Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

Ph.D (Computer Science and Engineering) at Priyadarshini College of Engineering (PCE), Nagpur is a part-time doctoral research programme affiliated to Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), Nagpur. The programme has a minimum duration of 3 years and is tailored for working professionals, academicians, and industry practitioners seeking to contribute original research in areas such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, data science, computer networks, cybersecurity, and software engineering. The Computer Science and Engineering department at PCE was newly recognised as a PhD research centre by RTMNU in February 2025 (Reference No. RTMNU/CDS/2025/7197C/40 dated 18/02/2025), with a sanctioned intake of 34 seats, of which 16 are currently vacant for the 2026-27 session. The total programme fee is Rs. 50,000 for the entire duration. The course is offered exclusively in part-time mode on campus.

Admission for the 2026-27 session has been completed. PCE conducted its own PET (PhD Entrance Test) in April-May 2026 for candidates who had not cleared the RTMNU PET. Provisional admissions were completed by July 10, 2026. For the 2027-28 session, the admission process is expected to begin tentatively in March-April 2027, following a similar schedule based on the previous year's pattern.

Key Points

The PhD (CSE) programme at PCE Nagpur is offered exclusively in part-time mode, making it accessible to working IT professionals and faculty.
The CSE department was newly recognised as a PhD research centre by RTMNU in February 2025, making this a relatively new but officially approved doctoral programme.
The department has 6 recognised PhD supervisors with expertise in areas including machine learning, data science, computer networks, and software engineering.
As of 2026-27, 16 out of 34 sanctioned seats are vacant, offering reasonable availability for new applicants.
Candidates who have cleared GATE (CS/IT paper) or UGC NET (Computer Science) are exempted from the college-level PET examination.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

PCE Ph.D (CSE) Fees

The PhD (Computer Science and Engineering) programme at PCE Nagpur is priced at a total of Rs. 50,000 for the entire 3-year duration. The fee is structured as Rs. 30,000 in Year 1 (including a one-time registration fee of Rs. 20,000 and tuition fee of Rs. 10,000) and Rs. 10,000 per year in Years 2 and 3. Hostel accommodation is optional and not mandatory for PhD students.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (INR)	Year 2 (INR)	Year 3 (INR)
Tuition Fee	10,000	10,000	10,000
Registration Fee (One-time)	20,000	-	-
Total Fees Payable	30,000	10,000	10,000
Total Programme Fees	50,000

Hostel fee (optional): Rs. 60,000/year for male students and Rs. 75,000/year for female students.
Fees are refundable as per institutional policy.
No EMI or instalment scheme has been officially announced for PhD fees; payment is typically made at the time of admission/registration each year.
The registration fee of Rs. 20,000 is a one-time charge payable in Year 1 only.

PCE Ph.D (CSE) Admission 2026

Admission to the PhD (Computer Science and Engineering) programme at PCE Nagpur is conducted through a college-level PET (PhD Entrance Test) for candidates who have not cleared the RTMNU PET. Candidates who have qualified GATE (CS/IT), UGC NET (Computer Science), or RTMNU PET are directly eligible for the RAC interview stage. The 2026-27 admission cycle has been completed. Based on the 2026 schedule, the tentative dates for the 2027-28 session are expected to follow a similar pattern starting March-April 2027.

College Admission Dates

S.No.	Activity	Tentative Dates (2027-28)
1	Display of Subject-wise Vacant Seats	April 2027 (1st week)
2	Submission of Application Forms to Respective Department	April 2027 (2nd - 3rd week)
3	Display of List of Eligible Candidates for PET	April 2027 (3rd week)
4	Grievance/Objection on Eligibility	April 2027 (4th week)
5	Display of Final List of Eligible Candidates for PET	April 2027 (last week)
6	College-level PET Examination (for candidates not cleared RTMNU PET)	Late April / Early May 2027
7	Display of Subject-wise Candidate List for Provisional Admission	May 2027 (1st week)
8	RAC (Research Advisory Committee) Interviews	June 2027 (3rd week)
9	Display of Merit List for Provisional Admission	Day after RAC meeting
10	Last Date for Provisional Admission	July 10, 2027 (tentative)

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
GATE 2027 (CS/IT)	Registration Period	August 28 - October 13, 2026
GATE 2027 (CS/IT)	Admit Card Release	January 13, 2027
GATE 2027 (CS/IT)	Examination Dates	February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2027
GATE 2027 (CS/IT)	Result Declaration	March 19, 2027

Note: GATE score is valid for 3 years. Candidates with a valid GATE (CS/IT) score or UGC NET (Computer Science) qualification are exempted from the college-level PET.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have completed a 2-year/4-semester Master's degree (M.Tech/M.E./M.Sc./MCA in Computer Science, IT, or related discipline) with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate.
A relaxation of 5% marks is applicable for SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-Abiled/EWS candidates (i.e., minimum 50% marks).
Candidates with a 4-year B.Tech degree with a minimum of 75% marks (70% for reserved categories) may also be eligible as per UGC norms.
Candidates must qualify the RTMNU PET or the college-level PCE-PET, or hold a valid GATE/UGC NET score.

Admission Process

Obtain and submit the application form to the Computer Science and Engineering Department at PCE Nagpur within the stipulated dates.
Appear for the college-level PET (if not already qualified in RTMNU PET/GATE/UGC NET).
Shortlisted candidates appear before the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) for an interview.
Merit list is displayed and provisional admission is granted based on RAC recommendations.
Complete the provisional admission formalities and fee payment by the last date.
Final registration is done through RTMNU's PhD portal after provisional admission.

PCE Ph.D (CSE) Scholarships 2026

PhD scholars at PCE Nagpur may avail scholarships from central and state government schemes. The most relevant scholarship for PhD students in Computer Science is the UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), which provides a monthly stipend. Additionally, government post-matric scholarships are available for reserved category students.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount	Remarks
UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	Qualified UGC NET-JRF; enrolled in full-time PhD	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)	Applicable for full-time scholars; PCE offers part-time PhD only - check eligibility
NSP Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST/OBC)	SC/ST/OBC students; income criteria apply	Varies by category	Available through National Scholarship Portal
Rajashri Shahu Maharaj Shishyavrutti	OBC/EWS Maharashtra domicile students	Rs. 50,000/year (approx.)	Primarily for UG/PG; PhD applicability subject to state norms
Dr. Ambedkar Post-Matric Scholarship	SC/ST students; Maharashtra domicile	Full tuition fee + maintenance	Apply through Maharashtra Social Welfare Department

Since PCE offers PhD only in part-time mode, UGC JRF/SRF stipends (which require full-time enrolment) may not be directly applicable. Candidates should verify eligibility with UGC and the institution.
Application deadlines for NSP scholarships are typically between October and December each year via the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
Reserved category students should apply for post-matric scholarships through the Maharashtra government portal (mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in).

PCE Ph.D (CSE) FAQs

Ques. Is the PhD (CSE) at PCE Nagpur a newly started programme?

Ans. Yes, the Computer Science and Engineering department at PCE Nagpur was officially recognised as a PhD research centre by RTMNU in February 2025. This means the 2026-27 batch is among the first cohorts to be admitted under this recognition. While the department has been offering B.Tech and M.Tech programmes for many years, the PhD programme is relatively new, and candidates should verify the latest status of supervisors and research areas directly with the department.

Ques. What GATE paper should I appear for to be eligible for PhD (CSE) at PCE Nagpur?

Ans. Candidates should appear for GATE in Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) paper. A valid GATE (CS) score exempts candidates from the college-level PCE-PET. Alternatively, UGC NET in Computer Science and Applications also qualifies candidates for direct entry to the RAC interview stage.

Ques. Who are the PhD supervisors in the CSE department at PCE Nagpur?

Ans. As per the 2026-27 vacancy document, the CSE department has 6 recognised supervisors: Dr. P. S. Prasad (Professor, 3 vacancies), Dr. L. H. Patil (Associate Professor, 0 vacancies), Dr. N. M. Thakre (Associate Professor, 3 vacancies), Dr. P. M. Chaudhari (Associate Professor, 6 vacancies), Dr. A. V. Potnurwar (Assistant Professor, 0 vacancies), and Dr. S. S. Golait (Assistant Professor, 4 vacancies). Candidates should contact the department coordinator Dr. P. M. Chaudhari (pallavichaudhari1@gmail.com) for research topic discussions.

Ques. How many seats are available for PhD (CSE) at PCE Nagpur in 2026-27?

Ans. The CSE department has 34 sanctioned seats, of which 16 are currently vacant for 2026-27. With 18 students already pursuing PhD, there is still reasonable availability. Candidates are advised to check the latest vacancy list on the official PCE website (pcenagpur.edu.in) before applying for the 2027-28 session.

Ques. What is the minimum qualification required to apply for PhD (CSE) at PCE Nagpur?

Ans. Candidates must hold a Master's degree (M.Tech/M.E./M.Sc./MCA) in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC/EWS candidates). Candidates with a 4-year B.Tech degree with 75% or above may also be eligible as per UGC norms. Additionally, candidates must qualify the RTMNU PET, PCE-PET, or hold a valid GATE/UGC NET score.

Ques. Can MCA graduates apply for PhD (CSE) at PCE Nagpur?

Ans. Yes, MCA (Master of Computer Applications) graduates are generally eligible to apply for PhD in Computer Science and Engineering, provided they meet the minimum marks criteria (55% in aggregate). However, candidates should confirm eligibility with the department, as specific supervisor requirements and research area alignment may also be considered during the RAC interview.

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PCE Nagpur Ph.D Computer Science and Engineering: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Table of Contents

PCE Ph.D (CSE) Fees

Fee Structure

PCE Ph.D (CSE) Admission 2026

College Admission Dates

Entrance Exam Dates

Eligibility Criteria

Admission Process

PCE Ph.D (CSE) Scholarships 2026

Scholarship Details

PCE Ph.D (CSE) FAQs

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