UPES Ph.D Physics: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. The PhD in Physics at UPES covers a broad range of research areas including condensed matter physics, energy materials, multifunctional materials, nanotechnology, materials science, quantum computing, computational physics, astronomy and astrophysics, and interdisciplinary physics applications in sustainability and data science. To identify a suitable supervisor, candidates are advised to review the faculty profiles on the UPES School of Advanced Engineering website, identify faculty whose research interests align with their own, and mention this alignment in their research proposal. The research proposal (approximately 1,000 words) submitted after the RET is a key step in this process.

Ans. As per the January 2026 admission document, the PhD in Physics at UPES is available only in full-time mode for candidates from the School of Advanced Engineering. Part-time admissions for Physics are not offered. Candidates with a 4-year B.Sc. degree are also eligible for full-time admission only (not part-time), subject to 75% marks and at least one research publication from their undergraduate project.

Ans. The RET is a 3-hour online proctored test (100 marks: 50 General/Research Aptitude + 50 Domain-specific Physics questions) conducted on the Codetantra platform. The domain-specific section covers core physics topics relevant to the candidate's research area. Candidates with UGC-NET (Physical Sciences), GATE (Physics/relevant engineering), CSIR-NET, or INSPIRE qualifications are fully exempted. For preparation, candidates should focus on their M.Sc. Physics syllabus, research methodology, and their proposed research area.

Ans. Full-time scholars receive INR 25,000 per month during the coursework phase and INR 30,000 per month after clearing the mandatory coursework examination, for up to 3 years from the commencement of the session. Scholars with 2 first-author publications in Q1/Q2 journals can receive an enhanced fellowship of up to INR 34,000 per month. Additionally, all fellows receive an annual contingency grant of INR 30,000 for research expenses. The fellowship is available for up to 100 full-time scholars per cycle and is merit-based.

Ans. The Department of Applied Sciences at UPES has state-of-the-art laboratories supporting research in condensed matter physics, materials science, nanotechnology, and energy materials. Faculty research interests include multifunctional and energy materials, materials characterization, and computational physics. Scholars also have access to software tools for simulation studies and benefit from an annual contingency grant to procure research materials, attend national and international conferences, and conduct field research. UPES also has MoUs with several global universities facilitating collaborative research.

Ans. A PhD in Physics from UPES opens diverse career paths including research scientist positions at national laboratories (BARC, ISRO, DRDO, CSIR labs), faculty/professor positions at universities and colleges, industry roles in semiconductor, nanotechnology, and materials companies, data science and analytics roles leveraging physics expertise, science writing and journalism, patent examination, and government policy advisory roles. The growing demand for physics expertise in quantum computing, energy materials, and AI-driven research ensures strong career prospects for PhD graduates in both academia and industry.