SLS Pune Ph.D Law: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. The Ph.D. programme at SLS Pune (under SIU/SCRI) is offered in both Full-Time and Part-Time modes on campus. It cannot be offered in distance education mode as per UGC regulations. If you are a working professional, you can opt for the Part-Time mode, but you will still need to attend coursework in person (or online as per the faculty's arrangement) and be physically present for key milestones like the induction programme, proposal presentation, and viva-voce. SIU employees (internal candidates) get a 25% fee concession on the Part-Time option. Note that experience alone does not exempt you from the entrance test.

Ans. No, if you have a valid UGC-NET certificate (the score must be valid on the date of application), you are exempted from the SIU Ph.D. Entrance Test (PET). However, the personal interview (conducted via ZOOM) is mandatory for all candidates, including those exempted from PET. Similarly, candidates with SET/SLET/GATE/M.Phil. or valid fellowships from UGC/CSIR/ICMR/DBT/RGNF/MANF/DST Inspire/NBHM are also exempted from PET but must appear for the interview.

Ans. The Ph.D. is not a fixed-duration programme. As per UGC regulations, the minimum time after confirmation in the programme is 2 years. The maximum time allowed to submit the thesis is 7 years after getting confirmation. The overall timeline from admission to degree award typically spans 3 to 5 years for most full-time scholars, depending on the pace of research, publications, and thesis completion. Coursework is generally completed between September and May of the first year.

Ans. The Faculty of Law at SIU covers a wide range of interdisciplinary and emerging research areas including Artificial Intelligence and Law, Cyber Law, Constitutional Law, Human Rights, Environmental Law, Corporate Law, International Trade Laws, Climate Change Policy and Law, Mental Health Law, SDGs and Law, and many more. The list is illustrative and not exhaustive - you can propose your own research topic as long as it falls within the broad domain of law and a suitable supervisor is available. It is advisable to check the list of available supervisors and their specializations on the SCRI website before applying, and to reach out to potential supervisors in advance.

Ans. Yes, a mandatory publication in a WoS (Web of Science) or Scopus indexed journal is required before you can submit your Ph.D. thesis at SIU. This is a key requirement that distinguishes SIU's doctoral programme. The SCRI and your research supervisor will guide and collaborate with you to ensure timely publication. It is important to plan your research and writing timeline keeping this requirement in mind, as getting a paper accepted in a high-quality indexed journal can take several months.

Ans. For Indian external (non-SIU employee) candidates, the total fee is Rs. 1,15,000, which includes a Registration Fee of Rs. 20,000 (non-refundable), Course Work Fee of Rs. 30,000, Semester Fee of Rs. 50,000 (payable after confirmation, in two installments of Rs. 25,000 each), and a refundable Institute Deposit of Rs. 15,000. At the time of admission, you pay Rs. 65,000 (Registration + Coursework + Deposit). A limited number of full-time scholars are offered the SIU Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) at Rs. 37,000/month for 2 years, followed by Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) at Rs. 42,000/month, along with a contingency grant of Rs. 30,000/year. Candidates with external fellowships (UGC-NET JRF, CSIR, DBT, DST, etc.) can also pursue their Ph.D. at SIU while retaining their fellowship.