IIT Hyderabad Ph.D Chemical Engineering: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. The Chemical Engineering department at IIT Hyderabad covers research across multi-phase flow and computational fluid dynamics, energy storage including fuel cells and lithium-sulfur batteries, drug delivery nanoengineering, process intensification, and polymer science. Faculty research groups have active collaborations with industry partners and government funding from DST, SERB, and CSIR. Research infrastructure includes CFD labs, synthesis and characterization facilities, and electrochemical testing equipment for energy material research.

Ans. The Department of Chemical Engineering at IITH accepts GATE scores in Chemical Engineering (CH), Biotechnology (BT), Biomedical Engineering (BM), Petroleum Engineering (PE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), and Engineering Sciences (XE). Candidates may also qualify through CSIR-JRF or UGC-JRF. The selection of appropriate GATE paper depends on the specific research area you intend to pursue and the research group you apply to within the department.

Ans. MoE-funded PhD scholars in Chemical Engineering at IITH receive a research fellowship of INR 31,000 per month at JRF norms, transitioning to INR 35,000 per month (SRF) after two years on satisfactory progress. SC/ST students receive a full tuition fee waiver. The Merit-cum-Means Scholarship of INR 1,000 per month is available for eligible students. The caution deposit of INR 6,000 is refundable on programme completion.

Ans. The Chemical Engineering department at IITH Hyderabad has active research programmes in energy storage and conversion, including fuel cell technology, lithium-sulfur battery development, and hydrogen production from renewable feedstocks. Research groups in this area work with electrochemical characterization tools, catalyst synthesis facilities, and computational modelling resources. Collaborations with national energy research agencies provide additional resources and internship opportunities for PhD scholars in the energy track.

Ans. Graduates of the IITH PhD in Chemical Engineering typically join academic positions at IITs, NITs, and international universities, or R&D roles at major chemical, pharmaceutical, petroleum, and energy companies. National labs such as CSIR-NCL, CSIR-IICT, and BARC recruit IITH Chemical Engineering PhDs for research positions. The energy research focus also opens pathways in clean energy startups, battery technology companies, and government innovation programmes in green chemistry and sustainability.

Ans. Yes. B.Tech candidates in Chemical Engineering or allied fields with a CGPA of 8.0 or above are eligible for direct PhD entry at IITH, provided they hold a valid GATE score. The direct PhD programme includes additional coursework in the first year and follows the same fellowship and fee structure as the regular post-Master’s PhD programme. Candidates without a GATE score may be considered for project-funded PhD positions depending on departmental vacancies.