Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

PES University offers a full-time Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Applications, providing an advanced research pathway for MCA graduates and computer science professionals. The programme has a minimum duration of 3 years and is a research-intensive degree requiring coursework, a proposal defense, thesis research, publications, and an open viva-voce. The annual fee is INR 2,00,000, making the minimum total fee INR 6,10,000 over three years (including a one-time non-refundable administrative charge of INR 10,000). Admissions are open throughout the year, with processing done quarterly during March and September cycles. The programme is ideal for MCA graduates and IT professionals seeking to contribute to cutting-edge research in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, cybersecurity, and software engineering.

Admissions for the 2026 cycle are currently open. The most recent admission cycle had a last date to submit applications of February 27, 2026, with the entrance exam held on March 14, 2026. Registrations are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, with the next processing cycle expected in September 2026. Meritorious full-time Ph.D. scholars are eligible for a research fellowship of up to INR 33,000 per month.

Key Points

Ph.D. in Computer Applications is offered at PES University, a NAAC-accredited institution with strong research infrastructure in computing and technology
Minimum duration of 3 years; part-time option available for teachers and IT industry professionals with sponsoring organisation approval
Research fellowship of up to INR 33,000 per month available for meritorious full-time scholars
Admissions processed quarterly (March and September cycles); registrations open throughout the year
Candidates with UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE/GRE/CAT scores are given preference during selection
Access to Crucible of Research and Innovation (CORI) for multi-disciplinary research; over 70 experienced Ph.D. faculty on campus
TEQIP/World Bank funding and several ongoing funded research projects available

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PES University Bangalore Latest Updates and News

24 Mar, 2026 PES University Bangalore Admission 2026 is open for UG/PG/PhD programs based on the University entrance exam. Check details here.

PESU Ph.D. (Computer Applications) Fees

The Ph.D. (Computer Applications) programme at PES University carries an annual fee of INR 2,00,000, with a minimum programme duration of 3 years, making the minimum total tuition fee INR 6,00,000. Including the one-time non-refundable administrative charge of INR 10,000, the minimum total cost of the programme is INR 6,10,000. Scholars who exceed the minimum duration will continue to pay INR 2,00,000 per year until completion. Hostel facilities are available on campus but are optional and charged separately.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Per Annum)	Minimum Total (3 Years)
Tuition Fee (Ph.D.)	INR 2,00,000	INR 6,00,000
One-Time Non-Refundable Administrative Charges	INR 10,000 (one-time)	INR 10,000
Total Fees (excluding hostel)	-	INR 6,10,000
Hostel Fees (optional)	As applicable	As applicable

The one-time administrative charge of INR 10,000 is non-refundable.
Scholars exceeding the minimum 3-year duration will pay INR 2,00,000 per year for each additional year.
Application fee of INR 1,250 is payable by Demand Draft at the time of application submission.
Payments are accepted only by Demand Draft (DD) in favour of "PES UNIVERSITY - GENERAL FUND", payable at Bangalore.
Research fellowship of up to INR 33,000 per month is available for meritorious full-time Ph.D. scholars, which can significantly offset the cost.
Educational loans may be available through Union Bank of India for eligible students.

PESU Ph.D. (Computer Applications) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Computer Applications) programme at PES University are open throughout the year, with applications processed quarterly during March and September cycles. Candidates must submit a complete application with supporting documents, appear for an entrance exam, and attend an interview before the Research Admissions Committee makes the final selection. The most recent cycle had a last date of February 27, 2026, with the entrance exam on March 14, 2026. The next cycle is expected in September 2026.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Registrations Open	Throughout the year
Last Date to Submit Application (March 2026 cycle)	February 27, 2026
Entrance Exam (March 2026 cycle)	March 14, 2026
Interview	To be notified after entrance exam
Next Processing Cycle	September 2026 (Tentative)

No specific national-level entrance exam is mandatory for Ph.D. admission at PES University. However, candidates with UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE/GRE/CAT scores are given preference and may be exempted from the university entrance exam.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a postgraduate degree (MCA or equivalent) from a UGC-recognised university with a minimum of 60% aggregate marks (or equivalent GPA).
Candidates from SC/ST/Category-I/Physically Challenged and other reserved categories as notified by the Government of Karnataka are eligible for a 10% relaxation in the minimum marks requirement.
Candidates who have completed their education through distance education are not eligible.
Candidates awaiting final semester PG results are also eligible to apply.

Admission Process

Register online at admissions.pes.edu/registration/ and submit the application form with all required documents.
Pay the application fee of INR 1,250 by Demand Draft in favour of "PES UNIVERSITY - GENERAL FUND", payable at Bangalore.
Submit the completed application form along with degree certificates, marks cards/transcripts, statement of purpose, two recommendation letters (from academic references), and GRE/GATE/UGC-NET scores (optional but preferred).
Appear for the university entrance exam on the scheduled date.
Attend the interview with the Registrar, Dean of Research, domain heads, and potential research supervisors.
Final selection is made by the Research Admissions Committee.
Candidates with valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE/GRE/CAT scores may be given preference and additional consideration.

PESU Ph.D. (Computer Applications) Scholarships 2026

PES University provides financial support to meritorious full-time Ph.D. scholars through research fellowships and merit-based scholarships. The research fellowship of up to INR 33,000 per month is a significant financial benefit that can substantially reduce the effective cost of the programme for deserving candidates. Additionally, the university's standard merit scholarships are available to eligible students.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Criteria	Benefit
PESU Research Fellowship	Meritorious full-time Ph.D. scholars	Up to INR 33,000 per month
Prof. MRD Scholarship	Top 5% of students based on CGPA	Merit Certificate + 50% Tuition Fee Refund
Prof. CNR Rao Scholarship	Next 20% of students based on SGPA	Merit Certificate + 40% Tuition Fee Refund
Teaching Assistantship	Students with proven teaching acumen	Monetary compensation
Research Assistantship	Students with keen research interest	Monetary compensation

The PESU Research Fellowship is available only for full-time Ph.D. scholars and is subject to merit-based selection.
Scholarships and awards are subject to qualifying CGPA/SGPA and other conditions stipulated by the Scholarship Committee each year.
A student is eligible for only one award per semester/year.
External fellowships such as UGC-JRF/SRF, CSIR-JRF/SRF, and DST-INSPIRE are also applicable and can be availed alongside the programme.
All scholarship information is subject to change by the University.

PES University Bangalore Ph.D Computer Applications Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#117 out of 251 in India 2025

#20th in Bangalore

#22 in Karnataka

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PESU Ph.D. (Computer Applications) FAQs

Ques. Can an MCA graduate apply for Ph.D. (Computer Applications) at PES University, or is a B.Tech/M.Tech required?

Ans. Yes, MCA graduates are the primary target audience for Ph.D. (Computer Applications) at PES University. A postgraduate degree in a related field (MCA or equivalent) with a minimum of 60% aggregate marks from a UGC-recognised university is the eligibility requirement. B.Tech/M.Tech graduates may also be eligible if their qualification is considered equivalent by the university.

Ques. What research areas are available under Ph.D. (Computer Applications) at PES University?

Ans. PES University supports research in cutting-edge computing areas including artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, data science, natural language processing, cybersecurity, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), software engineering, and computer networks. Candidates are advised to identify a potential research supervisor from the faculty whose research interests align with their proposed topic before applying.

Ques. Is GATE score required for Ph.D. (Computer Applications) admission at PES University?

Ans. GATE score is not mandatory. PES University conducts its own entrance exam and interview for Ph.D. admissions. However, candidates with valid GATE/GRE/UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/CAT scores are given preference during selection and may be exempted from the university entrance exam. A strong GATE score in Computer Science (CS) can significantly improve a candidate's chances of selection and fellowship eligibility.

Ques. Can IT professionals working in the industry apply for Ph.D. (Computer Applications) at PES University?

Ans. Yes. PES University offers a part-time Ph.D. option for industry professionals. Candidates employed in reputed IT organisations can apply for the part-time research programme with approval from their sponsoring organisation. This allows working professionals in the IT sector to pursue doctoral research without leaving their jobs.

Ques. What is the typical duration to complete Ph.D. (Computer Applications) at PES University?

Ans. The minimum duration is 3 years. Most scholars complete their Ph.D. in 4 to 5 years depending on the complexity of their research, coursework completion, proposal defense, publications, and thesis submission timelines. The programme requires credit compliance for coursework and research, successful proposal defense, open seminars, pre-submission seminar, thesis submission, and a successful open viva-voce.

Ques. What funded research opportunities are available for Ph.D. (Computer Applications) scholars at PES University?

Ans. PES University has several ongoing funded research projects supported by TEQIP/World Bank funding, including a Centre of Excellence (COE). Scholars may also have access to the Crucible of Research and Innovation (CORI) for multi-disciplinary research. Additionally, meritorious full-time scholars are eligible for a research fellowship of up to INR 33,000 per month. Scholars are also encouraged to apply for external funding from agencies such as DST, SERB, DRDO, and ISRO.