Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

The Ph.D. in Computer Engineering at Pillai College of Engineering (PCE), New Panvel, Navi Mumbai is a full-time doctoral research program affiliated to the University of Mumbai. Established in 2017, the program has a sanctioned strength of 10 research scholars per year. The program offers post-master's applicants the opportunity to pursue advanced research across a broad range of areas in Computer Engineering, including Data Science, Natural Language Processing, Image Processing, Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Distributed Systems, and High Performance Computing. The annual fee is Rs. 1,25,000 per year, making the total cost approximately Rs. 3.75 lakh for the minimum 3-year duration. Admission is through the University of Mumbai's Ph.D. Entrance Test (PET), with exemptions available for NET/SET/GATE qualified candidates. The program is popular for its strong research infrastructure, experienced faculty, and industry-academia collaborations.

Admissions for the 2026-27 cycle are upcoming. The University of Mumbai PET 2026 Phase 1 applications are expected to open in April/May 2026, with the PET exam expected in June 2026. Candidates who have cleared UGC-NET (including JRF), UGC-CSIR NET, SLET, GATE, or have passed M.Phil are exempted from PET. Candidates are advised to monitor the official University of Mumbai portal (mu.ac.in) for the latest notifications.

Key Points

Affiliated to University of Mumbai; PCE is a recognized Research Centre under University of Mumbai
Established: 2017; Sanctioned intake: 10 research scholars per year
Research areas: Data Science, NLP, Image Processing, Big Data Analytics, AI/ML, Distributed Systems, Pattern Recognition, High Performance Computing, IoT, Cloud Computing
Dedicated research labs: Cloud and Big Data Lab, Advanced Network Lab, AI Lab, Data Science Lab, NLP Lab, High Performance Computing Lab, IoT Lab
PCE holds NAAC A+ grade and UGC Autonomous Status (from 2022-23)
Candidates with UGC-NET/JRF, CSIR-NET, SLET, GATE, or M.Phil are exempted from PET
PET certificate validity: 3 years from the date of qualification
Minimum duration: 3 years (Full Time); Maximum duration: 6 years

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

PCE Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) Fees

The Ph.D. in Computer Engineering at PCE has an annual fee of Rs. 1,25,000 per year. For the minimum 3-year duration, the total fees amount to Rs. 3,75,000. There are no separate hostel fees mentioned for PhD scholars; however, hostel accommodation may be available on campus at additional cost. The fee structure is straightforward with no separate tuition and development fee breakup published for the PhD program.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount
Annual Fee (per year)	Rs. 1,25,000
Total Fees (3 Years - Minimum Duration)	Rs. 3,75,000

Fee is payable annually at the time of re-registration each year
Fee may be revised by the University of Mumbai from time to time
Hostel accommodation may be available on campus at additional cost (to be confirmed with the college)
SC/ST/OBC candidates may be eligible for government fellowships/scholarships to cover fees

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

Admissions to the Ph.D. in Computer Engineering at PCE are conducted through the University of Mumbai's Ph.D. Entrance Test (PET). The 2026-27 admission cycle is upcoming, with PET applications expected in April/May 2026 and the exam in June 2026. Candidates who qualify PET (or are exempted) must then contact PCE's Computer Engineering Research Centre, submit their research interest, and appear for a presentation/interview before the Research Advisory Committee (RAC). Final selection depends on the interview outcome and availability of a research guide.

Ph.D. Computer Engineering Admission Dates

Event	Tentative Date / Details
MU PET 2026 Application Start	April 2026 (Tentative)
MU PET 2026 Application Last Date	May 2026 (Tentative)
MU PET 2026 Exam	June 2026 (Tentative)
MU PET 2026 Result	July 2026 (Tentative)
PCE Research Centre Vacancy Notification	Within 3 weeks of PET result
Candidate Willingness Submission Deadline	As per PCE notification
Presentation / Interview at PCE	As per PCE Research Advisory Committee schedule
Admission Confirmation & Fee Payment	Within 2 weeks of selection

Entrance Exam Details

Exam	Details
MU PET (University of Mumbai PhD Entrance Test)	Mandatory for all candidates without exemption
MU PET Paper I	Research Methodology (General) - Objective MCQ
MU PET Paper II	Subject-specific (Computer Engineering) - Objective MCQ
Minimum qualifying marks	50% (45% for SC/ST/OBC/Differently-abled)
PET Certificate Validity	3 years
Exemption from PET	UGC-NET (incl. JRF), CSIR-NET, SLET, GATE, M.Phil qualified candidates

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Passed Master's degree (M.E./M.Tech./M.Sc.) or equivalent with minimum 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/VJNT/SBC/OBC from Maharashtra, and differently-abled with more than 40% disability)
Must have appeared and qualified in the University of Mumbai PET, OR hold a valid UGC-NET/JRF, CSIR-NET, SLET, GATE score, or M.Phil degree (PET exemption)
Candidates who have appeared for the final year of Master's degree and result is awaited may provisionally appear for PET

Admission Process

Step 1: Appear in University of Mumbai PET (or verify PET exemption eligibility)
Step 2: Obtain PET Eligibility Certificate from University of Mumbai
Step 3: Monitor PCE's website/notice board for vacancy notification from the Computer Engineering Research Centre
Step 4: Submit written willingness to join the Ph.D. program at PCE's Research Centre
Step 5: Appear for Presentation/Interview before the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) at PCE
Step 6: On selection, pay the prescribed fees within 2 weeks to confirm admission
Step 7: Topic Approval in the Research Review Committee (RRC) Meeting marks the official start of the Ph.D. term

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

Ph.D. scholars at PCE may be eligible for various fellowships and scholarships from government bodies. The most significant are the UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Senior Research Fellowship (SRF), which provide monthly stipends to NET-JRF qualified scholars. Additionally, GATE-qualified scholars may be eligible for AICTE fellowships. SC/ST scholars may apply for the Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Benefit
UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	UGC-NET with JRF qualification	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF) + HRA; upgradable to SRF (Rs. 42,000/month) after 2 years
CSIR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	CSIR-NET with JRF qualification	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF) + HRA; upgradable to SRF after 2 years
AICTE Doctoral Fellowship	GATE qualified; enrolled in AICTE-approved institution	Rs. 12,400/month (as per AICTE norms)
GOI Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST category scholars	Fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
DST-INSPIRE Fellowship	Top 1% in graduation/post-graduation	Rs. 31,000/month + Rs. 20,000/year research grant

JRF/SRF fellowships are awarded by UGC/CSIR directly to the scholar; PCE facilitates the process
Scholars must apply for fellowships separately through the respective government portals
Fellowship amounts are subject to revision by the respective funding agencies

PCE Ph.D. (Computer Engineering) FAQs

Q1. Is the Ph.D. in Computer Engineering at PCE a full-time or part-time program?

Ans. PCE offers the Ph.D. in Computer Engineering as a full-time program. The minimum duration is 3 years and the maximum is 6 years. Part-time Ph.D. options may be available for working professionals under specific conditions as per University of Mumbai regulations; candidates should confirm this directly with PCE's Research Centre.

Q2. What is the MU PET and is it mandatory for Ph.D. admission at PCE?

Ans. The MU PET (University of Mumbai Ph.D. Entrance Test) is a mandatory entrance test for Ph.D. admission at PCE. It consists of two papers: Paper I (Research Methodology) and Paper II (subject-specific, i.e., Computer Engineering). Candidates must score at least 50% (45% for reserved categories) to qualify. However, candidates who have cleared UGC-NET (including JRF), CSIR-NET, SLET, GATE, or have passed M.Phil are exempted from PET.

Q3. What are the key research areas available for Ph.D. in Computer Engineering at PCE?

Ans. The Computer Engineering department at PCE has faculty expertise in Data Science, Natural Language Processing, Information Retrieval, Text Mining, Image Processing, Data Mining, Big Data Analytics, Soft Computing, Pattern Recognition, Parallel Computing, Distributed Systems, AI/ML, IoT, Cloud Computing, and High Performance Computing. Research scholars can choose their area based on faculty availability and their own research interests.

Q4. How does the guide/supervisor allocation work for Ph.D. at PCE?

Ans. After qualifying PET (or with exemption), candidates must contact PCE's Computer Engineering Research Centre and submit their research interest in writing. They then appear for a Presentation/Interview before the Research Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC evaluates the candidate's research competence, the feasibility of the proposed research, and assigns a guide based on the candidate's interest and faculty availability. The Ph.D. term officially begins from the date of Topic Approval in the RRC Meeting.

Q5. Can working professionals pursue Ph.D. in Computer Engineering at PCE?

Ans. Working professionals may be eligible for Ph.D. admission if they meet the eligibility criteria and can fulfill the residency requirements as per University of Mumbai regulations. Candidates with teaching or research experience in relevant fields may also be eligible under special provisions. It is advisable to contact PCE's Research Centre directly to understand the specific requirements for working professionals.

Q6. What fellowships are available for Ph.D. scholars at PCE?

Ans. Ph.D. scholars at PCE can avail of UGC-JRF (Rs. 37,000/month), CSIR-JRF (Rs. 37,000/month), AICTE Doctoral Fellowship (Rs. 12,400/month), and DST-INSPIRE Fellowship (Rs. 31,000/month + research grant). These fellowships are awarded by the respective government agencies and are not directly provided by PCE. Scholars must apply separately through the respective portals. NET-JRF qualified scholars are also exempted from PET, making them doubly advantaged.