Frequently Asked Questions

Candidates must hold a Master's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD candidates) from a recognized university. For Engineering programs, M.E./M.Tech. is preferred, though M.Sc. holders with GATE scores may also apply. See the Eligibility Criteria page for school-specific requirements.

The university conducts Ph.D. admissions twice a year — in July and January. Notification for each intake is released approximately 6–8 weeks before the entrance test date. Watch the Notifications page for announcements.

Yes, non-exempt candidates must appear for the university's Research Entrance Test (RET). Candidates holding UGC-NET/JRF, CSIR-NET/JRF, GATE (valid score), GPAT, ICMR-JRF, DBT-JRF, DST-INSPIRE, SLET/SET, or an M.Phil. degree are exempted from the RET. Exemption does not waive the requirement to attend the research proposal presentation and interview.

Direct Ph.D. admission after B.E./B.Tech. is available to a limited number of GATE-qualified candidates under the "Direct Ph.D." category for Engineering programs only. Such candidates are required to complete additional coursework in the first year. Contact the CDS office for current seat availability.

Yes, part-time Ph.D. is available for working professionals. The candidate must be employed in a relevant organization and submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer. Part-time scholars have a minimum duration of 5 years and must be able to devote adequate time to research, including attending DAC meetings and progress reviews.

Browse the Supervisors page and Research Areas to identify faculty whose work aligns with your interest. It is strongly recommended to reach out to potential supervisors via email before applying to discuss research fit and available vacancies. The CDS office can also help match candidates with suitable supervisors.

A change of supervisor is permissible under exceptional circumstances — such as supervisor resignation, prolonged absence, or an irreconcilable disagreement — subject to the approval of the Board of Doctoral Studies. The scholar must submit Form PhD-R04 (Change of Supervisor Request) with a statement of reasons. Any change will not affect the duration of registration.

Yes. A co-supervisor may be appointed from another department within the university or from another recognized institution. The co-supervisor must hold a Ph.D. and be approved by the DRC. The primary supervisor must be a regular faculty member of this university.

Yes, all scholars must complete a minimum of 8 credits of coursework in their first year and secure at least 55% in each course. Scholars who fail may re-appear in the next semester examination. Failure to complete coursework requirements within the stipulated time may lead to cancellation of registration.

Every scholar must submit a Six-Monthly Progress Report to the DRC and present their progress before the Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC) at least once a year. Missing two consecutive progress reports without valid reason may result in cancellation of registration.

As per Ph.D. Regulations 2025, scholars must publish or present at least one research paper in a UGC-CARE listed journal or at a recognized national/international conference before submitting the thesis. Additional publication requirements may be set by the DRC for specific departments.

The thesis must have a similarity index of 10% or below as detected by the university's approved plagiarism detection software (Turnitin/Urkund). Theses with 10–40% similarity are returned for revision and may be resubmitted within 6 months. Above 40% may result in rejection and possible cancellation of registration.

The thesis is evaluated by two external examiners — at least one from outside the state. The viva-voce examination is conducted in the presence of at least one external examiner and the supervisor. The pre-submission seminar is open to faculty and scholars of the department.

After a successful viva-voce, the scholar must submit the final corrected thesis (incorporating examiner corrections) within the time specified by the examiners (typically 30–90 days). The Board of Doctoral Studies then recommends the award, and the degree is conferred at the next convocation or through a provisional certificate issued by the Controller of Examinations.