Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (Pharmacy) Part Time programme at the Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad is a research-focused doctoral programme offered under the Faculty of Pharmacy, designed for working professionals in the pharmaceutical industry, academia, or healthcare who wish to pursue advanced research without discontinuing their careers. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with a total fee of approximately Rs. 2.18 Lakhs for the entire duration. Admission is based on a university-level entrance test (with exemption for GPAT/UGC-NET/GATE qualified candidates) followed by a viva-voce, and the programme is offered across specialisations including Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Analysis, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and Pharmacognosy. The Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University is ranked 37th in NIRF 2024 (Pharmacy category) and holds a 5-Star rating under GSIRF 2024, making it one of the most reputed pharmacy research institutions in India.

Admissions for the Ph.D. (Pharmacy) Part Time programme for the academic year 2026-27 are currently open. The online application window is open from February 20, 2026, and the entrance examination and presentation for the Institute of Pharmacy is scheduled for July 24, 2026 (Friday). Candidates are advised to apply well before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues.

Key Points

The Part Time Ph.D. programme is specifically designed for industry professionals, academicians, and healthcare practitioners who wish to pursue doctoral research alongside their professional commitments.
Research areas include Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Analysis, Pharmacognosy, Drug Discovery, Cancer Chemoprevention, Novel Drug Delivery Systems, and Herbal Drug Technology.
The Institute has secured research grants exceeding Rs. 5 crore from various government agencies and maintains active collaborations with leading pharmaceutical companies such as Zydus, Sun Pharma, Intas, Torrent Pharma, Piramal, and Emcure.
The Institute is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation including HPLC, HPTLC, GC, DSC, Particle Size Analyzer, Flow Cytometer, Real-Time PCR, and a CCSEA-registered animal house facility.
Most faculty members are recognised Ph.D. guides with extensive publication records and patents, ensuring strong research mentorship.
Candidates with valid GPAT/UGC-NET/GATE scores are exempted from the written entrance test and directly called for the viva-voce.

Official Link:

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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 Pharmacy 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 Ph.D. (Pharmacy) PT Fees

The Ph.D. (Pharmacy) Part Time programme at Nirma University is competitively priced for a research-oriented doctoral programme at a NAAC A+ graded institution. The annual fee is Rs. 50,000 per year, and the total programme cost for the minimum 3-year duration comes to approximately Rs. 2.17 Lakhs including all one-time charges. The refundable security deposit of Rs. 30,000 is returned upon successful completion of the programme.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
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 (One Time)	20,000
Total One-Time Other Fees	37,200
Refundable Security Deposit	30,000
Total Fees (Annual Fee x 3 years + Other Fees + Deposit)	2,17,200

The Refundable Security Deposit of Rs. 30,000 is returned upon completion of the programme.
An Eligibility Certificate fee of Rs. 1,000 is applicable if required.
Annual fee is payable each year for the duration of the programme (minimum 3 years, maximum 6 years).
Payment can be made online via Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking.
If the programme extends beyond 3 years, the annual fee of Rs. 50,000 per year will be applicable for each additional year.

Nirma Ph.D. (Pharmacy) PT Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Pharmacy) Part Time programme at Nirma University are conducted annually. For 2026-27, the Ph.D. admission process was announced on February 20, 2026, and the entrance examination is scheduled for July 24, 2026. Candidates who qualify UGC-NET (including JRF), UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF), GATE, or GPAT with a valid score are exempted from the written entrance test and are directly called for the viva-voce/presentation.

Nirma University Ph.D. (Pharmacy) Part Time Admission Schedule 2026-27

Event	Tentative Date
Ph.D. Admission Announcement	February 20, 2026
Online Application Opens	February 20, 2026
Application Deadline	May 15, 2026 (tentative)
Entrance Examination and Presentation (Institute of Pharmacy)	July 24, 2026 (Friday)
Results / Merit List Declaration	After July 24, 2026
Batch Commencement	August/September 2026 (tentative)

Relevant Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
GPAT 2026	Exam Date	March 7, 2026
GPAT 2026	Result Date	April 7, 2026
Nirma University Ph.D. Entrance Test (Pharmacy)	Written Test + Presentation	July 24, 2026

Note: Candidates with valid GPAT / UGC-NET / GATE scores are exempted from the Nirma University Ph.D. Entrance Test and are directly eligible for the viva-voce round.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

A Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (M.Pharm., M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, or equivalent) 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 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.
Candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying examination may also apply, subject to furnishing proof of eligibility at the time of joining.

Admission Process:

Apply online at https://admissions-phd.nirmauni.ac.in with a non-refundable application fee of Rs. 1,250.
Eligible candidates are called for the Entrance Test (written): 50% Research Methodology + 50% subject-specific; qualifying marks 50%.
Candidates with valid GPAT/UGC-NET/GATE scores are exempted from the written test and directly called for the viva-voce.
Shortlisted candidates appear for a viva-voce/presentation before the Departmental Research Committee.
Final selection: 70% weightage to entrance test + 30% weightage to viva-voce.
Allocation of Research Supervisor decided by the Departmental Research Committee.
All admitted candidates must complete a coursework requirement of 16 credits.

Nirma Ph.D. (Pharmacy) PT Scholarships 2026

The Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University offers limited financial support for doctoral students, primarily focused on Full Time Ph.D. scholars. Part Time Ph.D. students, being working professionals, are generally not eligible for the monthly stipend offered to Full Time scholars. However, certain government and institutional scholarships may be applicable.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount
Nirma University Full-Time Ph.D. Scholarship (Technology & Pharmacy)	Full-Time Ph.D. scholars only	Rs. 26,290/month (Years 1-2); Rs. 30,030/month (Year 3 onwards)
AICTE GATE/GPAT Scholarship	GATE/GPAT qualified students in AICTE-approved programmes	As per AICTE norms
NSP (PM-USP) Yojana	80% in Class 12, parental income up to Rs. 4.5 Lakhs	Rs. 82,000 per annum
Interest-Free Loan Scholarship (Nirma University)	Needy students; conditions apply	Up to 100% or 50% interest-free loan

The monthly stipend is applicable only for Full Time Ph.D. scholars; Part Time scholars are not eligible for the stipend.
Part Time Ph.D. students employed in industry or academia may explore employer-sponsored research funding or DST/DBT project-based fellowships.
Students are advised to check the official Nirma University website and government scholarship portals for updated eligibility and deadlines.

Nirma University Ahmedabad Ph.D Pharmacy Ranking

NIRF Ranking

#32 out of 125 in India 2025

#2nd in Ahmedabad

#2 in Gujarat

IIRF Ranking

#17 out of 73 in Top Private Colleges in India 2025

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Nirma Ph.D. (Pharmacy) PT FAQs

Ques. Can I pursue the Part Time Ph.D. in Pharmacy at Nirma University while working full-time in the pharmaceutical industry?

Ans. Yes, the Part Time Ph.D. programme is specifically designed for working professionals. You are not required to be present on campus full-time. However, you will need to attend the entrance test, viva-voce, coursework sessions, and periodic meetings with your research supervisor. The programme requires a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years to complete.

Ques. Is GPAT score mandatory for admission to the Part Time Ph.D. (Pharmacy) at Nirma University?

Ans. GPAT is not mandatory, but candidates with a valid GPAT, UGC-NET (including JRF), UGC-CSIR NET, or GATE score are exempted from the university's written entrance test and are directly called for the viva-voce. Candidates without these scores must appear for the Nirma University Ph.D. Entrance Test consisting of Research Methodology (50%) and subject-specific questions (50%), with a qualifying mark of 50%.

Ques. What are the research areas available for Part Time Ph.D. in Pharmacy at Nirma University?

Ans. The Institute of Pharmacy offers research in Pharmaceutics (novel drug delivery systems, nanotechnology), Pharmacology (cancer chemoprevention, neuropharmacology), Pharmaceutical Chemistry (drug design, medicinal chemistry), Pharmaceutical Analysis (analytical method development), and Pharmacognosy (herbal drug technology, phytochemistry). Candidates are advised to check the tentative research areas document on the FDSR website before applying.

Ques. How is the research supervisor allocated for Part Time Ph.D. students?

Ans. The allocation of a Research Supervisor is decided by the Departmental Research Committee (DRC) based on the number of scholars per supervisor, available specialisations, and the research interests expressed by the candidate during the viva-voce. Candidates can indicate their preferred research area during the interview, but the final allocation rests with the DRC.

Ques. What is the publication requirement for completing the Part Time Ph.D. at Nirma University?

Ans. Before submitting the thesis, a research scholar must publish at least one research paper in a refereed journal and make two paper presentations at reputed national/international conferences, OR publish at least two research papers in refereed journals and make one paper presentation. At least one paper must be in a journal indexed in Web of Science or Q3 or higher category of Scopus.

Ques. Are there hostel facilities available for Part Time Ph.D. students at Nirma University?

Ans. Nirma University has separate hostel facilities for PG and Ph.D. students (both genders) on its 115-acre campus, with AC/Non-AC rooms and Wi-Fi connectivity. Since Part Time Ph.D. students are typically working professionals who may not reside on campus full-time, hostel accommodation is subject to availability and the university's hostel allocation policy. Candidates are advised to contact the university directly for hostel-related queries.