TN SET Eligibility Criteria 2025 Who Can Apply?

1. Educational Qualification

• Candidates must have a Master’s degree from a recognized university with at least 55% marks.
• A relaxation of 5% (50% marks) is given to candidates belonging to SC, ST, PwD, and Third Gender categories.

2. Candidates Awaiting Results

• If you are currently pursuing your Master’s degree or have completed your final exams but are waiting for results, you can still apply.
• However, such candidates will only be considered for the Assistant Professor post if they secure the required percentage in their Master’s degree within two years of the TN SET result declaration.
• If they fail to do so, their eligibility will be canceled.

3. Relaxation for Ph.D. Holders

• If you have completed a Ph.D. and passed your Master’s degree before September 19, 1991, you will receive a 5% relaxation in the required marks (from 55% to 50%).
• This rule applies regardless of when the Ph.D. result was announced.

4. Subject-Specific Eligibility

• Candidates must take the TN SET exam in the same subject as their post-graduation.
• If your subject is not available in TN SET, you must appear for UGC-NET or Joint CSIR-UGC Test instead.

5. Foreign Degrees & Diplomas

• If you have a foreign degree or a diploma from an Indian institution, you must verify its equivalence with an Indian Master’s degree.
• The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) is responsible for confirming the validity of such degrees.

6. Age Limit for TN SET 2025

• There is NO upper age limit for applying to the TN SET exam.
• This means candidates of any age can apply if they meet the educational criteria.

TN SET Exam Pattern 2025 What to Expect?

Paper 1: General Aptitude Test

• Marks: 100
• Number of Questions: 50
• Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes)
• Topics Covered:
  • General Knowledge
  • Teaching & Research Aptitude
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Mathematical Aptitude
  • People & Environment
  • Higher Education System
  • Divergent Thinking
• Medium: English
• Negative Marking: No

Paper 2: Subject-Specific Test

• Marks: 200
• Number of Questions: 100
• Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes)
• Topics Covered:
  • Subject knowledge based on Postgraduate specialization
• Medium:
  • English (except for language subjects like Tamil, Arabic, Hindi, Malayalam, Sanskrit, Telugu, and Urdu)
• Negative Marking: No

Key Points to Remember

• The exam is conducted offline (pen and paper mode).
• Both papers take place on the same day without a break.
• Paper 1 is common for all, while Paper 2 is based on the candidate’s chosen subject.
• No negative marking for wrong answers.

Why Should You Apply for TN SET 2025?

1. No Age Limit – Anyone with the required qualifications can apply.
2. Relaxations for Reserved Categories – SC, ST, PwD, and Third Gender candidates get a 5% relaxation in marks.
3. Ph.D. Advantage – Candidates with a Ph.D. (before 1991) can also benefit from relaxed criteria.
4. Multiple Subject Options – You can choose from various subjects related to your post-graduate studies.
5. Direct Career Growth – Clearing TN SET makes you eligible for Assistant Professor jobs in Tamil Nadu universities.

How to Prepare for TN SET 2025?

• Understand the Syllabus – Focus on both Paper 1 (General Aptitude) and Paper 2 (Subject-Specific) topics.
• Use Previous Year Papers – Solving past papers can help you understand the question pattern.
• Time Management – Since the exam is 3 hours long, practice solving questions within the time limit.
• Stay Updated – Keep an eye on the official TN SET website for updates on exam dates and notifications.

Conclusion