Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Ph.D. (Humanities) at NIT Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal is a full-time doctoral research programme offered by the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Management. The programme typically spans 3 to 5 years and covers research areas including English literature, linguistics, communication studies, sociology, economics, psychology, and interdisciplinary humanities. The fees are nominal at Rs. 7,500 per semester as tuition, with additional charges totalling approximately Rs. 74,260 in the first semester (day scholar) and Rs. 83,080 for hostellers. Full-time scholars receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 37,000 for the first two years and Rs. 42,000 thereafter. Admission is based on UGC-NET/CSIR-NET scores followed by a written test and interview at NITK. The programme is popular due to NITK's interdisciplinary research environment, NIRF Rank 10 in Engineering, and the opportunity to work at the intersection of technology and humanities.

Admissions for the 2026-27 batch are currently open. The application portal opened on March 9, 2026, with the last date for online applications being April 27, 2026. Hard copies must reach NITK by May 1, 2026. The written test and interview are scheduled for May 27-29, 2026. The provisional merit list is expected to be published on June 8, 2026.

Key Points

Full-time PhD scholars receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 37,000 (first two years) and Rs. 42,000 (thereafter) as per the 2026 notification.
A total of 188 full-time scholarship PhD seats are available across all departments at NITK for 2026-27.
Both online registration and hard copy submission are mandatory for PhD admission.
Candidates with a Master's degree in relevant Humanities/Social Sciences fields with UGC-NET/CSIR-NET qualification are eligible.
CA holders with an undergraduate degree are also eligible for PhD in Humanities, Social Sciences and Management.
The department offers a unique interdisciplinary research environment combining technology and humanities.

Official Link:

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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 Humanities programs. The total academic fee is ₹ 1.45 Lakhs.

11 Mar, 2026 NIT Surathkal Ph.D Humanities 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. (Humanities) Fees

The Ph.D. (Humanities) programme at NITK Surathkal has a very affordable fee structure. The tuition fee is only Rs. 7,500 per semester. The first semester involves one-time charges including admission fee, development fee, security deposit (refundable), and endowment contribution. SC/ST/PwD students are exempt from tuition fees. Additionally, full-time scholars receive a monthly stipend, making the programme financially accessible.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition Fee (per semester)	7,500
Institute Admission Fee (one-time)	2,690
Development Fee (Year 1 - both sems)	5,380
Security Deposit (refundable, one-time)	6,700
NITK Alma Mater Endowment Contribution (one-time)	2,690
Convocation Fee (one-time)	3,310
Library Resource Fee (per odd semester)	4,030
Thesis Processing Fee (one-time, Year 1)	6,000
Thesis Evaluation Fee (one-time, Year 1)	19,000
Career Development Fee (per odd semester)	2,010
Health Care Facility (per odd semester)	1,660
Student Activities Fee (per odd semester)	6,620
Campus Amenities (per odd semester)	1,660
Group Insurance (per odd semester)	1,000
Computing Resource Fee (per odd semester)	6,700
Hostel Rent - Shared (per semester, optional)	8,820
Total Fees - Day Scholar (First Semester)	Rs. 74,260
Total Fees - Hosteller - Shared (First Semester)	Rs. 83,080

Security Deposit of Rs. 6,700 is refundable at the time of leaving the institute.
Thesis Processing Fee (Rs. 6,000) and Thesis Evaluation Fee (Rs. 19,000) are one-time fees paid in Year 1.
Hostel fees are not mandatory; they apply only to students residing in hostels.
Mess advance of Rs. 22,000 per semester is charged separately for hostellers.
SC/ST/PwD students are exempt from tuition fees (not applicable to DASA/ICCR/MEA students).
Application fee: Rs. 500 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 150 for SC/ST/PwD.

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NITK Ph.D. (Humanities) Admission 2026

Admission to Ph.D. (Humanities) at NITK Surathkal for the 2026-27 batch is currently open. The process involves online application through the IRIS portal, followed by a written test and interview at NITK campus. Candidates must have a valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET score (unless exempted). The selection is based on academic merit, qualifying exam score, written test performance, and interview.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Application Portal Opens	March 9, 2026
Last Date for Online Application	April 27, 2026 (by 23:59 hrs)
Last Date for Hard Copy to Reach NITK	May 1, 2026 (by 17:00 hrs)
Dispatch of Call Letters to Shortlisted Candidates	May 11, 2026
Written Test and Interview (Offline at NITK)	May 27-29, 2026
Last Date for Merit List Submission by Departments	June 1, 2026
Publication of Provisional Merit List	June 8, 2026
Online Fee Payment by Selected Candidates	June 9-19, 2026
Physical Reporting and Document Verification	To be announced

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
UGC NET	Exam Date	Check official NTA website (ugcnet.nta.ac.in)
CSIR NET	Exam Date	Check official CSIR website (csirnet.nta.ac.in)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master's degree in a relevant Humanities/Social Sciences field with minimum 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwD) or CGPA 6.0/10 (5.5 for SC/ST/PwD).
Must have a valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET score (exempted if qualifying degree is from a Centrally Funded Technical Institution or equivalent).
CA holders with an undergraduate degree are also eligible as per NITK PhD eligibility norms.

Admission Process

Register on the IRIS portal (iris.nitk.ac.in) and fill the online application form.
Upload all required documents including mark sheets, degree certificate, NET score card, and category certificate (if applicable).
Pay the application fee online (Rs. 500 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 150 for SC/ST/PwD).
Download and send the hard copy of the application to NITK Surathkal by May 1, 2026.
Attend the written test and interview at NITK campus on May 27-29, 2026 (if shortlisted).
Selected candidates must pay the admission fee online between June 9-19, 2026.
Report physically to NITK for document verification and admission confirmation.

NITK Ph.D. (Humanities) Scholarships 2026

Ph.D. scholars at NITK Surathkal are entitled to a monthly stipend funded by the institute, making it financially self-sustaining for most students. In addition to the institute stipend, scholars can avail various government and private scholarships. The stipend is revised periodically as per MHRD/Government of India directives.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount
NITK Institute PhD Stipend	Full-time scholars on institute scholarship	Rs. 37,000/month (Yr 1-2), Rs. 42,000/month (Yr 3+)
SC/ST Tuition Fee Exemption	SC/ST/PwD scholars	Rs. 7,500 per semester
UGC-NET JRF/SRF	UGC-NET qualified scholars	As per UGC norms
CSIR Senior Research Fellowship (SRF)	CSIR-NET qualified scholars	As per CSIR norms
DST INSPIRE Fellowship	Top humanities/science graduates	Rs. 31,000-35,000/month + contingency
NSP Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students via National Scholarship Portal	As per government norms
PM YASASVI Scholarship	OBC/EBC/DNT students	As per government norms

Institute stipend is available for 165 fellowship positions across all departments at NITK.
Sponsored candidates (from industry/organisations) are not entitled to institute stipend.
External registrants are not entitled to institute scholarship.
Scholars must assist in teaching and laboratory work as assigned by the department.
30 days of vacation leave per year is permitted for full-time scholars.

NITK Ph.D. (Humanities) FAQs

Ques. What is the stipend for PhD Humanities students at NITK Surathkal in 2026?

Ans. As per the 2026 admission notification, full-time PhD scholars at NITK receive Rs. 37,000 per month for the first two years and Rs. 42,000 per month thereafter, subject to satisfactory progress. This is in line with the revised MHRD/Government of India directives. Sponsored candidates and external registrants are not entitled to this stipend.

Ques. Is UGC-NET mandatory for PhD Humanities admission at NITK?

Ans. Yes, a valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET score is generally required for PhD admission in Humanities at NITK. Candidates with qualifying degrees from Centrally Funded Technical Institutions may be exempted. The NET score is an important criterion for shortlisting candidates for the written test and interview.

Ques. What are the research areas available for PhD in Humanities at NITK Surathkal?

Ans. The Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Management at NITK offers research in areas including English literature, linguistics, applied linguistics, communication studies, sociology, economics, psychology, and interdisciplinary studies at the intersection of technology and humanities. Candidates should check the department website for the current list of faculty and their research interests before applying.

Ques. Can working professionals apply for PhD Humanities at NITK as external registrants?

Ans. Yes, employed professionals with relevant experience can apply under the External Registration category. External registrants carry out their research at their parent organisation after fulfilling certain prerequisites at NITK, including a minimum of one semester of residential requirement. They must produce a sponsorship certificate from their employer and are not entitled to the institute stipend.

Ques. Is PhD in Humanities at an NIT like NITK a good option?

Ans. PhD in Humanities at NITK is a unique opportunity as it is offered at a premier technical institute. The interdisciplinary environment allows researchers to work at the intersection of technology and humanities, which is increasingly valued in areas like human-computer interaction, science communication, and technology policy. The NITK brand and research infrastructure add significant value to the degree.

Ques. What career options are available after PhD in Humanities from NITK?

Ans. PhD graduates in Humanities from NITK can pursue careers in academia (faculty positions at NITs, IITs, central universities), research institutions, science communication, technology policy, corporate training and development, content strategy, and government organisations. The interdisciplinary background from a technical institute like NITK gives graduates an edge in roles that require both technical understanding and humanistic perspective.