Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

The Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) programme at Vishwakarma University (VU), Pune is a full-time doctoral research programme offered under the Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology. Established in 2017, the department has grown into one of the most active research departments at VU, with expertise in Cyber Security, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Cloud Computing, Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years as per UGC norms, with an annual tuition fee of Rs. 1,25,000. Admission is through the university's VUPET (Vishwakarma University Ph.D. Entrance Test) followed by a personal interview. With a seat intake of 42 (13 Open, 29 Reserved) for AY 2026-27, this is the largest Ph.D. programme at VU, reflecting the department's strong research capacity and the high demand for computer engineering research. The department has a strategic MOU with IBM offering specialization tracks in Business Analytics and Cyber Security and Forensics.

Admissions for AY 2026-27 are currently ongoing. The VUPET application window opened on 1 February 2026, and the last date for form submission was 22 March 2026. The VUPET entrance test was scheduled for 12 April 2026, with results and interviews to follow in April-May 2026. The final admission deadline for selected candidates is 30 May 2026.

Key Points

The Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) programme is offered under the Department of Computer Engineering within the Faculty of Science and Technology at VU, Pune.
The department has 13 research supervisors for Ph.D. (Computer Engineering): Dr. Kailas Patil, Dr. Sanjesh Pawale, Dr. Sonali Patil, Dr. Bharati Ainapure, Dr. Reshma Pise, Dr. Deepak Mane, Dr. Vishal Meshram, Dr. Abhijit Chitre, Dr. Madhavi Saxena, Dr. Chetan Chauhan, Dr. Sujit Deshpande, Dr. Kavita Kumavat, and Dr. Pavitha Nooji.
Key research areas include Cyber Security, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Cloud Computing, Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and IoT.
The department has an MOU with IBM offering specialization tracks in Business Analytics and Cyber Security and Forensics, providing industry-aligned research opportunities.
Faculty members head Centers of Excellence including the Unity Center of Excellence and Industry 4.0, and contribute to the Center for e-Learning and Design Thinking and Innovation.
Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR NET (Category 1, 2, or 3), GATE, or CEED with a valid score may be exempted from the VUPET written test; however, form submission and interview remain mandatory for all.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

VU Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) Fees

The Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) programme at Vishwakarma University carries an annual fee of Rs. 1,25,000, payable every year for the duration of the programme (minimum 3 years, maximum 6 years). A one-time thesis submission fee of Rs. 25,000 is payable at the time of thesis submission. The VUPET application form fee is Rs. 1,200 for Open category and Rs. 1,000 for SC/ST/OBC/Differently-Abled/EWS candidates. Hostel facility is available on campus separately and is not mandatory for Ph.D. students.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Annual Tuition Fee	1,25,000 per year
VUPET Application Form Fee (Open)	1,200 (one-time)
VUPET Application Form Fee (SC/ST/OBC/EWS)	1,000 (one-time)
Thesis Submission Fee	25,000 (one-time, at thesis submission)
Total Fees (3 years, excluding thesis fee)	3,75,000
Total Fees (3 years, including thesis fee)	4,00,000

Hostel charges (optional, not mandatory): Rs. 1,25,000 to Rs. 1,45,000 per year depending on seat type; includes mess (breakfast and dinner) and a refundable deposit of Rs. 5,000.
Laundry charges are separate.
If admission is cancelled before 31 August 2026, a deduction will be made and the balance will be refunded.
No refund is applicable for cancellations after 31 August 2026.
Refunds (if applicable) are processed within 15 working days via RTGS/NEFT.
Fees are payable annually; no EMI option is explicitly mentioned for Ph.D. fees.

VU Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) Admission 2026-27

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) programme at Vishwakarma University for AY 2026-27 are currently in progress. The VUPET entrance test was scheduled on 12 April 2026, and the final admission deadline for selected candidates is 30 May 2026. With 42 seats (13 Open, 29 Reserved for AY 2026-27), this is the most accessible Ph.D. programme at VU in terms of seat availability. Candidates are advised to check supervisor availability and research interests before applying.

VU Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) Admission Schedule

Event	Date
VUPET Application Form Opens	1 February 2026
Last Date for Form Submission	22 March 2026
VUPET Entrance Test	12 April 2026
Result of VUPET Paper II	21 April 2026
Interview Schedule Declared	27 April 2026
Result of Interview	15 May 2026
Final Deadline for Ph.D. Admission (Selected Candidates)	30 May 2026

Relevant Entrance Exam Dates

Event	GATE 2026	UGC-NET Phase 2 (Tentative)
Registration Start	August 2025	1 April 2026
Exam Date	February 2026	1 June 2026
Result	March 2026	1 July 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must have completed M.E./M.Tech. in Computer Engineering, AI/DS, or AI/ML with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC/Differently-Abled/EWS candidates).
Candidates who have completed M.Phil. with at least 55% marks in aggregate are also eligible.
Candidates qualifying their Master's degree in 2026 may also apply; they must submit their final result on or before 30 July 2026.

Admission Process:

Check eligibility and available research supervisors on the official VU website before applying.
Fill the VUPET application form online at vupet.edupluscampus.com and pay the application fee (Rs. 1,200 for Open; Rs. 1,000 for SC/ST/OBC/EWS).
Appear for VUPET Paper I (Research Methodology and Aptitude) - minimum 50% required to qualify for Paper II.
Appear for VUPET Paper II (Computer Engineering subject-specific, subjective) - minimum 50% required to qualify for interview.
Candidates qualifying both papers appear for a personal interview at the university.
Selected candidates must complete admission formalities and pay fees by the final deadline (30 May 2026 for AY 2026-27).
GATE/UGC-NET qualified candidates with valid scores are exempted from the written test but must submit the form and appear for the interview.

VU Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) Scholarships 2026-27

Vishwakarma University does not offer a broad institutional merit scholarship programme for Ph.D. students. Ph.D. scholars in Computer Engineering may avail of government-funded fellowships and scholarships based on eligibility. The university facilitates student loan assistance through banking partners such as SBI, HDFC, and Oriental Bank of Commerce. Students from EWS, SC, ST, and OBC categories may be eligible for government scholarships and fee concessions under state and central government schemes.

Scholarships and Fellowships

Scholarship / Fellowship	Offered By	Amount	Eligibility
GATE-based Fellowship	Ministry of Education / AICTE	As per institution norms	Valid GATE score; enrolled in full-time Ph.D.
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	University Grants Commission (UGC)	Rs. 37,000/month (1st 2 years); Rs. 42,000/month (subsequent years)	Qualify UGC-NET with JRF; valid for Ph.D. enrolment
UGC Non-NET Fellowship	UGC / University	As per UGC norms	Ph.D. scholars not holding JRF but enrolled full-time
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	Government of Maharashtra / Central Govt.	Varies	SC/ST students; income-based
EWS Fee Concession	Vishwakarma University	Up to 50% fee reduction	EWS certificate holders
Education Loan	SBI, HDFC, Oriental Bank of Commerce	As per bank norms	All eligible students

GATE/UGC-NET qualified candidates are exempted from the VUPET written test.
Students must apply separately for government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
EWS concession is subject to submission of a valid EWS certificate at the time of admission.
Scholarship deadlines vary; students are advised to check the National Scholarship Portal and UGC website for current deadlines.

VU Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) FAQs

Ques. What are the research areas available under Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) at Vishwakarma University?

Ans. The Department of Computer Engineering at VU has faculty expertise in Cyber Security, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Cloud Computing, Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and IoT. With 13 research supervisors, candidates have a wide choice of research domains. It is strongly advised to check the specific research interests of available supervisors on the official VU website before applying.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) at VU, and what is the category-wise split?

Ans. For AY 2025-26, the total intake for Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) was 42 seats - 13 Open category and 29 Reserved category. This is the largest Ph.D. intake at VU. The seat matrix for AY 2026-27 should be checked on the official VUPET notification.

Ques. Does the Computer Engineering department at VU have an IBM collaboration? How does it benefit Ph.D. scholars?

Ans. Yes, the department has an MOU with IBM offering two specialization tracks: Business Analytics and Cyber Security and Forensics. While these tracks are primarily for B.Tech. students, Ph.D. scholars benefit from the department's IBM-aligned curriculum, access to IBM tools and platforms, and faculty expertise in IBM-relevant research areas such as data analytics, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.

Ques. What is the annual fee for Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) at VU?

Ans. The annual fee is Rs. 1,25,000 per year. The total fee for the minimum 3-year duration (excluding thesis submission fee) is Rs. 3,75,000. Including the one-time thesis submission fee of Rs. 25,000, the total comes to Rs. 4,00,000 for 3 years.

Ques. Can candidates with M.Tech. in AI/ML or Data Science apply for Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) at VU?

Ans. Yes. The official eligibility for Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) at VU specifies M.E./M.Tech. in Computer Engineering, AI/DS, or AI/ML with more than 55% marks. Candidates with M.Tech. in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or Machine Learning are explicitly eligible to apply.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after completing Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) from VU?

Ans. Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) graduates can pursue careers as Assistant Professors or Researchers in universities and research institutions, Research Scientists or Principal Engineers in technology companies (Google, Microsoft, TCS, Infosys, etc.), Cybersecurity Researchers and Consultants, AI/ML Research Scientists in product companies and startups, and R&D professionals in government organizations such as DRDO, ISRO, and C-DAC.