Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

The Ph.D. in Food Technology at Amal Jyothi College of Engineering (AJCE), Kanjirappally, Kerala, is a research-based doctoral programme affiliated to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU), Thiruvananthapuram. The programme is available in both full-time and part-time modes with a minimum duration of 3 years (full-time) and up to 6 years. Research areas in the Food Technology department include Environmental Biodegradation, Food Microbiology, Wastewater Treatment Kinetic Modelling, Biochemical Engineering, Process Intensification, Downstream Processing, Bioseparations, Protein Engineering, Microbial Technology, Molecular Dynamics, and Nanobiotechnology. The annual university fee is approximately Rs. 29,000, and full-time scholars are eligible for a KTU fellowship of Rs. 25,000 per month for 3 years. AJCE is the first engineering college in Kerala to receive NAAC A grade (currently A+) and is AICTE-approved, making it a credible destination for doctoral research in Food Technology in Kerala.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are expected to be notified by KTU around May 2026, based on the pattern of previous years (2025 notification was issued on April 30, 2025, with application window from May 1 to May 31, 2025, and entrance exam on June 20, 2025). Candidates are advised to monitor the KTU official website (ktu.edu.in) and AJCE website (ajce.in) for the 2026 notification.

Key Points

AJCE is an Autonomous institution (UGC Autonomous status granted July 2023) affiliated to KTU, with NAAC A+ accreditation and AICTE approval.
The Food Technology department at AJCE has 3 registered PhD research guides with expertise in Food Microbiology, Biochemical Engineering, Protein Engineering, and Nanobiotechnology.
Full-time PhD scholars at KTU-affiliated colleges are eligible for a fellowship of Rs. 25,000 per month for 3 years, plus a contingency grant of Rs. 10,000 per year.
The programme is available in three categories: Full-time (with or without fellowship), Part-time (for faculty of KTU-affiliated colleges), and External Part-time (for researchers in recognised R&D organisations).
AJCE hosts the Startups Valley TBI (Technology Business Incubator) with 32 startups, providing a vibrant research and innovation ecosystem on campus.
The college has institutional memberships with IEEE and ACM, and the Food Technology department has strong consultancy and testing facilities.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

AJCE Ph.D. (Food Technology) Fees

The Ph.D. programme at AJCE is affiliated to KTU, and the fee structure is governed by KTU norms. The annual university fee for PhD in Engineering and Technology is approximately Rs. 29,000. Full-time scholars who receive the KTU fellowship of Rs. 25,000 per month effectively have their fees covered by the fellowship. The total fee for the minimum 3-year duration is approximately Rs. 87,000 (university fee only), excluding any college-specific charges.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Per Year (Rs.)	Total for 3 Years (Rs.)
KTU University Fee (Engineering and Technology)	29,000	87,000
Application Fee (General)	1,100 (one-time)	1,100
Application Fee (SC/ST)	550 (one-time)	550
Total Fees (General Category)		88,100

The above fees are as per KTU norms for PhD in Engineering and Technology programmes.
College-specific fees (if any) are to be confirmed directly with AJCE at the time of admission.
Full-time scholars receiving the KTU fellowship of Rs. 25,000/month for 3 years (total Rs. 9,00,000) effectively have their fees and living expenses covered.
Part-time scholars do not receive the fellowship.
Fees are subject to revision by KTU from time to time.

AJCE Ph.D. (Food Technology) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Food Technology) programme at AJCE are conducted through KTU's centralised PhD admission process. Candidates must appear in the KTU PhD Entrance Test under the Biotechnology (BT) stream, qualify with a minimum of 50% marks (35/70), and then attend a personal interview at the place of research (AJCE). The 2026 admission notification is expected around May 2026. Candidates with valid GATE scores or UGC-NET/UGC-CSIR-NET qualification are exempted from the entrance test.

KTU PhD Admission Dates

Event	2025 (Actual)	2026 (Tentative)
KTU PhD Notification	April 30, 2025	May 2026
Application Window Opens	May 1, 2025	May 2026
Last Date to Apply	May 31, 2025	May/June 2026
PhD Entrance Examination	June 20, 2025	June 2026
Interview and Admission	July 2025	July 2026

Accepted Entrance Exams

Exam	Conducting Body	Relevance
GATE (BT - Biotechnology / XL - Life Sciences)	IITs / IISc (NTA)	Exemption from KTU PhD Entrance Test
UGC-CSIR NET (Life Sciences / Chemical Sciences)	NTA	Exemption from KTU PhD Entrance Test
UGC-NET (relevant subject)	NTA	Exemption from KTU PhD Entrance Test

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master's degree in Engineering/Technology (M.Tech/M.E.) or Master's degree by Research in Engineering/Technology with a minimum CGPA of 5.75 (General); CGPA of 5.25 for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/EWS/Differently-abled candidates.
Master's degree in Applied Sciences/Basic Sciences or Mathematics with a minimum CGPA of 5.75 (General); such candidates must have qualified through UGC-CSIR NET.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Technology (B.Tech/B.E.) with a minimum CGPA of 7.75 (General); CGPA of 7.25 for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/EWS/Differently-abled candidates (direct PhD route).
Part-time applicants must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer in the prescribed format.

Admission Process

Monitor KTU website (ktu.edu.in) for the annual PhD admission notification (typically May each year).
Apply online through the KTU portal (app.ktu.edu.in) and pay the application fee (Rs. 1,100 for General; Rs. 550 for SC/ST).
Appear in the KTU PhD Entrance Test under the BT (Biotechnology) stream (if not exempted via GATE/UGC-NET).
Qualify in the entrance test (minimum 50% overall) and attend the personal interview at AJCE.
Identify a research supervisor from the AJCE Food Technology department and get the Doctoral Committee recommendation.
Complete registration formalities at AJCE and KTU.

AJCE Ph.D. (Food Technology) Scholarships 2026

PhD scholars at AJCE can avail of several fellowship and scholarship opportunities. The KTU fellowship is the primary financial support for full-time scholars. Additionally, national-level fellowships from AICTE, UGC, and CSIR are available for eligible candidates.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Offered By	Amount	Eligibility
KTU PhD Fellowship	APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University	Rs. 25,000/month for 3 years + Rs. 10,000/year contingency	Full-time PhD scholars at KTU-affiliated colleges
AICTE Doctoral Fellowship	AICTE	As per AICTE norms	Faculty of AICTE-approved institutions pursuing PhD
KSCSTE Fellowship	Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment	As per KSCSTE norms	Selected candidates; exempted from Part B of entrance test
UGC-CSIR NET JRF	UGC/CSIR	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF)	Candidates qualifying UGC-CSIR NET with JRF; exempted from KTU entrance test
GATE Fellowship (MHRD/DST)	Government of India	As per scheme norms	Candidates with valid GATE score; exempted from KTU entrance test
Merit-cum-Means Scholarship	AJCE (Institutional)	As per AJCE norms	Meritorious and economically weaker students

KTU fellowship is available only for full-time scholars; part-time scholars are not eligible.
AICTE Doctoral Fellowship candidates are admitted separately through a separate KTU notification.
Candidates with KSCSTE fellowship need to appear only for Part A of the KTU entrance test.
UGC-NET/UGC-CSIR-NET and GATE qualified candidates are fully exempted from the KTU PhD entrance test.

AJCE Ph.D. (Food Technology) FAQs

Ques. Can I pursue a PhD in Food Technology at AJCE if my background is in Chemistry or Biotechnology (not Engineering)?

Ans. Yes. Candidates with a Master's degree in Applied Sciences or Basic Sciences (including Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology) with a minimum CGPA of 5.75 are eligible, provided they have qualified through UGC-CSIR NET. A co-guide from a sister institution or research organisation with relevant laboratory facilities is mandatory for Basic Sciences candidates pursuing full-time or part-time research.

Ques. Who are the research guides available in the Food Technology department at AJCE?

Ans. The Food Technology department at AJCE has three registered KTU PhD research guides: Dr. Anoop Raj J R (Environmental Biodegradation, Food Microbiology, Wastewater Treatment Kinetic Modelling), Dr. Yedhu Krishnan R (Biochemical Engineering, Process Intensification, Downstream Processing, Bioseparations), and Dr. Swroop S Kumar (Protein Engineering, Microbial Technology, Molecular Dynamics, Nanobiotechnology). Candidates should contact the department to check current research vacancies.

Ques. Is the KTU PhD Entrance Test mandatory for Food Technology candidates?

Ans. Not necessarily. Candidates with a valid GATE score (BT - Biotechnology or XL - Life Sciences) or UGC-CSIR NET qualification are fully exempted from the KTU PhD Entrance Test and are admitted based on the personal interview alone. Candidates without these qualifications must appear for the entrance test under the BT (Biotechnology) stream.

Ques. What is the scope of a PhD in Food Technology from AJCE?

Ans. A PhD in Food Technology from a KTU-affiliated institution like AJCE opens doors to academic positions in food science and technology departments of universities and colleges, research positions in CFTRI (Central Food Technological Research Institute), DFRL (Defence Food Research Laboratory), ICAR institutes, and private food industry R&D labs. The research areas at AJCE (Nanobiotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, Food Microbiology) are aligned with current trends in functional foods, bioprocessing, and sustainable food production.

Ques. Does AJCE have laboratory facilities for Food Technology research?

Ans. Yes, the Food Technology department at AJCE is equipped with research laboratories supporting work in food microbiology, biochemical engineering, and nanobiotechnology. The department also has consultancy and testing facilities. Additionally, AJCE's Startups Valley TBI provides access to innovation infrastructure that can support food technology research and entrepreneurship.

Ques. What is the minimum CGPA required for PhD admission in Food Technology at AJCE?

Ans. For candidates with M.Tech/M.E. or Master's degree by Research in Engineering/Technology: minimum CGPA of 5.75 (General category) or 5.25 (SC/ST/OBC Non-Creamy Layer/EWS/Differently-abled). For candidates with Master's degree in Basic/Applied Sciences: minimum CGPA of 5.75 (General) or 5.25 (reserved categories), with mandatory UGC-CSIR NET qualification. For direct PhD from B.Tech/B.E.: minimum CGPA of 7.75 (General) or 7.25 (reserved categories).