Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Ph.D. (Physics) at NIT Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal is a full-time doctoral research programme offered by the Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences (Physics division). The programme typically spans 3 to 5 years and covers advanced research areas including condensed matter physics, photonics, nanomaterials, astrophysics, plasma physics, and computational physics. 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 GATE/CSIR-NET/NBHM/DAE-JEST scores followed by a written test and interview at NITK. The programme is popular due to NITK's strong research infrastructure, NIRF Rank 10 in Engineering, and access to the Central Research Facility.

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 M.Sc. in Physics or related fields with GATE/CSIR-NET/NBHM/DAE-JEST qualification are eligible.
Direct PhD admission is also available for B.Tech/B.E./B.S. (4-year) graduates within 5 years of graduation.
NITK has a Central Research Facility (CRF) with advanced instruments for experimental research.

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

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

The Ph.D. (Physics) 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. (Physics) Admission 2026-27

Admission to Ph.D. (Physics) 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 GATE/CSIR-NET/NBHM/DAE-JEST score (unless exempted). The selection is based on academic merit, qualifying exam score, written test performance, and interview.

Ph.D. Admission Schedule

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

Qualifying Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
GATE 2026	Exam Date	February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026
GATE 2026	Result	March 19, 2026
CSIR NET	Exam Date	Check official CSIR website (csirnet.nta.ac.in)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

M.Sc. in Physics or a relevant 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 GATE/CSIR-NET/NBHM/DAE-JEST score (exempted if M.Sc. is from a Centrally Funded Technical Institution or equivalent).
Direct PhD (Type A.2): B.Tech/B.E./B.S. (4-year) graduates within 5 years of graduation with valid GATE score.

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, GATE/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. (Physics) Scholarships 2026-27

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
CSIR Senior Research Fellowship (SRF)	CSIR-NET qualified scholars	As per CSIR norms
UGC-NET JRF/SRF	UGC-NET qualified scholars	As per UGC norms
DST INSPIRE Fellowship	Top science graduates	Rs. 31,000-35,000/month + contingency
TCS Research Scholar Programme	PhD students in select areas	Rs. 91,000/month (as per 2024-25 notification)
C-DOT Scholarship	PhD students in relevant areas	As per C-DOT norms
Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme	PhD in Electronics/IT	As per MeitY norms
NSP Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students via National Scholarship Portal	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. (Physics) FAQs

Ques. What is the stipend for PhD Physics 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 GATE/CSIR-NET mandatory for PhD Physics admission at NITK?

Ans. Yes, a valid GATE/CSIR-NET/NBHM/DAE-JEST score is generally required for PhD admission in Physics at NITK. However, candidates with M.Sc. from a Centrally Funded Technical Institution (CFTI) or equivalent may be exempted. Direct PhD candidates (B.Tech/B.E./B.S. within 5 years) must have a valid GATE score.

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

Ans. The Physics department at NITK offers research in areas including condensed matter physics, photonics and optics, nanomaterials and nanotechnology, plasma physics, astrophysics, computational physics, and materials science. Candidates should check the department website (macs.nitk.ac.in) for the current list of faculty and their research interests before applying.

Ques. Can working professionals apply for PhD Physics 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. What is the duration of the PhD programme in Physics at NITK?

Ans. The minimum duration for a PhD at NITK is 3 years for full-time scholars and 4 years for part-time/external registrants. The maximum duration is typically 5-6 years. Scholars must complete coursework, a comprehensive examination, and thesis submission within the stipulated period.

Ques. How competitive is PhD Physics admission at NITK Surathkal?

Ans. NITK offers 188 full-time scholarship PhD seats across all departments for 2026-27. The Physics department typically has a limited number of seats depending on faculty availability and research funding. Selection is based on GATE/CSIR-NET score, written test performance, and interview. Candidates with strong academic records and relevant research experience have a better chance of selection.