambernath

https://www.drdo.gov.in › drdo › labs-and-establishments

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)

https://www.hindustanpeTroleum.com

Oil India Limited (OIL)

https://oil-india.com

Candidates should know what positions a PSU can offer to a UGC NET-qualified candidate. Here to help you with your queries:

Many PSU allotted several vacancies for NET-qualified candidates–

  1. Education and Training 
  2. Human Resources
  3. Research and Development
  4. Corporate Communication
  5. Technical Unit
  6. Project Management
  7. Economy and Finance
  8. Policy and planning

UGC Academic Job Portal

To help with your career in academia, UGC has already come up with a portal where NET/SET/ P.hD qualified candidates can register themselves with relevant documents. The main aim of UGC behind this portal is to bring the academic profile of candidates to the attention of colleges, universities, and other employers, and help them get a suitable job.

With the help of this academic job portal, employers can search and browse through the candidates’ profile. This portal also helps employers to register their name and post for employment opportunities.

Link to the academic job portal: https://jobportal.ugc.ac.in/

FAQs

How to become an assistant professor?

To become an assistant professor, at first you need to qualify UGC NET , then follow recruitment news of various colleges and universities and apply at  your convenience. 

What is the age limit for becoming an assistant professor?

The age limit for an assistant professor varies in Indian institutions. Mostly the 35-40 years of range are currently being followed by the Indian institutions.

How can I get a Job in PSUs after UGC NET?

PSUs hire candidates who have cleared UGC NET. You should follow their official website to know when they are posting recruitment notices, and apply as per your requirements. 

Can JRF candidates teach at colleges and universities?

A JRF candidate is qualified to be an assistant professor. But they can not teach along with their running fellowship. UGC has a strict policy that tells a fellow shall not to take any paid assignments/ job during their tenure of the fellowship. 

Job or research which one is worthwhile after qualifying for the UGC NET?

Choose your career path as per your convenience and requirements. A job can provide sustenance and research can uplift your career if you want to stay in academia.

Can I become eligible to get a job at any government organisation after clearing UGC NET?

Obtaining a job in any government organization is challenging. You must take their eligibility exams and pass them to get hired. Clearing UGC NET won’t get you hired by any government organisation.

career after ugc net
career options after qualifying ugc net