Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (Chemistry) programme at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal is a full-time doctoral research programme offered by the Department of Chemistry. NITK is declared an Institute of National Importance under the NIT Act 2007 and is consistently ranked among the top NITs in India. The programme is designed for candidates seeking to contribute original research in Inorganic, Materials, Organic, Physical, and Computational Chemistry. The minimum duration is 3 years and the programme can extend up to 6 years. Total fees for the first year (2 semesters) amount to approximately Rs. 90,840 for day scholars, with a monthly fellowship of Rs. 37,000 (rising to Rs. 42,000 after two years) for scholarship-category students. The department is equipped with advanced research facilities and has active collaborations with national and international research institutions.

Admissions for the 2026-27 (July session) are currently open. The application portal opened on March 9, 2026, and the last date for online submission is April 27, 2026. Hard copies must reach NITK by May 1, 2026. Selection tests and interviews are scheduled for May 27-29, 2026, with the provisional merit list to be published on June 8, 2026.

Key Points

The Ph.D. (Chemistry) programme is offered by the Department of Chemistry at NITK Surathkal, which also offers M.Sc. (Chemistry).
Research areas include: Inorganic Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Computational Chemistry.
The programme is available in full-time (scholarship and non-scholarship) and part-time (sponsored/external registrant) modes.
Full-time scholarship students receive a fellowship of Rs. 37,000 per month for the first two years and Rs. 42,000 per month for the remaining period, subject to satisfactory progress.
Qualifying degree accepted: M.Sc./M.Tech. in relevant field including M.Pharma; B.Tech./B.E. in relevant disciplines (for direct Ph.D. admission).
Selection involves a national-level written test (40% weightage) and technical interview (60% weightage) conducted in offline mode at NITK.
NITK's Central Research Facility provides access to advanced analytical instruments including NMR, XRD, SEM, TEM, and other characterisation tools essential for chemistry research.
The library provides access to major chemistry databases including American Chemical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, Elsevier ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

NIT Surathkal Latest Updates and News

11 Mar, 2026 NIT Surathkal Fee Structure 2026-27 is out for the Ph.D Chemistry programs. The total academic fee is ₹ 1.45 Lakhs.

11 Mar, 2026 NIT Surathkal Ph.D Chemistry Admission 2026-27 is ongoing till Apr 27, 2026 (online) & May 1, 2026 (hard copy). Check details.

NIT Surathkal Important Events

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NITK Ph.D. (Chemistry) Fees

The Ph.D. (Chemistry) programme at NITK Surathkal follows the same fee structure as other Ph.D. programmes at the institute. The tuition fee is Rs. 7,500 per semester, and the total day scholar fee for the first semester is Rs. 76,290, which includes one-time admission charges, thesis processing fee, and thesis evaluation fees. From the second semester onwards, the fee reduces to Rs. 14,550 per semester. For scholarship-category students, the monthly fellowship of Rs. 37,000 far exceeds the semester fees, making the programme effectively self-funded. Hostellers pay an additional Rs. 9,260 per semester as hostel rent.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Semester 1 (Rs.)	Semester 2 onwards (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	7,500	7,500
Institute Admission Fee (one-time)	2,820	-
Development Fee	2,820	2,820
Security Deposit (refundable, one-time)	7,040	-
NITK Alma Mater Endowment Contribution (one-time)	2,820	-
Convocation Fee (one-time)	3,480	-
Library Resource Fee	4,230	4,230
Thesis Processing Fee (one-time)	6,000	-
Thesis Evaluation Fees (one-time)	19,000	-
Career Development Fee (one-time)	2,110	-
Health Care Facility (one-time)	1,740	-
Student Activities Fee (one-time)	6,950	-
Campus Amenities (one-time)	1,740	-
Group Insurance Coverage (one-time)	1,000	-
Computing Resource Fee (one-time)	7,040	-
Day Scholar Total Fee	76,290	14,550
Hostel Rent (shared accommodation)	9,260	9,260
Hosteller Total Fee	85,550	23,810

Total Fees - Day Scholar (First Year, 2 Semesters) | Rs. 90,840 |

Total Fees - Hosteller (First Year, 2 Semesters, excl. mess) | Rs. 1,09,360 |

Security Deposit of Rs. 7,040 is refundable at the time of leaving the institute.
Thesis Processing Fee (Rs. 6,000) and Thesis Evaluation Fees (Rs. 19,000) are one-time charges paid in the first semester.
Mess charges are separate and provisional: approximately Rs. 35,310 for the first semester.
Mess fees are subject to revision.
SC/ST/PwD candidates are exempted from tuition fee payment (exemption not applicable to QIP, DASA, ICCR, MEA, External Registrants, and Internal Registrants).
Part A fees (one-time charges) increase at 5% per year for each new batch.
Part B fees increase at 5% per year for all students from 2024-25 batch onwards.
Refund policy: Full refund (minus Rs. 1,000 processing fee) if withdrawal is before the closing date of admission.
Only security deposit is refunded if withdrawal is after the closing date.
No refund after joining.
Application fee: Rs. 500 for General/OBC/EWS candidates; Rs. 150 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

Explore Other Group Colleges of NIT Surathkal

NITK Ph.D. (Chemistry) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Chemistry) programme at NITK Surathkal for 2026-27 (July session) are currently open. The application process involves online submission through the IRIS portal followed by a national-level written test and technical interview conducted in offline mode at NITK campus. All categories of candidates (scholarship and non-scholarship) must qualify the written test and interview. The selection is based on written test (40% weightage) and technical interview (60% weightage), with research publications and experience each carrying 5% within the interview component.

NITK Ph.D. (Chemistry) Admission Calendar 2026-27 (July Session)

Event	Date
Opening of Application Portal	March 9, 2026 (Monday)
Last Date for Online Submission of Applications	April 27, 2026 (Monday), 23:59 hours
Last Date for Hard Copy of Applications to Reach NITK	May 1, 2026 (Friday), 17:00 hours
Dispatch of Call Letters to Shortlisted Candidates	May 11, 2026 (Monday)
Selection Test and/or Interview (Offline at NITK)	May 27-29, 2026 (Wednesday to Friday)
Last Date for Sending Merit List by Departments	June 1, 2026 (Monday)
Publication of Provisional Selection/Merit List	June 8, 2026 (Monday)
Online Fee Payment for Selected Candidates	June 9-19, 2026
Last Date for Admission Offer to Waitlisted Candidates	To be announced
Physical Reporting and Document Verification	To be announced
Class Start Date	To be announced

GATE 2026 / UGC-NET / CSIR-NET Exam Dates (Qualifying Exams for Ph.D. Scholarship Seats)

Event	Date
GATE 2026 Registration	August 28 - October 13, 2025
GATE 2026 Admit Card Release	January 13, 2026
GATE 2026 Exam	February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026
GATE 2026 Answer Key Release	February 19, 2026
GATE 2026 Result	March 19, 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

For scholarship seats (A.1): M.Sc./M.Tech. in Chemistry or relevant field (including M.Pharma) with CGPA of 6.0 (10-point scale) or 60% marks. GATE score is not mandatory for M.Tech. holders. For SC/ST/PwD: CGPA 5.5 or 55% marks.
For direct Ph.D. scholarship seats (A.2): B.Tech./B.E. in relevant discipline within 5 years of graduation, with CGPA of 8.0 or 80% marks and a valid GATE score. Candidates from centrally funded institutes are exempt from GATE requirement. For SC/ST/PwD: CGPA 7.5 or 75% marks.
For scholarship seats (A.3): M.Sc. in Chemistry or relevant field with CGPA 6.0 or 60% marks and a valid GATE/UGC-NET/CSIR/NBHM/DAE-JEST score. Candidates from centrally funded institutes with CGPA 8.0 or above are exempt. For SC/ST/PwD: CGPA 5.5 or 55% marks.
For non-scholarship sponsored seats (B.2): Minimum 2 years of full-time work experience in the sponsoring organisation is required.

Admission Process:

Register and submit the online application through the IRIS portal at iris.nitk.ac.in by April 27, 2026, and pay the application fee (Rs. 500 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 150 for SC/ST/PwD).
Send the hard copy of the completed application form along with payment receipts and supporting documents to the Assistant Registrar (Academic), NITK Surathkal, to reach by May 1, 2026.
Shortlisted candidates will receive call letters by email by May 11, 2026.
Appear for the offline written test and technical interview at NITK Surathkal campus between May 27-29, 2026 (at candidate's own cost).
Selection is based on: Written test (40% weightage) and Technical interview (60% weightage). Within the interview, research publications and experience each carry 5%, technical presentation carries 10%, and technical interview on subject knowledge carries 40%.
Provisional merit list will be published on June 8, 2026. Selected candidates must complete online fee payment between June 9-19, 2026.
Submit original documents and report physically for admission as per the schedule announced later.
Sponsored candidates must submit a sponsorship-cum-clearance certificate in the format provided by NITK.

NITK Ph.D. (Chemistry) Scholarships 2026

NITK Surathkal provides a generous fellowship for Ph.D. scholarship-category students in Chemistry, making the programme financially very attractive. The monthly fellowship significantly exceeds the semester fees, effectively making the programme self-sustaining for scholarship holders. Chemistry Ph.D. students can also benefit from CSIR-NET/JRF fellowships and other science-specific funding schemes.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship/Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility	Duration
NITK Ph.D. Fellowship (MoE) - First 2 Years	Rs. 37,000 per month	Scholarship category (A.1, A.2, A.3); qualifying written test and interview	First 2 years
NITK Ph.D. Fellowship (MoE) - Remaining Period	Rs. 42,000 per month	Scholarship category; satisfactory progress	After 2 years
CSIR-NET JRF Fellowship	Rs. 37,000 per month (JRF); Rs. 42,000 (SRF)	CSIR-NET qualified candidates	As per CSIR norms
TCS Research Scholar Programme	Rs. 91,000 per month	PhD first-year students; merit-based	As per scheme
IndiaAI Fellowship	As per scheme	PhD students in AI/data-related fields	As per scheme
SC/ST Financial Assistance (NITK)	As per scheme	SC/ST students	Annual
NSP Scholarship (National Scholarship Portal)	As per government norms	SC/ST students	Annual
Humboldt Fellowship (Post-Doc)	As per scheme	Post-doctoral researchers	As per scheme
IGSTC Industrial Fellowship	As per scheme	PhD and Post-Doc researchers	As per scheme

The NITK Ph.D. fellowship is the primary financial support for scholarship-category students.
It is subject to satisfactory progress as evaluated by the DRPC.
Research scholars must assist in teaching and laboratory work assigned by the department and are eligible for 30 days of vacation leave per year.
Students receiving the NITK fellowship cannot receive any other salary or stipend from any other source simultaneously.
CSIR-NET/JRF qualified candidates may be eligible for CSIR fellowship in addition to or instead of the NITK fellowship, subject to applicable rules.
SC/ST/PwD students are additionally exempt from tuition fee payment.
External scholarships have their own application deadlines and eligibility criteria.
Students are advised to check the NITK Scholarships page (nitk.ac.in/Scholarships) for updated listings each academic year.

NITK Ph.D. (Chemistry) FAQs

Ques. What chemistry research areas are available for Ph.D. at NITK Surathkal?

Ans. The Department of Chemistry at NITK offers Ph.D. research in Inorganic Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Computational Chemistry. Research topics include synthesis of novel materials, nanomaterials, catalysis, electrochemistry, drug design, polymer chemistry, spectroscopy, and computational modelling. The department has active collaborations with national laboratories and international institutions.

Ques. Is CSIR-NET/JRF required for Ph.D. (Chemistry) at NITK Surathkal?

Ans. For scholarship seats under category A.3 (M.Sc. Chemistry holders), a valid GATE/UGC-NET/CSIR/NBHM/DAE-JEST score is required unless the candidate is from a centrally funded institute with CGPA 8.0 or above. CSIR-NET/JRF is one of the accepted qualifying exams. For M.Tech. holders (category A.1), no qualifying exam is mandatory. Candidates with CSIR-JRF may also be eligible for CSIR fellowship.

Ques. Can B.Tech./B.E. graduates apply directly for Ph.D. (Chemistry) at NITK?

Ans. Yes, under the direct Ph.D. admission category (A.2), B.Tech./B.E. graduates in relevant disciplines can apply within 5 years of graduation, provided they have a CGPA of 8.0 or above (7.5 for SC/ST/PwD) and a valid GATE score. Candidates from centrally funded institutes meeting the CGPA requirement are exempt from the GATE requirement.

Ques. What research infrastructure is available for Chemistry Ph.D. students at NITK?

Ans. NITK's Central Research Facility (CRF) provides access to advanced analytical instruments including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometers, X-ray Diffractometers (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM), UV-Vis spectrophotometers, FTIR spectrometers, and other characterisation tools. The Central Library provides access to major chemistry databases including ACS, RSC, Elsevier, and Springer.

Ques. What is the monthly fellowship for Ph.D. (Chemistry) students at NITK, and what are the conditions?

Ans. Full-time scholarship students receive Rs. 37,000 per month for the first two years and Rs. 42,000 per month for the remaining period. The fellowship is subject to satisfactory progress as evaluated by the DRPC. Research scholars must assist in teaching and laboratory work assigned by the department and are eligible for 30 days of vacation leave per year. The fellowship cannot be combined with any other salary or stipend.

Ques. How long does it typically take to complete a Ph.D. in Chemistry at NITK Surathkal?

Ans. The minimum duration is 3 years for candidates with an M.Sc./M.Tech. degree. The programme can extend up to 6 years. The actual duration depends on the research topic, experimental work, publication requirements, and thesis writing. Chemistry Ph.D. programmes typically involve extensive laboratory work, and most students complete their degree in 4-5 years. The DRPC monitors progress regularly to ensure timely completion.