Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

VIT-AP University offers a full-time Internal Ph.D. in Data Science under the School of Advanced Sciences (SAS), catering to the growing demand for advanced research in data-driven technologies. The programme covers research areas at the intersection of mathematics, statistics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and computational sciences. It is also available as a Ph.D. (Deep Technology) variant for candidates with strong academic records. The programme has a minimum duration of 3 years (4 years for Ph.D. Deep Tech) and a maximum of 6 years, with tuition fees of Rs. 40,000 per annum. Admission is through VITREE (VIT Research Entrance Examination), a national-level computer-based test. The mode of study is full-time on-campus (Internal Full Time category only at VIT-AP campus).

Admissions for the July 2026 session are currently in progress. The last date to submit the online application was 6 April 2026, and the VITREE exam is scheduled for 28 April 2026 and 3 May 2026. Candidates awaiting their May 2026 qualifying degree results are also eligible to apply.

Key Points

Ph.D. in Data Science at VIT-AP is offered in both regular Ph.D. (IFT) and Ph.D. (Deep Technology) (IFT) modes, making it one of the few programmes with a Deep Tech research track.
The Deep Tech Chancellor Fellowship provides additional financial support for candidates pursuing Ph.D. (Deep Technology).
VIT group of institutions holds the highest number of research publications in India as per the Scopus Database (2016-2025).
Research fellowship is awarded to all admitted full-time research scholars; GATE/NET qualified candidates receive a higher fellowship amount.
VIT-AP campus conducts personal interviews for VITREE in online mode (hybrid/online), unlike Vellore and Chennai campuses which require physical attendance.
Scholars are encouraged to apply for JRF (CSIR/UGC), Inspire Fellowships, Rajiv Gandhi Scholarships, and other government scholarships.

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VIT AP Latest Updates and News

09 Apr, 2026 VITREE 2026 registrations are ongoing for Ph.D Data Science admission (July 2026 Session). The entrance exam will be conducted on Apr 28 and May 3, 2026. Apply Now!

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VIT-AP Ph.D. Data Science Fees

The Ph.D. (Data Science) programme at VIT-AP University is highly affordable compared to most private universities. The core tuition fee is Rs. 40,000 per annum, with a one-time caution deposit of Rs. 3,000 at the time of admission. A thesis fee of Rs. 10,000 is payable only at the time of thesis submission. For a standard 3-year programme, the total academic fee (excluding thesis fee) amounts to Rs. 1,23,000, and including the thesis fee, the total comes to Rs. 1,33,000.

Academic Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Caution Deposit (One-time, Refundable)	3,000
Tuition Fee (Per Annum)	40,000
Tuition Fee for 3 Years	1,20,000
Thesis Fee (One-time, at submission)	10,000
Total Fees (3 Years, including Thesis Fee)	1,33,000

Hostel Fees (Optional)

Hostel Component	Amount (Rs.)
Hostel + Mess + Laundry (Per Annum, approx.)	1,01,500 onwards
Hostel Admission Fee (One-time, Non-refundable)	15,000
Hostel Caution Deposit (Refundable)	15,000

The caution deposit of Rs. 3,000 is refundable upon completion of the programme.
Thesis fee of Rs. 10,000 is payable only at the time of thesis submission, not upfront.
Application fee for VITREE is Rs. 1,200 (inclusive of GST) and is non-refundable.
Tuition fee once paid is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Hostel is optional and not mandatory.
Hostel fee is inclusive of room, mess, and laundry charges (maximum 44 washes in 10 months).
Hostel fee is subject to annual escalation.
Hostel admission fee of Rs. 15,000 is non-refundable; caution deposit of Rs. 15,000 is refundable after course completion.

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VIT-AP Ph.D. Data Science Admission 2026

Admission to the Ph.D. (Data Science) programme at VIT-AP University is through VITREE (VIT Research Entrance Examination), conducted twice a year (January and July sessions). For the July 2026 session, the application window has closed (last date: 6 April 2026), and the entrance exam is scheduled for 28 April and 3 May 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be called for a personal interview (conducted in online mode for VIT-AP campus) in the 2nd or 3rd week of May 2026, with results expected in the last week of May 2026 and batch commencement in July 2026.

VIT-AP Ph.D. Admission Dates

Event	Date
Online Application Opens	6 February 2026
Last Date for Online Application Submission	6 April 2026
VITREE Exam (Computer Based Test)	28 April 2026 (Tue) and 3 May 2026 (Sun), 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Personal Interview (Online mode for VIT-AP)	2nd or 3rd week of May 2026 (Tentative)
Declaration of Results	Last week of May 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date for Selecting Research Guide	To be Announced
Last Date for Tuition Fee Payment (Online)	To be Announced
Reporting / Batch Commencement	July 2026 (Tentative)

VITREE 2026 Exam Dates

Exam	Exam Date	Mode
VITREE 2026 (July Session)	28 April 2026 and 3 May 2026	Computer Based Test (CBT)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

For Ph.D. (Data Science): Candidates must hold a Master's degree in a relevant discipline (Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, or related field) in full-time/regular mode with a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate or a CGPA of 6.5 on a 10-point scale.
For Ph.D. (Deep Technology) in Data Science: Candidates must have a minimum of 75% marks or a CGPA of 8.0 on a 10-point scale in the qualifying degree, along with a valid GATE score of 80 percentile or M.Sc. (Data Science) with a valid GATE score.
The qualifying degree (UG and PG) must have been completed in regular, full-time mode; distance or part-time degrees are not eligible.

Admission Process

Register online on the official VIT admissions portal and fill in personal and academic details.
Upload required documents: academic mark sheets (10th, 12th, UG, PG), degree/provisional certificate, Transfer Certificate, Migration Certificate, photo, signature, and Research Proposal/SOP (minimum 2 pages as per template).
Pay the VITREE application fee of Rs. 1,200 (inclusive of GST) online.
Appear for VITREE (Computer Based Test) at the chosen test city on the allotted date.
Shortlisted candidates appear for a personal interview (online mode for VIT-AP campus) based on SOP, subject knowledge, communication skills, and research experience.
For Ph.D. (Deep Technology), the interview additionally evaluates pitching/innovation/novelty, timeline and milestones, and research experience.
Selection is based on VITREE score, PG degree marks, research proposal, and personal interview performance.
Selected candidates receive intimation via VIT website/email/SMS, followed by guide selection and tuition fee payment.
Attend orientation programme and commence classes in July 2026.

VIT-AP Ph.D. Data Science Scholarships 2026

VIT-AP University provides research fellowships to all admitted full-time Ph.D. scholars. GATE/NET qualified candidates (above 60 percentile) receive a higher monthly fellowship. For Ph.D. (Deep Technology) candidates, a Chancellor Fellowship with enhanced stipends is available. The fellowship structure makes the programme financially supportive, especially for GATE/NET qualified candidates who receive significantly higher monthly stipends.

Fellowship Structure

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount (Per Month)
VIT Research Fellowship - Year 1 (GATE/NET above 60 percentile)	Valid GATE/NET score at admission	Rs. 35,000
VIT Research Fellowship - Year 2 and 3 (GATE/NET above 60 percentile)	Valid GATE/NET score at admission	Rs. 40,000
VIT Research Fellowship - Year 1 (Others)	All admitted full-time scholars	Rs. 31,000
VIT Research Fellowship - Year 2 and 3 (Others)	All admitted full-time scholars	Rs. 35,000
Deep Tech Chancellor Fellowship - Year 1 (GATE/NET above 60 percentile)	Ph.D. Deep Tech, valid GATE/NET	Rs. 40,000
Deep Tech Chancellor Fellowship - Year 2 and 3 (GATE/NET above 60 percentile)	Ph.D. Deep Tech, valid GATE/NET	Rs. 50,000
Deep Tech Chancellor Fellowship - Year 1 (Others)	Ph.D. Deep Tech scholars	Rs. 35,000
Deep Tech Chancellor Fellowship - Year 2 and 3 (Others)	Ph.D. Deep Tech scholars	Rs. 45,000
Raman Research Award	Research article publication	Up to Rs. 1,00,000 (one-time)
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award	Review paper publication	As per VIT norms
GATE/NET Scholarship (AICTE norms)	Valid GATE/NET score at admission	As per AICTE norms per month

Research fellowship is awarded to all admitted full-time research scholars at VIT-AP campus.
GATE/NET scholarship as per AICTE norms is entitled only to those students having a valid GATE/NET score at the time of admission.
Scholars are encouraged to independently apply for JRF (CSIR/UGC), Inspire Fellowships, Rajiv Gandhi Scholarships, and other government scholarships.
The Raman Research Award and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award are exclusive to VIT research scholars.

VIT-AP Ph.D. Data Science FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between Ph.D. (Data Science) and Ph.D. (Deep Technology) in Data Science at VIT-AP?

Ans. Ph.D. (Data Science) is the regular doctoral programme requiring a relevant Master's degree with 60% marks. Ph.D. (Deep Technology) is a specialized track focused on cutting-edge research domains like Advanced AI, Quantum Computing, Autonomous Systems, etc., requiring a higher academic record (75% or CGPA 8.0) and a valid GATE score of 80 percentile. The Deep Tech track also has a minimum duration of 4 years and comes with a higher Chancellor Fellowship.

Ques. Is VITREE mandatory for Ph.D. Data Science admission at VIT-AP?

Ans. Yes, VITREE is mandatory for all Ph.D. admissions at VIT-AP, including Data Science. The question paper code for Data Science is MAT (Mathematics-based). A GATE/NET score does not replace VITREE but qualifies you for a higher monthly fellowship.

Ques. What are the research domains covered under Ph.D. (Data Science) at VIT-AP?

Ans. Research areas include Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Statistical Modelling, Big Data Analytics, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision, Data Mining, and applications of Data Science in healthcare, finance, climate, and other domains.

Ques. Can I pursue Ph.D. (Data Science) at VIT-AP if I have a B.Tech/B.E. degree?

Ans. No. The regular Ph.D. (Data Science) requires a relevant Master's degree. However, if you have a B.Tech/B.E. with 75% marks or CGPA 7.5, you may be eligible for Direct Ph.D. in related engineering disciplines. For Ph.D. (Deep Technology) in Data Science, M.Sc. (Data Science) with a valid GATE score of 80 percentile is specifically mentioned as eligible.

Ques. What monthly fellowship can I expect as a Ph.D. Data Science scholar at VIT-AP?

Ans. For regular Ph.D., with a valid GATE/NET score (above 60 percentile), you receive Rs. 35,000/month in Year 1 and Rs. 40,000/month in Years 2 and 3. Without GATE/NET, the fellowship is Rs. 31,000/month in Year 1 and Rs. 35,000/month in Years 2 and 3. For Ph.D. (Deep Technology), the Chancellor Fellowship is higher: Rs. 40,000/month (Year 1) and Rs. 50,000/month (Years 2 and 3) for GATE/NET qualified candidates.

Ques. How is the personal interview conducted for VIT-AP campus Ph.D. Data Science candidates?

Ans. For VIT-AP campus, the personal interview is conducted in online mode (hybrid/online). The interview evaluates your Statement of Purpose (SOP), subject knowledge, communication skills, and research experience. For Ph.D. (Deep Technology), the interview additionally assesses pitching/innovation/novelty and research timeline and milestones.