Almost every central university now takes faculty applications on one website: CU Chayan, run by the UGC at curec.samarth.ac.in. On paper it looks simple: one login, one profile, apply anywhere. In practice candidates still lose applications because they treat the portal like a simple online form. They type in a publication without uploading proof, pay one fee for two posts, send no hard copy where one is required, or upload a 2023 OBC certificate. The portal is the same for every university. The rules of each advert are not.
This guide explains how applying through CU Chayan actually works, from registration to the interview. We read the UGC's CU-Chayan FAQ, the CU Chayan user manual (69 pages), the portal's own help pages, the UGC Secretary's letter of 3 May 2023 to all central universities, the UGC Regulations 2018 (Table 3A and clause 6.0), the UGC Guidelines for Recruitment of Faculty (4 June 2019), the UGC Annual Report 2023-24, and four central university adverts posted on CU Chayan: Central University of South Bihar (CUSB) Advt. 49/2026 (open now), Visva-Bharati Advt. 03/2026 (open now), Central University of Punjab Advt. CUPB/26-27/006 and Jamia Millia Islamia Advt. 01/2026-27 (T) (both closed, but recent and very clear about process). Where the universities differ, we show a table instead of a general rule.
This guide does not repeat who is eligible. For the 55% rule, NET/SET/PhD, relaxations and NET categories, read our Assistant Professor eligibility guide (UGC, NET, SET, PhD). If you are a doctor applying to an AIIMS, the process is different; see our AIIMS faculty recruitment guide.
At a glance: CU Chayan in one table
| Question | Answer (official source) |
|---|---|
| What is it? | The UGC's unified recruitment portal for faculty posts in central universities, launched on 2 May 2023 (CU-Chayan FAQ, Q1; UGC letter of 3 May 2023) |
| Who uses it? | Central universities. The UGC Annual Report 2023-24 says 42 out of 45 central universities were posting jobs on it |
| Is it a common exam or common selection? | No. Each university advertises, shortlists, interviews and appoints on its own (FAQ, Q7) |
| Website | https://curec.samarth.ac.in |
| Cost of registering | Nothing. Each university charges its own application fee, per post |
| Who calculates the score? | The portal auto-calculates API/academic score points from what you enter; the university's screening committee checks them against your uploads (user manual FAQs, pp. 67–69; FAQ, Q5) |
| Upload size | Photo, signature and Class X/XII certificate: jpg/png, 20–100 KB. Other documents: pdf/jpg/png up to 500 KB each (manual, pp. 37–41) |
| Hard copy | Depends on the university: CUSB says no offline forms; CU Punjab says do not send one; Jamia made it mandatory |
| Shortlisting rule for Assistant Professor | UGC 2018 Appendix II, Table 3A (out of 100), used only to shortlist; the selection is on interview performance |
| Technical help | curec.helpdesk@samarth.ac.in (portal Helpdesk page) |
Read this first: the portal scores you from what you type, and the committee checks it against what you upload
Most candidates think of the online form as a formality and the interview as the real test. CU Chayan changes the first half of that. The user manual's FAQ says plainly: "There is the automatic calculation of API points which is done by the system", and "the system has configured API Scores as per the UGC Guidelines which calculates the marks for a candidate on the basis of details entered by them in the respective field." The UGC's own FAQ (Q5) adds what happens next: the university's screening committee "can view applicants' details and points/research scores the system gives and check the uploaded document against each entry."
Put those two lines together and you get the most practical rule in this guide: every entry that earns points must have its own proof uploaded in the matching slot. A paper you typed in but did not upload, a year of teaching without an experience certificate, or a percentage typed without the marksheet can be struck out at screening. Jamia's advert says it directly: proof of peer-reviewed status, impact factor and authorship "should be provided with valid documents, otherwise, the marks will not be allotted as per the claim." The manual also says the committee's comments on errors "will be visible to the candidate in the portal", so check your application page after the closing date.
The second point from the same FAQ: CU Chayan is one portal, not one recruitment. The UGC says it "is not a centralized recruitment process for all CUs" and that each university "will do all the faculty recruitment independently." So your profile carries across universities, but the fee, the shortlist size, the hard-copy rule, the certificate dates and the interview format all come from the advert you are answering.
Step-by-step: applying on CU Chayan
Step 1: Register (once)
- Open curec.samarth.ac.in and click Register.
- Enter your email address and mobile number, choose a password and fill the captcha (manual, pp. 4–6).
- Open the confirmation email from the UGC and click the sign-in link. If it does not arrive, use Resend Confirmation Email on the portal.
- Log in with your email, password and captcha. A forgotten password is reset through Request Password Reset (pp. 9–11).
Use an email address you check daily. Every university we read sends interview letters only by email. CUSB says all correspondence "shall be sent only to the e-mail address provided", and CU Punjab says it will send nothing by post. One email ID is enough for any number of posts; the manual's FAQ confirms you do not need a second one (p. 68).
Step 2: Create a profile
From the dashboard, click Create a New Profile, give it a clear name (for example "Assistant Professor – Economics") and select the position type. The manual says the position type "is important because it will help match the most relevant job opportunities" (p. 14). The profile has eight sections: General details, Education, Experience, Research, Additional info, Declaration, Uploads and Preview.
Step 3: Fill Education carefully
- Enter Class X and XII, then your pattern (UG + PG + MPhil/PhD, or integrated Master's).
- If your marksheet gives a CGPA, the manual says the candidate "should convert it into overall percentage" (p. 22). Keep your university's conversion rule ready, because Table 3A awards marks by percentage bands.
- For a PhD, enter the registration date, submission date, award date and thesis title. These dates matter: the UGC route treats PhDs registered before 11 July 2009 differently, and the time spent on a PhD does not count as experience.
- A second Master's goes under additional qualifications (manual FAQ, p. 68).
Step 4: Fill Experience the way the portal counts it
The manual's note in the Experience section is strict: "The time taken by candidates to acquire M.Phil. and/or Ph.D. Degree/ Part-time Teaching/Guest Lecturer/Teaching Assistantship shall not be considered as teaching/ research experience." Each period "must be supported by an Experience Certificate issued by the employer", and you must not include breaks or leave taken for an MPhil or PhD in the From–To dates (p. 24). For each job you mark whether it was Permanent, Ad-hoc, Temporary or Contractual, its pay, and whether the work was "equivalent to Asst. Professor or higher".
Step 5: Fill Research and pick your five best
Each paper needs its title, authorship (single, first, corresponding, joint), year, journal, volume, pages, whether it is peer-reviewed or UGC-listed, DOI, an impact-factor band and Scopus status. The manual asks you to tick your five best publications (p. 26), and for Professor and Associate Professor posts you can upload them after applying (p. 67). Research guidance, projects, patents, invited lectures and awards have their own sections. Awards are counted only from post-graduation onwards, and "Junior/Senior research fellowships and non-NET fellowships should not be included" (p. 31).
Step 6: Additional info: the short answers matter
This section asks for answers of up to 100 words each on: how you would create an innovative learning environment, your most significant research contribution, your roadmap for teaching and research for the next five years, and your vision for the department for the next five years. It also asks whether you will accept the minimum initial pay, how many days you need to join, three disclosure questions (punishment or conviction, dismissal or being declared medically unfit, pending criminal case), and two references with email and phone (pp. 33–36). The selection committee reads these answers. CU Punjab's advert separately asks candidates to list research projects and write "a short paragraph on the teaching philosophy". Write them as you would speak in the interview: specific, with one or two real examples.
Step 7: Declaration and NOC
If you are employed, the Declaration section takes your NOC details. If you do not have an NOC yet, the manual says you "shall produce the No Objection Certificate before/at the time of Interview/Document Verification" (p. 39). But check the advert: CUSB says in-service applicants "must upload NOC from their employer at the time of applying", with a line that no vigilance case is pending. CU Punjab allows an undertaking that the NOC will come at the interview. Visva-Bharati and Jamia ask you to apply through proper channel.
Step 8: Upload, then preview
Upload each document in its own slot: photo and signature (jpg/png, 20–100 KB), Class X/XII certificate showing your date of birth, Master's marksheet, NET certificate, and then a separate upload for each experience, paper, publication, guidance, award, invited lecture and project you entered (pp. 37–41). The size limit is 500 KB per file, so scan long certificates at a lower resolution and check that every page is still readable. CUSB asks for "good quality self-attested (bearing full signature)" copies. Then use Preview; the manual's FAQ says your score is visible there (p. 68).
Step 9: Apply to a post
- Go to Browse Vacancies (filters: university, location, designation, category, subject, type of employment, experience, education level) or open the university's page under Universities.
- Click Apply for this Job, choose your profile under "Select Profile for this Application" and click Proceed (pp. 57–58).
- Fill any extra fields that university has added; the manual says these can be mandatory or optional "as per the University requirements" (p. 67). Some universities add their own annexures, such as CUSB's Annexure III (undertaking on experience during a PhD) and Annexure IV (PhD compliance certificate).
- Pay the fee through the payment gateway and submit. Each post gets its own application number (p. 69).
Step 10: Track, and watch for comments
The Applications tab shows status, and the manual mentions options to withdraw or modify an application (p. 59). Do not rely on editing after the last date: Jamia says requests to add documents after the last date "shall not be entertained", and CU Punjab fixes eligibility on the original closing date even if the deadline is extended. Corrigenda appear on the university's own website (CUSB, CU Punjab, Visva-Bharati and Jamia all say so).
Four central universities, four sets of rules
| Item | CUSB Advt. 49/2026 | Visva-Bharati Advt. 03/2026 | CU Punjab CUPB/26-27/006 | Jamia 01/2026-27 (T) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Posts | 25 (2 Prof, 8 Assoc, 15 Asst) | 14 (1 Prof, 6 Assoc, 7 Asst) | Several departments | Engineering, sciences, polytechnic |
| Last date | 7 Dec 2026, 5 PM (open) | 15 Nov 2026, 11:59 PM (open) | 2 Jun 2026 (closed) | 6 Oct 2026; hard copy 16 Oct (closed) |
| Fee (General) | ₹2,000 (UR/OBC/EWS) | ₹2,000 (Level 14/13A); ₹1,600 (Level 10) | ₹750 per post | ₹1,500 (UR/OBC) |
| SC/ST | Exempt | Pay 25% of the fee | Exempt | ₹750 |
| Women | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Not listed as exempt |
| PwD | Exempt (PwBD) | Exempt (40% or more) | Exempt | No fee |
| Hard copy | No ("No offline forms would be accepted") | Not asked; apply online | No ("Please don't send hard copy") | Mandatory, serially numbered documents |
| Shortlisting | Academic score, may be set above the minimum; may hold a written test or marking system if applications are many | May be limited to 1:15, strictly on Table 2 and Table 3A scores | API score: 25 for one post (13 concerned subject + 12 allied), 35 for two posts | Table 3A for Assistant Professor; screening committee |
| Seminar / presentation | Seminar, colloquium or lecture may be used as a supplementary method | Not specified in the advert | Presentation, seminar, interview or a combination | Not specified; selection on interview |
| NOC | Upload at time of applying | Proper channel or NOC at interview | Upload, or undertaking and submit at interview | Apply through proper channel |
| Interview from abroad / online | May consider exceptional candidates in absentia | Skype or other audio-visual link for candidates abroad | In absentia or video conferencing possible | Not specified |
Two lessons from the table. First, read the fee line for your category in the advert itself; "SC/ST exempt" is common but not universal, and women are not exempt everywhere. Second, the hard-copy rule can go either way on the same portal. Jamia's advert said that without the hard copy "their candidature may not be considered", while CU Punjab asked candidates not to send one at all.
Screening: how the API/academic score works for Assistant Professor
For Assistant Professor posts in universities, the score is Table 3A of Appendix II, UGC Regulations 2018 (Gazette pages 107–108). The note under clause 4.1 (page 60) says this score "shall be considered for short-listing of the candidates for interview only, and the selections shall be based only on the performance in the interview." CUSB, Visva-Bharati and Jamia repeat this sentence, and CU Punjab asks Assistant Professor applicants to fill the shortlisting criteria "strictly in the format provided" in Table 3A.
| Item (Table 3A) | Marks |
|---|---|
| Graduation: 80% and above / 60–80% / 55–60% / 45–55% | 15 / 13 / 10 / 5 |
| Post-graduation: 80% and above / 60–80% / 55% (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD) to 60% | 25 / 23 / 20 |
| MPhil: 60% and above / 55–60% | 7 / 5 |
| PhD | 30 (MPhil + PhD capped at 30) |
| NET with JRF / NET / SLET-SET | 7 / 5 / 3 (capped at 7) |
| Research publications in peer-reviewed or UGC-listed journals, 2 marks each | Maximum 10 |
| Teaching / post-doctoral experience, 2 marks per year (pro rata below one year) | Maximum 10 |
| Awards: international/national 3, state 2 | Maximum 3 |
| Total (Note C: academic 80 + publications 10 + teaching 10) | 100 |
Two worked examples (our arithmetic, using the table). Candidate A: BA 62% (13), MA 58% (20), NET without JRF (5), two UGC-listed papers (4), no PhD or teaching. Total: 42. Candidate B: BSc 72% (13), MSc 68% (23), PhD (30), NET-JRF (7), four papers (8), two years as a post-doctoral fellow (4). Total: 85. If a university calls 25 people for one post, as CU Punjab did, Candidate A will rarely make the list for a popular subject. Calculate your own score before paying the fee.
Three details catch people out. Note (D) to Table 3A says a SET score is valid only in that state's universities, so at a central university outside your SET state, the 3 SET marks do not help. Guest or part-time teaching is not experience on the CU Chayan form. And Visva-Bharati defines "good academic record" as an average of at least 55% across Class X, Class XII and the Honours degree, on top of 55% in the Master's, which is stricter than the UGC minimum.
For Associate Professor and Professor posts, the screening uses the research score in Appendix II, Table 2: CUSB's advert asks for a research score of 75 and seven publications for Associate Professor, and 120 and ten publications for Professor. Both CU Punjab and Visva-Bharati screen these posts on Table 2.
Shortlisting: what happens after the last date
The UGC's own FAQ says the screening is done online: the committee sees your system score, checks each upload and records its comments. Every advert we read repeats that meeting the minimum "will not entitle" you to an interview. CUSB says it may restrict the list "on the basis of academic score which may be higher than the minimum prescribed", and if applications are very many it may adopt "a written test or adopting a marking system". Shortlisted candidates get an email call letter; CUSB says there will be no correspondence with others.
How long does it take? The UGC's Guidelines for Recruitment of Faculty (4 June 2019) ask universities to finish the whole process in six months: scrutiny and interview letters within 30 days, interviews within the next 30 days, and appointment letters within the next 30 days. In practice, timelines vary by university; check the university's recruitment page for shortlists.
Interview and presentation
Clause 6.0 I of the UGC Regulations 2018 (page 75) lets universities assess teaching and research aptitude "through a seminar or lecture in a classroom situation or discussion on the capacity to use the latest technology in teaching and research at the interview stage." CUSB may use a "seminar/colloquium/Lecture" as a supplementary method; CU Punjab says selection "may be by a presentation/ seminar/interview or a combination thereof." None of the four adverts gives a separate weight or marks for the presentation. For Assistant Professor, the UGC note means the final decision rests on interview performance, with the Table 3A score used only to get you into the room.
How to prepare (our advice, not an official rule):
- Prepare a 10–15 minute talk on one topic from the syllabus of the department, pitched for a Master's class, and a short version of your research.
- Bring the same answers you wrote in the 100-word boxes: your five-year roadmap and your vision for the department. The committee has them in front of it.
- Know the department: its programmes, its specialisations, and the specialisation named in the advert (CUSB and Visva-Bharati list desirable specialisations per post).
- Carry all originals. CUSB asks for originals, a photo ID (Aadhaar, Voter ID, Driving Licence or Passport), a printed online form and self-attested copies at the interview.
- Expect costs: Visva-Bharati says no TA/DA; CU Punjab reimburses rail fare to outstation SC/ST/PwD candidates not already in government service.
Documents checklist
| Document | Why (official source) |
|---|---|
| Class X certificate showing date of birth | CUSB accepts only the matriculation certificate as DOB proof; the portal has a slot for it |
| All marksheets and degrees (UG, PG, MPhil, PhD), CGPA conversion | Table 3A bands use percentages; the manual asks you to convert grades |
| NET/SET certificate, or PhD papers in its place | Visva-Bharati asks non-NET Assistant Professor applicants to upload the clause 3.3(I) documents instead |
| PhD compliance certificate (UGC 2009/2016 Regulations) and coursework marksheet | CUSB Annexure IV (Annexure V for registrations before 11 July 2009); Jamia instruction 16 |
| AIU equivalence certificate for a foreign PhD | CUSB, CU Punjab and Jamia reject a foreign PhD without it (MoE-scholarship PhDs exempt) |
| Experience certificates with dates, designation, nature of appointment, pay | CUSB also wants a line that the appointment was by proper selection under UGC rules; Jamia accepts only the Registrar's signature; CU Punjab wants one salary slip per financial year (Form 16 for non-government employers) |
| Undertaking on teaching during PhD | CUSB Annexure III, countersigned by the institution |
| Copies of each paper, with journal listing and impact-factor proof | Jamia and Visva-Bharati allot research marks only on proof |
| OBC-NCL / EWS / SC / ST / PwBD certificate in the GoI format | CU Punjab: OBC-NCL and EWS issued on or after 1 April 2026; CUSB: EWS valid for 2026; PwBD must be at least 40% |
| NOC (with "no vigilance case" line) if employed | CUSB: upload while applying |
| Photo and signature, 20–100 KB | Portal upload limit |
Common rejection reasons, from the adverts themselves
- A claim with no proof. Jamia: marks "will not be allotted" without documents for journal status, impact factor and authorship. The FAQ says the committee checks each entry against its upload.
- One fee, several posts. CUSB, CU Punjab, Visva-Bharati and Jamia all need a separate application for each post; CUSB, CU Punjab and Visva-Bharati also say the fee is per post.
- No hard copy where it is mandatory. Jamia's advert warned that candidature "may not be considered".
- Old or wrong-format category certificate. CUSB: an OBC certificate not in the GoI format means the application "will be summarily rejected"; without proof of at least 40% disability, a PwBD applicant is treated as General.
- Foreign PhD without AIU equivalence. Rejected at CUSB, CU Punjab and Jamia.
- Experience that does not count. PhD years, guest lecturing, part-time teaching and teaching assistantships are excluded on the CU Chayan form; an experience certificate signed by the wrong person is not accepted at Jamia.
- Not eligible on the closing date. CU Punjab fixes eligibility on the original closing date even if the deadline is extended; a qualification gained afterwards does not count.
- Incomplete application. CUSB and Visva-Bharati reject incomplete forms "summarily" or "without any reference".
- Re-advertised posts not re-applied. CUSB and CU Punjab told earlier applicants to apply afresh (fee waived), not to rely on the old application.
- Applying to a reserved post you do not belong to. Check the category column: at CUSB, Law and Governance is for a PwBD candidate and Economic Studies and Policy is ST.
- Canvassing. All four adverts forbid it; CUSB and Jamia call it a disqualification and CU Punjab says it will lead to cancellation of candidature.
Open central and other university faculty posts on RojgarDekho
| Post | How to apply | Last date |
|---|---|---|
| Visva-Bharati, Faculty (14 posts) | CU Chayan | 15 Nov 2026, 11:59 PM |
| CUSB Gaya, Professor / Associate / Assistant Professor (25 posts) | CU Chayan | 7 Dec 2026, 5 PM |
| IUST Kashmir, Assistant Professor (48 posts) | University portal + hard copy | 2 Dec 2026 |
| HBTU Kanpur, Faculty | University process | 8 Dec 2026 |
| Bhattadev University, Faculty (16 posts) | Online + hard copy | 9 Dec 2026 |
| NLSIU Bengaluru, Assistant Professor (Law) | University process | 9 Dec 2026 |
The list beside this guide updates as new university faculty adverts open.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register separately for each central university?
No. One registration and one profile work for every central university on the portal. The UGC FAQ says your data is transferred to the university's database when you apply. But each post is a separate application with its own number and fee.
Is CU Chayan a common recruitment exam like CUET?
No. The UGC says it "is not a centralized recruitment process for all CUs". Each university writes its own advert, sets its own shortlisting and holds its own interviews.
Who calculates my API score, and can it be wrong?
The portal calculates it automatically from the details you enter, using UGC tables. The university's screening committee then checks each entry against your uploaded proof and can record comments, which the manual says will be visible to you on the portal. If you typed something wrongly or uploaded the wrong file, the verified score can be lower than the one you saw in Preview.
What are the file size limits?
Photo, signature and the Class X/XII certificate: jpg/jpeg/png, 20–100 KB. Other documents: pdf/jpg/jpeg/png up to 500 KB each (user manual, pp. 37–41).
Do I have to send a hard copy?
Only if the advert says so. CUSB accepts no offline forms and CU Punjab asked candidates not to send one, but Jamia made a serially numbered hard copy mandatory. Read the general instructions of each advert.
Is the application fee the same everywhere?
No. In the adverts we read it ranged from ₹750 (CU Punjab) to ₹2,000 (CUSB, and Visva-Bharati for senior posts). Exemptions differ too: SC/ST pay nothing at CUSB and CU Punjab, 25% at Visva-Bharati and ₹750 at Jamia, and women are exempt at three of the four.
How many candidates are called for interview?
The UGC leaves it to each university (Table 3A, Note B). CU Punjab called 25 for one post and 35 for two; Visva-Bharati may limit it to 1:15; CUSB may set a score above the minimum or hold a written test.
Is there a presentation, and how much does it count?
UGC clause 6.0 allows a seminar or classroom lecture at the interview stage, and CUSB and CU Punjab mention it. No advert we read gives it a separate weight. For Assistant Professor, the selection is based only on interview performance.
I am employed but my NOC is not ready. Can I still apply?
The portal lets you declare that you will produce the NOC at the interview or document verification. CU Punjab accepted an undertaking, but CUSB asks for the NOC at the time of applying. Follow the advert.
Do state universities use CU Chayan?
The UGC FAQ says the portal is only for faculty vacancies in central universities. State universities, institutes and colleges follow the mode given in their own advert, often their own website and a hard copy.
Official sources
- UGC: CU-Chayan FAQs on the Unified Recruitment Portal for Central Universities (Q1–Q13).
- CU Chayan: A Comprehensive User Guide of the Portal (69 pages; registration pp. 4–11, profile pp. 12–41, applying pp. 55–59, FAQs pp. 67–69), and the portal's Home, Resources and Helpdesk pages.
- UGC D.O. No. 85-1/2022 (CU), 3 May 2023: CU-Chayan Portal letter to all central universities.
- UGC Annual Report 2023-24, section 15.4 (CU Chayan Portal).
- UGC Regulations 2018: note under clause 4.1 (page 60), clause 6.0 (page 75), Appendix II Table 3A (pages 107–108).
- UGC Guidelines for Recruitment of Faculty in Universities, Colleges and Institutions Deemed to be Universities (4 June 2019).
- Central University of South Bihar, Advt. No. CUSB/Advt./49/2026 dated 06.11.2026.
- Visva-Bharati, Advertisement No. 03/2026 dated 13.10.2026.
- Central University of Punjab, Advt. No. CUPB/26-27/006 dated 12.05.2026.
- Jamia Millia Islamia, Advt. No. 01/2026-27 (T) dated 15.09.2026.
Portals change and adverts get corrected. Before you apply, read the latest advert and corrigenda on the university's own website and on curec.samarth.ac.in.
