Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

The Ph.D. (Food Process Engineering) program at the College of Technology and Engineering (CTAE), Udaipur, is a full-time residential doctoral program offered under the Department of Processing & Food Engineering. The program spans 3 years (6 semesters) and focuses on advanced research in food processing technologies, post-harvest engineering, food quality and safety, food packaging, and value addition to agricultural produce. The total fees for the program are approximately Rs. 1.16 Lakhs for the entire duration (for general category students in Agricultural Engineering discipline). Admission is based on the MPUAT PhD Entrance Test and merit-cum-interview. The program offers 4 seats (plus 1 ICAR seat), making it a highly selective research program. The mode of study is full-time, on-campus, and residential, ideal for candidates seeking specialization in food engineering research.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session are expected to open tentatively in June 2026, based on the 2025-26 admission cycle (last date for application was July 21, 2025). The PhD Entrance Test and Counseling for 2025-26 was held on August 11, 2025. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official CTAE website (www.ctae.ac.in) for the latest admission notifications.

Key Points

The program is offered under the Department of Processing & Food Engineering at CTAE, a constituent college of MPUAT, Udaipur.
Research areas include food processing technologies, post-harvest engineering, food quality and safety, food packaging, drying and dehydration, and value addition to agricultural produce.
GATE-qualified candidates may be eligible for AICTE assistantship/fellowship during the program.
Sponsored candidates (from industry/institutions) are also eligible; they pay 1.25 times the normal fee.
The program has a Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) provision for teachers of AICTE-approved institutions.
The PhD program requires coursework in the first year followed by research work and thesis submission.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

CTAE Ph.D. (Food Process Engineering) Fees

The Ph.D. (Food Process Engineering) program at CTAE falls under the Agricultural Engineering discipline fee category. The total fees for the 3-year (6-semester) program for general category students amount to approximately Rs. 1.16 Lakhs, which includes one-time fees, per-semester academic fees, and examination fees. SC/ST/Female/TFWS category students pay significantly lower tuition fees (Rs. 0 tuition fee per semester). Hostel accommodation is available separately on campus.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Caution Money (One-time, Refundable)	7,500
Prospectus Fee (One-time)	1,500
Enrollment & Eligibility Fee (One-time)	750
Total One-time Fees	9,750
Tuition Fee per Odd Semester (General - Ag. Engg.)	7,500
Development Fee per Odd Semester	7,500
Registration Fee per Semester	400
CLSU/CSU Membership (Odd Semester only)	600
Group Insurance (Odd Semester only)	150
NSO/Yoga/Scout per Semester	250
Total per Odd Semester (General - Ag. Engg.)	16,400
Examination Fee per Even Semester	2,600
Total Annual Fees (One-time + Odd Sem + Even Sem)	29,400 (Year 1)
Total Fees (3 Years - General Category, Ag. Engg.)	~1,16,550

Caution Money of Rs. 7,500 is refundable at the time of leaving the institution.
SC/ST/Female/TFWS category students pay Rs. 0 tuition fee; their total per odd semester is Rs. 8,900.
Industry-sponsored candidates pay 1.25 times the normal fees.
Fees are subject to revision as per Government of Rajasthan orders.
Hostel Fees (Double Seated): Rs. 25,050 per annum (excluding food charges); Hostel Caution Money Rs. 3,000 (refundable); Mess Advance Rs. 5,500 (refundable). Hostel is optional.

CTAE Ph.D. (Food Process Engineering) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Food Process Engineering) program at CTAE are conducted annually. The selection is based on a PhD Entrance Test followed by a merit-cum-interview process. For the 2025-26 session, the last date for application was July 21, 2025, and the PhD Entrance Test and Counseling was held on August 11, 2025. For the 2026-27 session, similar dates are expected tentatively.

CTAE PhD Admission Dates

Event	2025-26 Date	2026-27
Release of Admission Notice / Application Form	June 19, 2025	June 2026
Last Date of Application (Hard Copy)	July 21, 2025	July 2026
Display of Provisional Eligibility List	July 28, 2025	July 2026
PhD Entrance Test and Counseling	August 11, 2025	August 2026
Display of Provisionally Admitted/Waitlisted List	August 12, 2025	August 2026
Last Date for Registration and Fee Payment	August 18, 2025	August 2026
Counseling for Waitlisted Candidates	August 23, 2025	August 2026
Last Date for Waitlisted Fee Payment	August 25, 2025	August 2026
Last Date for Submission of Mark Sheets/PDC	September 15, 2025	September 2026

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
GATE 2026	Registration Start	August 28, 2025
GATE 2026	Registration End	October 13, 2025
GATE 2026	Admit Card Release	January 13, 2026
GATE 2026	Exam Dates	February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026
GATE 2026	Result Declaration	March 19, 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold an M.E./M.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering with specialization in Processing & Food Engineering (PFE) from a recognized university.
Minimum 65% marks or OGPA of 6.50/10.00 in the qualifying degree (5% relaxation for SC/ST/BC/MBC/EWS candidates).
Candidates must qualify the MPUAT PhD Entrance Test; GATE score may be considered for merit.

Admission Process:

Download and fill the application form from www.ctae.ac.in or www.mpuat.ac.in.
Submit the hard copy of the application form along with application fee of Rs. 1,000 (non-refundable) and all required documents to the Dean's office, CTAE, Udaipur before the last date.
Appear for the PhD Written Entrance Test conducted by MPUAT.
Attend counseling/interview on the designated date.
Selected candidates must register and pay fees by the stipulated last date.
In-service/sponsored candidates must submit a relieving letter from their employer.

CTAE Ph.D. (Food Process Engineering) Scholarships 2026

Students admitted to the Ph.D. (Food Process Engineering) program at CTAE may be eligible for various scholarships and fellowships from central and state government bodies. ICAR and DST fellowships are particularly relevant for this program. State government scholarships are available for SC/ST/OBC/EWS students.

Scholarships and Fellowships

Scholarship/Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount	Provider
ICAR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	ICAR-NET qualified candidates in agricultural engineering	Rs. 31,000/month (JRF)	ICAR, New Delhi
DST-INSPIRE Fellowship	PhD students in science and technology	Rs. 31,000/month + Rs. 20,000 contingency/year	DST, Govt. of India
Rajasthan State SC/ST Scholarship	SC/ST students	As per state norms	Govt. of Rajasthan
EWS/OBC Scholarship	EWS/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) students	As per state norms	Govt. of Rajasthan
AICTE QIP Scholarship	Teachers of AICTE-approved institutions admitted under QIP	Full fee waiver + stipend	AICTE, New Delhi

ICAR JRF is awarded through the ICAR-NET examination; candidates must apply separately.
DST-INSPIRE fellowship requires a separate application to DST after admission.
State scholarships require submission of income and caste certificates.
QIP candidates must be sponsored by their AICTE-approved institution.

CTAE Udaipur Ph.D Food Process Engineering Ranking

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#125 out of 160 in Top Public Colleges in India 2025

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CTAE Ph.D. (Food Process Engineering) FAQs

Ques. What is the duration of the Ph.D. (Food Process Engineering) program at CTAE Udaipur?

Ans. The Ph.D. program at CTAE is a full-time residential program with a minimum duration of 3 years (6 semesters). The first year typically involves coursework, followed by research work and thesis submission.

Ques. What qualifying degrees are accepted for this PhD program?

Ans. Candidates with M.E./M.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering with specialization in Processing & Food Engineering (PFE) from a recognized university are eligible. The MPUAT PhD Entrance Test must be qualified.

Ques. Is GATE score mandatory for PhD admission at CTAE?

Ans. GATE score is not strictly mandatory. Admission is primarily based on the MPUAT PhD Entrance Test followed by a merit-cum-interview process. However, a valid GATE score can strengthen your application.

Ques. What research areas are covered in the Ph.D. (Food Process Engineering) program?

Ans. The program covers advanced research in food processing technologies, post-harvest engineering, food quality and safety, food packaging, drying and dehydration technologies, value addition to agricultural produce, and food product development.

Ques. Are hostel facilities available for PhD students at CTAE?

Ans. Yes, CTAE provides hostel accommodation for PhD students. The hostel fee is approximately Rs. 25,050 per annum (excluding food charges) for double-seated rooms. A refundable hostel caution money of Rs. 3,000 and mess advance of Rs. 5,500 are also required at the time of admission.

Ques. What are the career prospects after completing Ph.D. (Food Process Engineering) from CTAE?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as research scientists at ICAR institutes (such as CIPHET, CFTRI), faculty positions at agricultural universities, R&D roles in food processing companies, positions in FSSAI and other food regulatory bodies, and entrepreneurship in food processing and value addition sectors.