Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at UPES, Dehradun is a full-time doctoral program offered by the School of Advanced Engineering. The program spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with a semester fee of INR 1 lakh; full-time scholars receive a 75% waiver, bringing the effective semester fee down to INR 25,000. The program covers a broad range of research areas including catalysis and reaction engineering, nanomaterials and nanotechnology, polymer science and engineering, process control and optimization, environmental engineering, materials science, renewable energy, sustainable chemical processes, and computational modeling and simulation. Admission is based on the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET), with exemptions for UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualified candidates, and the program is popular for its fellowship support, industry-aligned curriculum, and access to state-of-the-art research facilities.

Admissions for the July 2026 intake are currently ongoing. Applications opened on March 10, 2026, and the last date to apply is June 1, 2026. The RET exam is scheduled for June 10-11, 2026, with interviews in late July 2026 and the session commencing in August 2026.

Key Points

The program covers cutting-edge research areas including catalysis and reaction engineering, nanomaterials and nanotechnology, polymer science, process optimization, environmental engineering, renewable energy, and computational modeling and simulation.
Full-time PhD scholars receive a monthly fellowship of INR 25,000 during coursework and INR 30,000 per month after clearing the mandatory coursework examination, valid for up to 3 years from commencement.
The program has strong industry ties with E&P companies, chemical process industries, and environmental engineering firms, offering access to sponsored projects and internships.
Scholars receive financial support for presenting research at international conferences, workshops, and seminars.
UPES is ranked 42nd in the Engineering category and 46th among universities in India as per NIRF 2024.
INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF qualified candidates receive an additional INR 2 lakh per year as a contingency grant for research activities.
The program encourages interdisciplinary collaboration across departments, addressing complex challenges at the intersection of chemical engineering and other disciplines.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

UPES PhD Chemical Engineering Fees

The Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at UPES follows the university-wide PhD fee structure with a semester fee of INR 1 lakh. Full-time scholars benefit from a 75% waiver, effectively paying INR 25,000 per semester. Over the minimum duration of 6 semesters (3 years), the total program fee for a full-time scholar amounts to INR 1,50,000. Additional one-time charges include a registration fee of INR 31,300 and a refundable security deposit of INR 20,000. A thesis submission fee of INR 15,000 is payable at the time of thesis submission.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Program Semester Fee (per semester, before waiver)	1,00,000
75% Waiver for Full-Time Scholars	-75,000 per semester
Effective Semester Fee (Full-Time)	25,000
Total Program Fee - 6 Semesters (Full-Time, minimum 3 years)	1,50,000
Registration Fee (one-time)	31,300
Refundable Security Deposit (one-time)	20,000
Thesis Submission Fee (one-time, at thesis stage)	15,000
Application Fee (non-refundable)	1,000
Total Fees (Full-Time, excluding hostel, including all one-time charges)	2,17,300
Hostel Fee (optional, triple-sharing, per year)	1,83,000

The security deposit of INR 20,000 is refundable (interest-free) at the time of program completion or exit.
The application fee of INR 1,000 is non-refundable.
Hostel accommodation is optional and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Hostel fee is for the Bidholi/Kandoli campus (triple-sharing with common washroom). An additional refundable hostel security of INR 10,000 is charged at the time of registration.
If the PhD extends beyond 3 years (6 semesters), additional semester fees at INR 25,000 per semester (full-time) will apply.
Fee payment is accepted via NEFT/RTGS/IMPS/Cash Deposit/Bank Gateway.

UPES PhD Chemical Engineering Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at UPES are conducted twice a year - for the January intake and the July intake. The July 2026 intake is currently open with applications accepted until June 1, 2026. The selection process involves the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET), submission of a research proposal (approximately 1,000 words), and an online interview conducted via MS Teams. Candidates with valid UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualifications are exempted from the RET.

UPES PhD Chemical Engineering Admission Dates

Event	Date
Application Opens	March 10, 2026
Last Date to Apply	June 1, 2026
RET Exam	June 10-11, 2026
RET Result Declaration	June 27, 2026
Research Proposal Submission	(Approx.) Early July 2026
Online Interview Booking/Scheduling	(Approx.) Mid-July 2026
Interviews	July 28, 29 and 30, 2026
Interview Result Declaration	August 12, 2026
Last Date to Pay Fee	August 17, 2026
Orientation and Registration	(Approx.) August 22-25, 2026
Commencement of Session	(Approx.) August 27, 2026

Exemption Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
UGC-NET	Phase 1 Exam	December 31, 2025 - January 7, 2026
UGC-NET	Phase 1 Result	February 4, 2026
UGC-NET	Phase 2 Exam (Tentative)	June 2026
GATE	GATE 2026 Exam	February 1-2 and 8-9, 2026
GATE	GATE 2026 Result	March 19, 2026

UGC-NET (JRF/NET), GATE, SET, GPAT, CSIR, and INSPIRE qualified candidates are exempted from the UPES RET.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (Chemical Engineering or related field) with a minimum of 55% marks (or equivalent grade) from a recognized institute. A relaxation of 5% (from 55% to 50%) is available for SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-abled candidates as per UGC norms.
Candidates with a 4-year undergraduate degree (B.Tech/BE) with a minimum of 75% marks or 7.5 CGPA (on a 10-point scale) are also eligible for full-time admission, subject to additional conditions including a high-quality research publication from the bachelor's project.
Candidates must meet the minimum academic eligibility as notified by UGC from time to time.

Admission Process

Fill the online application form at the UPES PhD portal and pay the non-refundable application fee of INR 1,000.
Appear for the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET) - exempted for UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualified candidates.
Shortlisted candidates (RET qualified and exempted) submit a research proposal of approximately 1,000 words to phd@upes.ac.in.
Book an online interview slot through the link shared by the university.
Appear for the online interview conducted via MS Teams (no campus visit required).
Receive offer letter upon selection; pay the enrolment fee by the specified deadline.
Attend orientation on campus and commence the session.

UPES PhD Chemical Engineering Scholarships 2026

UPES offers a comprehensive scholarship and fellowship ecosystem for PhD scholars in Chemical Engineering, making the program financially accessible. Full-time scholars automatically receive a 75% waiver on the semester fee and a monthly fellowship, significantly reducing the financial burden. Scholars who bring external fellowships (NET-JRF, INSPIRE, etc.) receive an additional contingency grant from UPES.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount / Benefit	Eligibility
UPES PhD Fellowship (Full-Time)	INR 25,000/month during coursework; INR 30,000/month after coursework clearance (up to 3 years)	All full-time PhD scholars (100 seats across all schools)
NET-JRF / INSPIRE Contingency Grant	INR 2,00,000 per year (additional support)	Scholars with NET-JRF, INSPIRE, or equivalent national fellowship
Semester Fee Waiver (Full-Time)	75% waiver on program semester fee (INR 25,000 effective per semester)	All full-time PhD scholars
Alumni Scholarship	50% fee waiver on Part-Time PhD program fee	UPES alumni (graduated 2021 onwards)
Employee Ward Scholarship	75% on semester fee (Tuition + Academic Service)	Wards of UPES employees (regular/confirmed)
Employee Sibling Ward Scholarship	50% on semester fee	Wards of siblings of UPES employees
Employee Spouse Scholarship	50% on semester fee	Spouses of UPES employees
Vijay Scholarship (Sports)	35%-100% on tuition fee	National/International level sports achievers

The PhD fellowship is available for 100 full-time scholars across all schools and is subject to the university's policy. Continuation after 3 years is based on performance.
The NET-JRF/INSPIRE contingency grant of INR 2 lakh per year is subject to the university's discretionary policy and may be changed/cancelled.
Alumni scholarship for Part-Time PhD requires renewal based on a minimum CGPA of 8.0 with no backlogs and no disciplinary cases.
A student is eligible for only one type of scholarship at a time (except Academic Performance Scholarship from 2nd year onwards, which can be clubbed).
All scholarships are subject to the university's prevailing policy and the decision of the Competent Authority is final.

UPES Ph.D Chemical Engineering Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#87 out of 762 in India 2025

#4th in Uttarakhand

NIRF Ranking

#43 out of 300 in India 2025

#2nd in Uttarakhand

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UPES PhD Chemical Engineering FAQs

Ques. What are the key research areas available for the PhD in Chemical Engineering at UPES?

Ans. The PhD in Chemical Engineering at UPES covers a wide range of research areas including catalysis and reaction engineering, nanomaterials and nanotechnology, polymer science and engineering, process control and optimization, environmental engineering, materials science and engineering, renewable energy and sustainable chemical processes, and computational modeling and simulation. The program also addresses emerging areas such as carbon capture, pharmaceutical research, and the application of data analytics and machine learning to chemical engineering.

Ques. Is GATE score required for PhD admission in Chemical Engineering at UPES?

Ans. GATE qualification is not mandatory but provides an exemption from the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET). Candidates with a valid GATE score (in Chemical Engineering or related disciplines) are exempted from the RET and can directly proceed to the research proposal submission and interview stages. UGC-NET (JRF/NET), SET, GPAT, CSIR, and INSPIRE qualified candidates are also exempted from the RET.

Ques. What is the monthly fellowship for a full-time PhD scholar in Chemical Engineering at UPES?

Ans. Full-time PhD scholars receive a monthly fellowship of INR 25,000 during the coursework period and INR 30,000 per month after clearing the mandatory coursework examination, valid for up to 3 years. Scholars who bring external fellowships (NET-JRF, INSPIRE, etc.) additionally receive a contingency grant of INR 2 lakh per year from UPES for research activities.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after a PhD in Chemical Engineering from UPES?

Ans. PhD holders in Chemical Engineering from UPES can pursue academic careers as professors or researchers in universities and research institutions. Industry options include roles as R&D specialists, process engineers, or consultants in chemical process industries, E&P companies, and environmental engineering firms. Government research bodies such as CSIR labs also offer research and policy roles. Graduates can also explore entrepreneurship in sustainable chemical technologies, materials science, and renewable energy sectors.

Ques. Can a B.Tech graduate directly apply for the PhD in Chemical Engineering at UPES without a Master's degree?

Ans. Yes, candidates with a 4-year B.Tech/BE degree with a minimum of 75% marks or 7.5 CGPA (on a 10-point scale) are eligible to apply for the full-time PhD program. However, additional conditions apply, including a minimum of 75% marks in the UPES written admission test and interview, and it is desirable to have at least one high-quality research publication from the bachelor's project. This route is only available for full-time admission.

Ques. Does UPES provide financial support for attending international conferences during the PhD in Chemical Engineering?

Ans. Yes, UPES provides financial support to PhD scholars for presenting their research at international conferences, workshops, seminars, and symposiums. This is a key program highlight that facilitates global knowledge exchange and networking. Additionally, scholars are guided in securing external research grants to support ambitious research projects in areas such as process optimization, materials synthesis, and environmental engineering.