Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (Engineering) Full Time programme at the Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad is a research-focused doctoral programme offered under the Faculty of Technology and Engineering. Established in 2003, the programme spans a minimum of 3 years and covers a wide range of engineering disciplines including Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. The total intake for the Faculty of Technology and Engineering (Full Time and Part Time combined) is 185 seats for 2026-27. Full-time scholars receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 26,290 for the first two years and Rs. 30,030 from the third year onwards, making it financially accessible for dedicated researchers. The programme is popular among engineering graduates seeking to contribute to cutting-edge research in areas such as AI/ML, VLSI design, power systems, sustainable manufacturing, and advanced materials.

Admissions for the 2026-27 batch are currently open. The online application process is ongoing, and the Ph.D. Entrance Examination and Presentation for the Institute of Technology is scheduled for July 22, 2026 (Wednesday) at Nirma University, Ahmedabad. Candidates holding valid GATE/UGC-NET/CSIR-NET scores are exempted from the written entrance test and directly called for the viva-voce/presentation.

Key Points

The programme is offered in multiple engineering disciplines: Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
Full-time PhD scholars at the Institute of Technology receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 26,290 for the first two years and Rs. 30,030 from the third year, funded by the university.
Candidates with valid GATE, UGC-NET (including JRF), or CSIR-NET scores are exempted from the written entrance test and directly proceed to the viva-voce/presentation stage.
All PhD scholars must complete a mandatory course work of 16 credits before proceeding to full-time research.
Scholars are required to publish at least one paper in a Web of Science/Scopus-indexed journal (Q3 or higher) and present at national/international conferences before thesis submission.
Full-time PhD scholars have the opportunity to work as Lecturers on a contractual basis at the university, providing teaching experience alongside research.
The Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT is also available at Nirma University, offering additional fellowship support for eligible candidates in these domains.
The programme is coordinated by the Faculty of Doctoral Studies and Research (FDSR), which oversees all doctoral programmes across the university.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

Institute of Technology, Nirma University Ahmedabad Latest Updates and News

17 Mar, 2026 Institute of Technology, Nirma University Ahmedabad Ph.D Engineering Fee Structure 2026 is out. The total academic fee is ₹ 1.63 Lakhs.

20 Feb, 2026 Institute of Technology, Nirma University Ahmedabad PhD Registration 2026-27 is open till May 16 @nirmauni.ac.in. The entrance exam and presentation are tentatively scheduled between Jun 20 & Jul 24, 2026. Check details.

Institute of Technology, Nirma University Ahmedabad Important Events

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ITNU Ph.D. (Eng.) Fees

The fee structure for the Ph.D. (Engineering) Full Time programme at Nirma University for 2026-27 is highly affordable, with an annual tuition fee of just Rs. 40,000. The total first-year fee including all one-time charges and refundable security deposit is Rs. 82,200. Given that full-time scholars receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 26,290 (rising to Rs. 30,030 from the third year), the net cost of the programme is effectively offset by the fellowship for most scholars.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount
Tuition Fee (Per Annum)	Rs. 40,000
Registration Fee (One Time)	Rs. 5,000
Initial Post-Graduation Registration Fee (One Time)	Rs. 1,000
Course Work Examination Fee (at time of course work submission)	Rs. 1,200
Viva Voce Examination Fee (at time of thesis submission)	Rs. 20,000
Total Other Fees	Rs. 27,200
Refundable Security Deposit (One Time)	Rs. 15,000
Total First Year Fee	Rs. 82,200
Eligibility Certificate (if required, One Time)	Rs. 1,000

The refundable security deposit of Rs. 15,000 is returned at the time of leaving the programme.
The Course Work Examination Fee (Rs. 1,200) is payable at the time of submission of course work, not at admission.
The Viva Voce Examination Fee (Rs. 20,000) is payable at the time of thesis submission.
Application processing fee is Rs. 1,250 (non-refundable), payable online at the time of application.
Full-time scholars receive a monthly stipend (see Scholarships section), which significantly offsets the cost of the programme.

ITNU Ph.D. (Eng.) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Engineering) Full Time programme for 2026-27 are currently open. The Ph.D. Entrance Examination and Presentation for the Institute of Technology is scheduled for July 22, 2026. Candidates with valid GATE/UGC-NET/CSIR-NET scores are exempted from the written test. The final selection is based on 70% weightage to the entrance test and 30% to the viva-voce/presentation. Candidates are advised to apply online at admissions-phd.nirmauni.ac.in and regularly check the official FDSR website for updates.

Ph.D. Admission Schedule

Event	Date/Details
PhD Admissions 2026 Advertisement Published	March 25, 2026
Online Application Open	Ongoing (apply at admissions-phd.nirmauni.ac.in)
Application Processing Fee	Rs. 1,250 (non-refundable, online payment)
Written Test and Presentation - Institute of Technology (Full Time and Part Time)	July 22, 2026 (Wednesday), In-Person at Nirma University, Ahmedabad
Written Test and Presentation - Institute of Management (Full Time Only)	June 20, 2026 (Saturday)
Result / Merit List Declaration	To be announced after entrance test
Commencement of Programme	To be announced (tentatively August 2026)

Entrance Exam Exemptions

Exam	Exemption Status
GATE (valid score)	Exempted from written entrance test; directly called for viva-voce
UGC-NET including JRF (Category 1)	Exempted from written test; awarded full marks of written test
UGC-NET (Categories 2 and 3)	Valid for one year; marks considered in final merit
CSIR-NET including JRF	Exempted from written entrance test; directly called for viva-voce
GPAT (valid score)	Exempted from written entrance test (applicable for Pharmacy)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

A Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline from a recognised university with at least 55% marks in aggregate (or equivalent grade).
OR a 4-year Bachelor's degree programme or equivalent in a relevant discipline from a recognised university with at least 75% marks in aggregate (or equivalent grade).
OR an MPhil degree from a recognised university with at least 55% marks in aggregate (or equivalent grade).
Candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying examination may also apply, subject to furnishing proof of eligibility at the time of joining.

Admission Process

Apply online at admissions-phd.nirmauni.ac.in by paying the non-refundable application fee of Rs. 1,250.
Eligible candidates are called for the written entrance test (50% qualifying marks required); syllabus consists of 50% Research Methodology and 50% subject-specific content.
Candidates with valid GATE/UGC-NET/CSIR-NET scores are exempted from the written test and directly called for viva-voce.
Shortlisted candidates appear for a viva-voce/presentation before the Departmental Research Committee, discussing their research interest and proposed area of work.
Final merit is computed as 70% weightage to written test + 30% weightage to viva-voce performance.
Selected candidates are allocated a Research Supervisor by the Departmental Research Committee based on specialisation and research interests.
All admitted scholars must complete 16 credits of mandatory course work before proceeding to full-time research.

ITNU Ph.D. (Eng.) Scholarships 2026

Nirma University provides monthly stipends to full-time PhD scholars, making the programme financially viable for dedicated researchers. For the Faculty of Technology and Pharmacy, the stipend is Rs. 26,290 per month for the first two years and Rs. 30,030 per month from the third year onwards. Additionally, the Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT provides enhanced fellowship support for eligible candidates in electronics and IT-related engineering disciplines.

Stipend Structure

Category	Year/Period	Monthly Stipend
Faculty of Technology and Pharmacy (Full Time)	First Two Years	Rs. 26,290 per month
Faculty of Technology and Pharmacy (Full Time)	Third Year Onwards	Rs. 30,030 per month
Faculty of Management (Full Time)	First Three Years	Rs. 22,550 per month
Faculty of Management (Full Time)	Fourth Year	Rs. 26,290 per month
Faculty of Science including Humanities and Social Science (Full Time)	First Two Years	Rs. 22,550 per month
Faculty of Science including Humanities and Social Science (Full Time)	Third Year Onwards	Rs. 26,290 per month

Stipends are available only for full-time PhD scholars; part-time scholars are not eligible for the monthly stipend.
The Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT provides additional fellowship support for eligible candidates in electronics and IT engineering disciplines. Candidates may check the official FDSR website for current details.
Full-time scholars also have the opportunity to work as Lecturers on a contractual basis at the university, which provides additional income alongside the stipend.
Scholarship continuation is subject to satisfactory research progress as assessed by the Departmental Research Committee.

Institute of Technology, Nirma University Ahmedabad Ph.D Engineering Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#131 out of 500 in India 2025

#1st in Ahmedabad

#6 in Gujarat

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ITNU Ph.D. (Eng.) FAQs

Ques. What engineering disciplines can I pursue a PhD in at the Institute of Technology, Nirma University?

Ans. The Institute of Technology offers PhD programmes in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Research areas span topics such as AI/ML, VLSI design, power systems, sustainable manufacturing, nanotechnology, structural engineering, and more. The tentative research areas and available seats for each discipline are published on the FDSR website at the time of each admission cycle.

Ques. Is GATE score mandatory for PhD admission at Nirma University?

Ans. GATE score is not mandatory, but it is highly beneficial. Candidates with a valid GATE score are exempted from the university's written entrance test and are directly called for the viva-voce/presentation stage. Candidates without GATE/NET scores must appear for the university's own entrance test, which has a qualifying threshold of 50%. The final merit is computed as 70% written test + 30% viva-voce.

Ques. What is the monthly stipend for a full-time PhD scholar in Engineering at Nirma University?

Ans. Full-time PhD scholars in the Faculty of Technology (Engineering) receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 26,290 for the first two years and Rs. 30,030 from the third year onwards. This stipend is provided by the university and is subject to satisfactory research progress. Part-time scholars do not receive a stipend.

Ques. What is the minimum duration of the PhD programme at Nirma University?

Ans. The minimum duration for the full-time PhD programme at Nirma University is 3 years from the date of registration. There is no fixed maximum duration, but scholars are expected to complete the programme within a reasonable timeframe as per university regulations. All scholars must complete 16 credits of mandatory course work before proceeding to full-time research.

Ques. Can I pursue a PhD at Nirma University while working (part-time)?

Ans. Yes, Nirma University offers both Full-Time and Part-Time PhD programmes. The Part-Time PhD is designed for working professionals who wish to pursue doctoral research alongside their employment. The annual fee for Part-Time PhD is Rs. 50,000 per annum (higher than Full-Time at Rs. 40,000 per annum), and part-time scholars are not eligible for the monthly stipend. The entrance test and viva-voce process is the same for both modes.

Ques. What are the publication requirements before submitting the PhD thesis at Nirma University?

Ans. Before submitting the thesis, a PhD scholar must publish at least one research paper in a refereed journal indexed in Web of Science or Scopus (Q3 or higher category) and make two paper presentations at reputed national/international conferences. Alternatively, the scholar may publish at least two research papers in refereed journals indexed in Web of Science/Scopus and make one conference presentation. Evidence in the form of presentation certificates and/or reprints must be submitted along with the thesis.