ICT Mumbai Ph.D Physics: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. ICT Mumbai's Ph.D. (Physics) is distinctive because the Department of Physics operates within a premier chemical technology institution, enabling highly interdisciplinary research. The thrust areas - Polymer Nanocomposites, Nanomaterials, Energy Storage, Supercapacitors, Plasma Processing, and Solar Thermal Applications - are directly aligned with ICT's core strengths in materials and chemical sciences. The department is DST-FIST supported, has active funding from BRNS and UGC, and benefits from ICT's broader infrastructure including advanced analytical instruments, HPC facilities, and collaborations with chemical and materials industries. This makes it particularly suitable for students interested in applied and materials physics rather than purely theoretical research.

Ans. The primary eligibility is an M.Sc. degree in Physics, Materials Science, Applied Physics, or Engineering Physics with a minimum of 55% marks or 6.0 CGPA (50% for reserved category). Importantly, M.Sc. or M.Tech. graduates in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology are also eligible, provided they have an adequate number of Physics or Material Science courses in their curriculum - this is subject to approval by the equivalence committee at ICT. Candidates with a valid national JRF fellowship (CSIR-NET, UGC-NET, DST-INSPIRE, etc.) are eligible for a 5% relaxation in the minimum marks requirement. Candidates in their final semester of M.Sc. may apply provisionally.

Ans. The stipend depends on the source of funding. Students with CSIR-NET JRF (Physical Sciences) or UGC-NET JRF receive Rs. 37,000 per month for the first two years, increasing to Rs. 42,000 per month upon upgrade to Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) for years 3 to 5. DST-INSPIRE fellows receive Rs. 37,000 per month plus an annual contingency grant of Rs. 20,000. Students admitted with a valid GATE score may be eligible for the AICTE Doctoral Fellowship (ADF). The Department of Physics has active research projects funded by DST, BRNS, and UGC, and students attached to these projects may receive project fellowships ranging from approximately Rs. 14,000 to Rs. 31,000 per month. Students without any external fellowship do not automatically receive a stipend from ICT.

Ans. Candidates holding a valid CSIR-NET JRF, UGC-NET JRF, or equivalent national fellowship from government agencies (DST, ICMR, DBT, CSIR, etc.) are fully exempted from the ICT entrance test and can apply throughout the academic year. For all other candidates, the ICT entrance test is mandatory. The syllabus for the Ph.D. (Science) - Physics entrance test is available on the ICT website (www.ictmumbai.edu.in) under the Admission section. Candidates must score a minimum of 50% in the entrance test to qualify for the department-level interview (45% for reserved category). The entrance test score remains valid for two academic years.

Ans. The Department of Physics at ICT Mumbai has 6 core faculty members and 2 adjunct professors. The research areas covered by the faculty include Polymer Nanocomposites, Plasma Processing of Materials, Nanomaterials (Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene), Energy Storage and Electrochemical Sensors, Supercapacitors and Fuel Cells, Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Complex Fluids, Magnetism and Transport in Quantum Materials, Computational Soft Matter Research, and Solar Thermal Applications. Since the number of Ph.D. seats is not fixed and depends on the research guide's capacity and available fellowships, it is strongly recommended to contact the Department of Physics (Head: Prof. R.R. Deshmukh, rr.deshmukh@ictmumbai.edu.in) or individual faculty members directly before applying to confirm guide availability.

Ans. Yes, ICT Mumbai offers Ph.D. admission to working professionals in three categories: (a) Regular teachers at degree colleges or polytechnics with at least 2 years of full-time teaching experience (or 5 years in junior/diploma colleges), (b) Employees of National Laboratories or Government Institutions with at least 2 years of service, and (c) Industry-sponsored in-house candidates with at least 2 years of industrial experience after their Master's degree and a CGPA above 7. Teacher and government institution candidates can carry out research part-time, with a maximum duration of 5 years (extendable by 1 year), provided they spend at least 3 months per year in ICT labs. All such candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate from their employer and fulfil the same academic eligibility criteria as regular candidates.