Features

Details

Course Name

PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

Course Duration

• Full-Time PhD: 3 to 5 years (Varies based on research progress)
• Part-Time PhD: 4 to 6 years (For working professionals, longer duration)
• Integrated PhD: 5 to 6 years (Direct after B.Tech/M.Sc with M.Tech + PhD)

Eligibility

• Educational Qualification: M.Tech/M.E. degree with at least 55–60% marks (or equivalent CGPA)
• Entrance Exam: GATE / UGC-NET / CSIR-NET / SLET / Institute-specific PhD entrance exams
• Work Experience (for Part-Time PhD): Some institutes require 2+ years of industry or teaching experience
• Research Proposal: A well-defined Statement of Purpose (SOP) or research proposal is often required
• Interview: Most institutes conduct personal interviews for final selection

Specializations

PhD specializations depend on the M.Tech field and research interests. Some popular areas include:

1. Engineering & Technology

• Computer Science & Engineering – AI, ML, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing
• Mechanical Engineering – Robotics, CAD/CAM, Thermal Engineering
• Electrical Engineering – Power Systems, Renewable Energy, VLSI Design
• Electronics & Communication Engineering – Embedded Systems, Wireless Networks
• Civil Engineering – Structural Engineering, Transportation, Environmental Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering – Medical Imaging, Biomechanics

2. Interdisciplinary Fields

• Data Science & Artificial Intelligence
• Nanotechnology
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Energy Studies & Sustainable Development
• Aerospace Engineering

Entrance Exams

• GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) – Accepted by IITs, NITs, IISc & other institutes
• UGC-NET (University Grants Commission - National Eligibility Test) – For PhD & Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)
• CSIR-NET (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research - NET) – For science & engineering research fields
• SLET (State Level Eligibility Test) – Conducted by various states for PhD admissions
• IIIT, IIT, NIT, IISc PhD Entrance Exams – Institute-specific entrance tests & interviews
• DRDO, ISRO, BARC Entrance Exams – For PhD & research fellowships in government R&D organizations

Entrance exam frequency

• GATE – Once a year (February)
• UGC-NET – Twice a year (June & December)
• CSIR-NET – Twice a year (June & December)
• SLET – Varies by state (Once or twice a year)
• Institute-Specific PhD Entrance Exams – Varies (Depends on university, usually once or twice a year)
• DRDO/ISRO/BARC Exams – Depends on vacancies & research programs

Conducting Bodies

• GATE – Conducted by IISc & IITs (on rotation)
• UGC-NET – Conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA)
• CSIR-NET – Conducted by Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) & NTA
• SLET – Conducted by State Government Bodies/Universities
• Institute-Specific PhD Entrance Exams – Conducted by IITs, NITs, IIITs, IISc & Other Universities
• DRDO/ISRO/BARC Exams – Conducted by Respective Organizations

Regulatory Bodies

• University Grants Commission (UGC) – Regulates PhD programs in universities & sets minimum standards
• All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) – Regulates PhD in technical & engineering fields (for AICTE-approved institutions)
• Department of Higher Education (MHRD) – Oversees overall higher education policies in India
• National Board of Accreditation (NBA) – Ensures quality standards in technical education, including PhD programs
• Research Councils (CSIR, ICAR, ICMR, DRDO, ISRO, BARC) – Regulate research in specific fields like science, agriculture, medicine & defence

Fee Range

• Government Institutes (IITs, NITs, IISc, Central Universities) – ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 per year
• Private Universities (BITS, VIT, Amity, SRM, etc.) – ₹1 Lakh to ₹5 Lakhs for the entire course
• Deemed & State Universities – ₹50,000 to ₹2 Lakhs per year
• Part-Time PhD (Industry-Sponsored) – ₹1 Lakh to ₹3 Lakhs per year

Note: Many government institutions offer stipends & fellowships (₹31,000–₹35,000 per month) for full-time PhD scholars through UGC-NET JRF, CSIR-NET, GATE, or institute-funded projects.

Highest Salary Package

✔ Academia (Professor/Researcher) – ₹10–30 LPA (Top IITs/IISc Professors earn more with experience)
✔ Corporate R&D (Tech & Engineering) – ₹20–50 LPA (Google, Microsoft, Intel, Qualcomm, etc.)
✔ Government R&D (ISRO, DRDO, BARC, CSIR, etc.) – ₹12–25 LPA (Higher with experience & promotions)
✔ AI/ML & Data Science Roles – ₹30–80 LPA (Top MNCs & Startups offer high packages)
✔ Entrepreneurship & Consultancy – Unlimited Potential (Depends on business success & industry demand)

The highest salaries are seen in tech-based research roles, AI, and international opportunities.

Top Recruiters

1. Academia & Research Institutes:

• IITs, NITs, IISc, IIITs, Central & State Universities (Professor, Research Scientist)
• CSIR, ISRO, DRDO, BARC, ICAR, ICMR, TIFR (Government R&D Organizations)

2. Corporate R&D & Technology Companies

• Google, Microsoft, IBM, Intel, NVIDIA, Qualcomm (AI, ML, Semiconductor, Computing)
• TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Tech Mahindra (Software & Engineering Research)
• Bosch, Siemens, GE, ABB, Honeywell (Industrial & Automation R&D)

3. Core Engineering & Manufacturing

• L&T, Tata Group, Reliance, Mahindra, Adani (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical Engineering)
• Ashok Leyland, Maruti Suzuki, Tesla, Boeing (Automobile & Aerospace Research)