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The Ph.D. in Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) at FISAT, Ernakulam is a research-focused doctoral programme affiliated to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU), Kerala. The programme is offered in both Full Time (minimum 3 years) and Part Time (minimum 4 years) modes, with research areas including Cryptography, VLSI Testing, VLSI CAD, Architecture, Biomedical Engineering, and Signal Processing. The total fee for the programme is approximately Rs. 57,000 over three years (Full Time), making it highly affordable. Admission is through the KTU PhD Entrance Examination and personal interview, with GATE/UGC-NET qualified candidates exempted from the entrance test. The programme attracts both fresh postgraduates and working professionals from the electronics and communications domain.

Admission for the 2026-27 academic year is expected to open tentatively in May 2026, based on the 2025-26 cycle (applications were open from May 1 to May 31, 2025, with the entrance exam held on June 20, 2025). Candidates are advised to monitor the KTU official website (ktu.edu.in) and FISAT's research page for the official 2026-27 notification.

Key Points

FISAT has active KTU-registered research supervisors in ECE with expertise in Cryptography, VLSI Testing, VLSI CAD, Architecture, and Biomedical Engineering.
Full Time scholars are eligible for a KTU Fellowship of Rs. 25,000 per month for 3 years, along with a contingent grant of Rs. 10,000 per year.
Part Time registration is available for faculty members of KTU-affiliated colleges or professionals working in industry/organisations within India.
GATE/UGC-NET qualified candidates are exempted from the KTU PhD Entrance Examination and are directly called for the interview.
FISAT is NAAC A+ accredited (2nd cycle, CGPA 3.45) and all B.Tech programmes are NBA accredited.
The PhD programme is conducted under the research regulations of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU).

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

FISAT Ph.D. ECE Fees

The Ph.D. programme at FISAT (under KTU) has a modest fee structure. The first-year fee for Engineering and Technology (including ECE) is Rs. 29,000, covering tuition and university charges. From the second year onwards, the annual fee reduces to Rs. 14,000. Full Time scholars receiving the KTU Fellowship of Rs. 25,000/month are effectively supported throughout their research tenure.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (Rs.)	Year 2 (Rs.)	Year 3 (Rs.)
Tuition Fee (University)	24,000	14,000	14,000
Other University Charges	5,000	-	-
Application Fee (one-time)	1,100 (General) / 550 (SC/ST)	-	-
Total Fees (per year)	29,000	14,000	14,000
Total Fees (3 Years - Full Time)	57,000

The above fee structure is as per KTU norms applicable to affiliated colleges including FISAT.
Application fee: Rs. 1,100 for General/OBC candidates; Rs. 550 for SC/ST candidates (paid at the time of application to KTU).
Full Time scholars are eligible for a KTU Fellowship of Rs. 25,000/month for 3 years + contingent grant of Rs. 10,000/year.
Part Time scholars do not receive the fellowship.
Fees are subject to revision as per KTU/Government orders.
A refundable caution deposit may be collected at the time of admission at the place of research (college-specific).

FISAT Ph.D. ECE Admission 2026-27

Admission to the Ph.D. (ECE) programme at FISAT is conducted through the KTU centralised PhD admission process. The selection involves a written entrance examination (70 marks) and a personal interview (30 marks). Candidates with valid GATE/UGC-NET scores are exempted from the entrance test. The 2026-27 admission cycle is expected to follow a similar schedule to 2025-26, with applications tentatively opening in May 2026.

PhD Admission Dates

Event	Date (Tentative 2026-27)
KTU PhD Notification Release	May 2026 (Tentative)
Online Application Window Opens	May 1, 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date to Submit Application	May 31, 2026 (Tentative)
KTU PhD Entrance Examination	June 20, 2026 (Tentative)
Interview / Counselling	July 2026 (Tentative)
Admission / Registration	July - August 2026 (Tentative)

Accepted Entrance Exams

Exam	Relevance	Exemption from KTU Entrance Test?
KTU PhD Entrance Examination	Primary exam for admission	No (mandatory unless exempted)
GATE (EC/EE/IN)	Valid GATE score holders are exempted from entrance test	Yes
UGC-NET (Electronics/relevant subject)	Valid UGC-NET score holders are exempted from entrance test	Yes
CSIR-NET	Valid score holders are exempted from entrance test	Yes

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Master's degree in Engineering/Technology (M.Tech/ME in ECE or related field) with a minimum CGPA of 5.75 (General); 5.25 for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/EWS/Differently-abled (with more than 40% disability).
Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Technology (B.Tech/BE in ECE or related field) with a minimum CGPA of 7.75 (General); 7.25 for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/EWS/Differently-abled (with more than 40% disability) - direct PhD after B.Tech.
Candidates in the final semester of their PG/UG programme are also eligible to apply, subject to producing final mark lists at the time of admission.

Admission Process:

Apply online through the KTU portal (app.ktu.edu.in) within the application window.
Upload all required documents including qualifying degree certificates, GATE/NET score card (if applicable), NOC from employer (for Part Time applicants), and category certificates (if applicable).
Appear for the KTU PhD Entrance Examination (if not exempted via GATE/NET).
Candidates scoring 50% or above in the entrance test are eligible for the interview.
Attend the personal interview at the designated centre.
Identify a KTU-registered research supervisor at FISAT and obtain their consent.
The Doctoral Committee recommends registration to KTU upon successful selection.
Complete admission formalities and fee payment at FISAT.

FISAT Ph.D. ECE Scholarships 2026-27

PhD scholars at FISAT (KTU) can avail of several fellowship and scholarship schemes. Full Time scholars are the primary beneficiaries of the KTU Fellowship, while other national-level scholarships are also available for eligible candidates. These financial supports make the programme accessible and attractive for dedicated researchers.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount	Duration
KTU Fellowship (Full Time)	Full Time PhD scholars selected through KTU admission process	Rs. 25,000/month + Rs. 10,000/year contingent grant	3 years
KSCSTE Fellowship	Candidates selected under KSCSTE scheme	As per KSCSTE norms	As per scheme
UGC-JRF (via UGC-NET)	Candidates qualifying UGC-NET with JRF (Category 1)	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)	2 years JRF + 3 years SRF
AICTE Doctoral Fellowship	Selected candidates under AICTE scheme (separate notification)	As per AICTE norms	As per scheme
NSP (PM-USP) Yojana	80% in qualifying exam, parental income up to Rs. 4.5 Lakhs	Rs. 82,000 per annum	Annual

KTU Fellowship is available only for Full Time scholars; Part Time scholars are not eligible.
KSCSTE and AICTE fellowship holders have to appear only for Part A of the entrance test (exempted from Part B).
UGC-JRF holders are fully exempted from the KTU PhD entrance examination.
Scholarship continuity is subject to satisfactory research progress as assessed by the Doctoral Committee.
Application for national scholarships (UGC-JRF, AICTE) must be done separately through the respective agencies.

FISAT Ph.D. ECE FAQs

Q1. What research areas are available in ECE at FISAT for PhD?

Ans. The ECE department at FISAT has KTU-registered supervisors with expertise in Cryptography, VLSI Testing, VLSI CAD, Architecture, and Biomedical Engineering. Active supervisors include Dr. Jacob Thomas V (Biomedical Engineering), Dr. Anil Kumar M N (Cryptography), and Dr. Krishna Kumar S (VLSI Testing, VLSI CAD, Architecture).

Q2. Can a working professional pursue PhD (ECE) at FISAT on a part-time basis?

Ans. Yes, FISAT offers Part Time PhD registration under KTU for faculty members of KTU-affiliated colleges and professionals working in industry or organisations within India. A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the employer in the prescribed KTU format is mandatory for Part Time applicants. The minimum duration for Part Time PhD is 4 years.

Q3. Is GATE score mandatory for PhD (ECE) admission at FISAT?

Ans. No, GATE score is not mandatory. However, candidates with a valid GATE score in EC/EE/IN are exempted from the KTU PhD Entrance Examination and are directly called for the personal interview. Candidates without GATE/NET must appear for the KTU PhD Entrance Test.

Q4. What is the KTU PhD Fellowship amount and who is eligible?

Ans. The KTU Fellowship is Rs. 25,000 per month for 3 years, along with a contingent grant of Rs. 10,000 per year. This is available only for Full Time PhD scholars selected through the KTU admission process. Part Time scholars are not eligible for this fellowship.

Q5. Where is the KTU PhD Entrance Examination conducted?

Ans. The KTU PhD Entrance Examination is conducted at four locations across Kerala: Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Thrissur, and Kannur. Candidates can choose their preferred centre at the time of application.

Q6. What is the minimum duration of the PhD (ECE) programme at FISAT?

Ans. The minimum duration for Full Time PhD is 3 years, while for Part Time PhD it is 4 years. The maximum duration is typically 6 years for Full Time and 8 years for Part Time, as per KTU research regulations.

FISAT Ph.D Electronics And Communications Engineering: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

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