Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

Pillai College of Engineering (PCE), New Panvel, Mumbai, offers a full-time Ph.D. in Information Technology under the University of Mumbai, established in 2019 with a sanctioned intake of 10 seats per batch. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and up to 6 years, with an annual fee of Rs. 1,25,000, making the total tuition fee Rs. 3,75,000 for the minimum duration. Admission is through the University of Mumbai's Ph.D. Entrance Test (PET), and the programme is popular for its strong research focus in areas like Data Science, AI, NLP, Big Data, and Image Processing. The course is offered in full-time, on-campus mode and is well-suited for candidates seeking to pursue advanced research in emerging IT domains.

Admissions for the 2026 cycle are upcoming. Based on the University of Mumbai's PET schedule, the notification is expected in July 2026, with the online entrance exam tentatively scheduled for September 19-20, 2026. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official PCE website (www.pce.ac.in) and the University of Mumbai portal for updates.

Key Points

Research areas include Data Science, Natural Language Processing, Image Processing, Big Data Analytics, Soft Computing, and Distributed Systems.
The department is equipped with dedicated labs: Cloud and Big Data, AI, IoT, Data Science, NLP, Network Security, and more.
Ph.D. scholars work under experienced faculty mentors on original, unsolved research problems.
Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET/JRF or GATE may be exempted from PET as per University of Mumbai norms.
The programme is affiliated to the University of Mumbai and follows UGC guidelines for Ph.D. admissions.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

PCE Ph.D. (IT) Fees

The Ph.D. (Information Technology) programme at PCE charges Rs. 1,25,000 per year as tuition fees, amounting to Rs. 3,75,000 for the minimum 3-year duration. Hostel facility is available on campus but is optional; hostel fees are approximately Rs. 1,00,000 per year (non-AC, including meals). The total cost including hostel for 3 years would be approximately Rs. 6,75,000.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount
Tuition Fee (per year)	Rs. 1,25,000
Tuition Fee (3 years total)	Rs. 3,75,000
Hostel Fee (per year, optional)	Rs. 1,00,000 (approx.)
Hostel Fee (3 years, optional)	Rs. 3,00,000 (approx.)
Total Fees (without hostel)	Rs. 3,75,000
Total Fees (with hostel, 3 years)	Rs. 6,75,000 (approx.)

Hostel is optional and not mandatory for Ph.D. scholars.
Fees are payable annually.
University-level fees (PET registration: Rs. 1,000; Registration: Rs. 2,000; Exam fee: Rs. 1,500; Thesis submission: Rs. 5,000; Viva fee: Rs. 3,000) are payable separately to the University of Mumbai.
Fee structure is subject to revision by the university/college each academic year.

PCE Ph.D. (IT) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (IT) programme at PCE are conducted through the University of Mumbai's Ph.D. Entrance Test (PET). The process involves online application, PET, personal interview/research proposal presentation, and final merit list preparation. The 2026 admission cycle is upcoming, with the PET expected in September 2026 based on the previous year's schedule.

PCE Ph.D. (IT) Admission Schedule 2026 (Tentative)

Event	Tentative Date
Notification Release	July 12, 2026
Application Start Date	July 15, 2026
Application Last Date	August 30, 2026
PET (Online Entrance Exam)	September 19-20, 2026
PET Result Declaration	October 10, 2026
Interview / Research Proposal Presentation	October 25 - November 10, 2026
Final Selected Candidate List	November 25, 2026
Last Date of Admission	December 10, 2026

Mandatory Entrance Exam Details

Exam	Conducting Body	Purpose	Remarks
University of Mumbai PET	University of Mumbai	Ph.D. Entrance Test for admission	Mandatory; conducted online; 100 MCQs (50% research aptitude + 50% subject)
UGC-NET / JRF	NTA	National Eligibility Test	Candidates with valid NET/JRF may be exempted from PET as per UGC norms

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must have passed a Master's degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates of Maharashtra).
Candidates appearing in the final year/semester of their Master's programme may apply provisionally.
Candidates must appear in the University of Mumbai PET in the relevant subject (Information Technology) unless exempted via UGC-NET/JRF.

Admission Process:

Submit online application on the University of Mumbai Ph.D. portal during the notification period.
Appear for the Ph.D. Entrance Test (PET) conducted by the University of Mumbai.
Candidates declared eligible in PET obtain an Eligibility Certificate.
Submit willingness to join PCE as a Research Centre and appear for a Research Proposal Presentation/Interview before the Research Advisory Committee (RAC).
RAC recommends selected candidates; guide/supervisor is assigned.
Pay prescribed fees within two weeks of selection to confirm admission.
Produce all required documents at the time of admission.

PCE Ph.D. (IT) Scholarships 2026

Ph.D. scholars at PCE can avail of various scholarships and funding opportunities from government bodies and the institution. National fellowships such as UGC-JRF and CSIR-JRF provide monthly stipends to eligible research scholars, making the programme financially accessible for meritorious candidates. The college also offers merit-based scholarships and a Student Activities Fund for research-related activities.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Offered By	Amount	Eligibility
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	UGC / NTA	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)	Qualify UGC-NET with JRF; valid for 5 years
CSIR-JRF	CSIR / NTA	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)	Qualify CSIR-NET with JRF (for science streams)
DST-INSPIRE Fellowship	DST, Govt. of India	Rs. 31,000/month + Rs. 20,000/year contingency	Top 1% in PG; or qualify GATE/NET
PCE Merit-Based Scholarship	Pillai College of Engineering	Up to Rs. 10,000 per year	Academic toppers in respective year
Government Scholarships (SC/ST/OBC/EBC)	State/Central Govt.	As per scheme	As per government norms

JRF/SRF fellowships are awarded by UGC/CSIR and are not directly provided by PCE; scholars must independently qualify and apply.
Government scholarships (social welfare, EBC) are available as per Maharashtra state government norms.
Students are encouraged to apply to charitable organizations through the college registrar for additional financial support.

PCE Ph.D. (IT) FAQs

Ques. Is the Ph.D. (IT) at PCE a full-time programme, and can working professionals pursue it?

Ans. The Ph.D. (IT) at PCE is primarily a full-time programme. However, the University of Mumbai also allows part-time Ph.D. enrolment (duration: 4-7 years) for working professionals, subject to fulfilling eligibility and NOC from employer. Candidates should confirm part-time availability with PCE directly, as seat availability may vary.

Ques. Is UGC-NET/JRF mandatory for Ph.D. admission at PCE, or is the PET sufficient?

Ans. The University of Mumbai PET is the primary entrance test for Ph.D. admission at PCE. Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET/JRF may be exempted from PET as per UGC guidelines. However, clearing PET alone is sufficient for admission; NET/JRF is not mandatory but is beneficial for fellowship funding.

Ques. What are the main research areas available under Ph.D. (IT) at PCE?

Ans. The department focuses on Data Science, Natural Language Processing, Image Processing, Big Data Analytics, Soft Computing, Distributed Systems, IoT, Network Security, and AI. Scholars work under faculty mentors in well-equipped labs dedicated to these domains.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. (IT) at PCE, and how competitive is the admission?

Ans. The sanctioned intake for Ph.D. (IT) at PCE is 10 seats per batch. Admission is based on PET performance followed by a research proposal presentation/interview before the Research Advisory Committee. Competition depends on the number of applicants and available guide vacancies each cycle.

Ques. What is the total cost of pursuing a Ph.D. (IT) at PCE, including all fees?

Ans. The tuition fee is Rs. 1,25,000 per year (Rs. 3,75,000 for 3 years minimum). Additionally, University of Mumbai charges fees for PET registration, registration, exam, thesis submission, and viva (totalling approximately Rs. 13,500 over the programme). Hostel is optional at approximately Rs. 1,00,000 per year. Scholars with JRF/SRF fellowships can offset these costs significantly.

Ques. When does PCE typically announce Ph.D. admissions, and where should I check for updates?

Ans. PCE follows the University of Mumbai's Ph.D. admission calendar. Notifications are typically released in July, with PET conducted in September-October. Candidates should regularly check www.pce.ac.in and the University of Mumbai's official research portal (mu.ac.in) for the latest announcements, as no individual communication is sent to candidates.