Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (Engineering) Part Time programme at Nirma University, Ahmedabad is a doctoral research programme designed for working professionals offered by the Institute of Technology (IT). The programme allows candidates to pursue doctoral research while continuing their professional careers, with research available across multiple engineering disciplines including Civil, Chemical, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics and Communication, Electronics and Instrumentation, and Mechanical Engineering. The minimum duration for the part-time PhD is typically 4 years, and the programme is conducted at Nirma University's campus in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It is popular among industry professionals, faculty members, and engineers who wish to earn a doctoral degree without leaving their jobs.

Admissions for the Ph.D. (Engineering) Part Time 2026-27 are currently open. The Ph.D. Entrance Examination and Presentation for the Institute of Technology (Part Time) is scheduled for 24th July 2026 (Friday) at Nirma University, Ahmedabad. Candidates must apply online with a non-refundable processing fee of Rs. 1,250. The online application portal is live at admissions-phd.nirmauni.ac.in.

Key Points

The part-time PhD is specifically designed for working professionals who wish to pursue doctoral research alongside their careers.
Research scholars are required to complete 16 credits of coursework as part of the programme.
Scholars must publish at least one research paper in a refereed journal indexed in Web of Science/Scopus (Q3 or higher) and make two conference presentations, or publish two refereed papers and make one conference presentation, before thesis submission.
Candidates with valid UGC-NET (including JRF), UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF), or GATE scores are exempted from the written entrance test and directly called for the personal interview/viva-voce.
Part-time PhD scholars are not eligible for the monthly fellowship provided to full-time scholars.
The programme is conducted at Nirma University's campus; scholars are expected to visit the campus periodically for coursework, meetings with supervisors, and examinations.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

Nirma University Ahmedabad Latest Updates and News

17 Mar, 2026 Nirma University Ahmedabad Ph.D Engineering Fee Structure 2026 is out. The total academic fee is ₹ 2.18 Lakhs.

20 Feb, 2026 Nirma University Ahmedabad PhD Registration 2026-27 is open till May 16 @nirmauni.ac.in. The entrance exam and presentation are tentatively scheduled between Jun 20 & Jul 24, 2026. Check details.

Nirma University Ahmedabad Important Events

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Nirma PhD (Eng) PT Fees

The Ph.D. (Engineering) Part Time programme at Nirma University has a slightly higher annual fee compared to the full-time programme, reflecting the flexible nature of the course. The annual fee is Rs. 50,000, and one-time charges include course work fee, initial registration, course work examination, and viva voce fees. A refundable security deposit of Rs. 30,000 is also collected.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Annual Fee (Per Annum)	50,000
Course Work Fee (One Time)	15,000
Initial Post-Graduation Registration Fee (One Time)	1,000
Course Work Examination Fee (One Time)	1,200
Viva Voce Examination Fee (at thesis submission)	20,000
Total One-Time/Other Fees	37,200
Refundable Security Deposit	30,000
Total Fees (for 4 years, including all components)	2,67,200

The refundable security deposit of Rs. 30,000 is returned upon completion/exit from the programme.
Annual fee of Rs. 50,000 is charged per annum; total for 4 years = Rs. 2,00,000.
Eligibility certificate fee of Rs. 1,000 is applicable only if required.
Application processing fee of Rs. 1,250 is non-refundable and paid at the time of applying.
Part-time PhD scholars are not eligible for the monthly fellowship.

Nirma PhD (Eng) PT Admission 2026-27

Nirma University conducts annual admissions to its Ph.D. (Engineering) Part Time programme. Admissions for 2026-27 are currently open, with the entrance examination scheduled for July 2026. Candidates who hold valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE scores are exempted from the written test and directly proceed to the viva-voce/presentation round. The final selection is based on 70% weightage to the entrance test and 30% to the viva-voce performance.

Admission Schedule

Event	Tentative Date
PhD Admissions 2026-27 Open	February 20, 2026
Online Application Start	February 2026
Application Processing Fee	Rs. 1,250 (Non-refundable)
Written Test and Presentation - Institute of Technology (Part Time)	July 24, 2026 (Friday)
Result / Merit List Declaration	After July 24, 2026
Batch Commencement	August/September 2026 (Tentative)

Relevant Exam Dates

Exam	Details	Relevance
GATE 2026	Exam: February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026; Result: March 19, 2026	Valid score exempts from written entrance test
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Exam: December 31, 2025 - January 7, 2026; Result: February 4, 2026	Valid score exempts from written entrance test
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Registration: April 1 - May 1, 2026 (Tentative); Exam: June 2026 (Tentative)	Valid score exempts from written entrance test

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

A Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant engineering/technology discipline from a recognised university with at least 55% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade.
OR a 4-year Bachelor's degree programme in a relevant engineering discipline from a recognised university with at least 75% marks in aggregate.
OR an M.Phil. degree from a recognised university with at least 55% marks in aggregate.

Admission Process

Apply online at admissions-phd.nirmauni.ac.in with a non-refundable processing fee of Rs. 1,250.
Eligible candidates are called for the written entrance test (50% qualifying marks required); syllabus covers 50% Research Methodology and 50% subject-specific topics.
Candidates with valid UGC-NET (including JRF), UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF), or GATE scores are exempted from the written test.
Shortlisted candidates appear for a viva-voce/presentation before the Departmental Research Committee.
Final merit is computed with 70% weightage to the entrance test and 30% to the viva-voce.
Selected candidates are allotted a Research Supervisor based on specialisation and research interests.
All admitted scholars must complete 16 credits of coursework.

Nirma PhD (Eng) PT Scholarships 2026-27

Part-time PhD scholars at Nirma University are not eligible for the monthly fellowship provided to full-time scholars. However, they may apply for external funding opportunities to support their research.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship/Fellowship	Details
University Monthly Fellowship	Not applicable for Part-Time scholars
UGC-JRF / CSIR-JRF	External fellowship; eligible if qualified in NET with JRF
DST-INSPIRE	External fellowship for science and technology research
Industry-Sponsored Research	Scholars may seek funding from their employers or industry partners

Part-time scholars are not eligible for the university's monthly fellowship scheme.
External fellowships such as UGC-JRF, CSIR-JRF, or DST-INSPIRE may be availed if the scholar qualifies the respective examinations.
Scholars are encouraged to explore industry-sponsored research projects for additional financial support.

Nirma University Ahmedabad Ph.D Engineering Ranking

Indiatoday Ranking

#38 out of 269 in India 2025

#1st in Ahmedabad

#2 in Gujarat

The Week Ranking

#37 out of 286 in India 2025

#1st in Gujarat

NIRF Ranking

#150 out of 300 in India 2025

#4th in Gujarat

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Nirma PhD (Eng) PT FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between the full-time and part-time PhD in Engineering at Nirma University?

Ans. The full-time PhD requires scholars to be present on campus full-time and comes with a monthly fellowship (Rs. 26,290 for the first two years). The part-time PhD is designed for working professionals who can pursue research alongside their careers; it has a higher annual fee (Rs. 50,000 vs Rs. 40,000) and does not include a monthly fellowship. The minimum duration for part-time is typically 4 years vs 3 years for full-time.

Ques. Can I switch from part-time to full-time PhD at Nirma University?

Ans. This is subject to the university's academic regulations and the availability of a supervisor. Candidates are advised to contact the FDSR office directly at phd.section@nirmauni.ac.in or call 079-71652682 for guidance on switching between modes.

Ques. How often do part-time PhD scholars need to visit the campus?

Ans. Part-time scholars are expected to visit the campus for coursework sessions, supervisor meetings, seminars, and examinations. The frequency depends on the research progress and supervisor requirements. Scholars should discuss the expected campus visit schedule with their supervisor before enrolling.

Ques. Is GATE score mandatory for part-time PhD admission in Engineering at Nirma University?

Ans. GATE score is not mandatory, but candidates with a valid GATE score are exempted from the written entrance test and directly called for the viva-voce/presentation. Candidates without GATE/NET scores must appear for the university's own entrance test.

Ques. What are the publication requirements for part-time PhD scholars at Nirma University?

Ans. The publication requirements are the same as for full-time scholars. Before submitting the thesis, scholars must publish at least one research paper in a refereed journal indexed in Web of Science/Scopus (Q3 or higher) and make two conference presentations, or publish two refereed papers and make one conference presentation.

Ques. Can a faculty member from another institution pursue a part-time PhD at Nirma University?

Ans. Yes, faculty members from other recognised institutions can pursue a part-time PhD at Nirma University. They need to meet the eligibility criteria and go through the standard admission process. The university's regulations allow for part-time scholars who are employed in recognised institutions or industries.