Chandigarh University's Ph.D. in Physics is a 3-year full-time doctoral program designed for research-intensive scholars seeking to advance knowledge in theoretical and experimental physics. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum covering quantum mechanics, materials science, nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, astrophysics, energy storage and conversion, ferrites and multiferroics, magnetic materials, electronic and optoelectronic materials, computational physics, and high energy physics. With a total fee of ₹4.38 lakhs for the entire duration, the program is recognized by UGC and accepts candidates through the CU-Ph.D. Entrance Test or equivalent qualifications like GATE, UGC-NET, and CSIR-NET. The program is highly popular among aspiring physicists due to its research-centric environment, mentorship by top 2% scientists globally, state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, and opportunities for Q1 journal publications with funding up to ₹2 lakhs per publication.
Admissions for the July 2026 intake are currently ongoing. The application deadline is April 23, 2026 (4:30 PM). The Ph.D. Entrance Examination will be conducted on April 26, 2026, with results announced on May 5, 2026. Interview results will be declared on May 25, 2026, followed by admission notifications between May 26 and June 15, 2026. The program is offered in full-time on-campus mode at Chandigarh University's Mohali campus, requiring regular attendance and active participation in research activities.
Key Points:
- Full-time Research Fellowship of 35,000 per month for selected scholars
- Up to 2 lakh funding for every Q1 journal publication
- Mentorship by world's top 2% scientists (Stanford Global List 2025)
- Access to 20+ industry-collaborated centres of excellence including Centre of Research in Materials Science and Centre of Research for Computational Physics
- State-of-the-art experimental facilities including magnetron sputtering systems, UV-Vis spectrophotometers, electrochemical workstations, and high-temperature furnaces
- Free access to premium research tools including IEEE, Elsevier, Springer, MATLAB, and Turnitin
- Opportunities for international co-supervision and dual research projects with 250+ partner universities in 60+ countries
- Strong collaborations with national institutions (IIT Kanpur, NIT Srinagar, Solid State Physics Laboratory Delhi) and international universities (King Saud University, University of Tokyo, Sapienza University Rome)
CU Ph.D. (Physics) Fees
Fee Structure
The Ph.D. (Physics) program at Chandigarh University involves a structured fee component spread across the 3-year duration. The primary cost is the semester fee of ₹70,000 per semester, which forms the bulk of the tuition expenses. Additional charges include examination fees, security deposits, and admission fees. The total investment for the complete program is ₹4.38 lakhs, making it an affordable option for doctoral studies in physics.
| Fee Component | Amount (INR) |
|---|
| Semester Fee (per semester, 6 semesters total) | ₹4,20,000 |
| Examination Fee | ₹2,500 |
| Security Deposit | ₹5,000 |
| Admission Fee | ₹10,000 |
| Total Fees | ₹4,37,500 |
- The security deposit of 5,000 is refundable.
- Examination fee of 2,500 is charged once.
- The semester fee of 70,000 is applicable for each of the 6 semesters over 3 years.
- Payment can be made through online banking, debit card, or credit card.
- EMI options may be available through partner financial institutions.
- Students availing scholarships or fellowships will have reduced fee obligations.
CU Ph.D. (Physics) Admission 2026
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|
| Online Application Start | April 6, 2026 |
| Application Deadline | April 23, 2026 (4:30 PM) |
| Ph.D. Entrance Examination | April 26, 2026 |
| Entrance Exam Result | May 5, 2026 |
| Interview Result | May 25, 2026 |
| Admission Notification | May 26 - June 15, 2026 |
| Batch Start Date | July 2026 |
Exam Dates for Qualifying Exams
| Exam | Registration Dates | Exam Date | Result Date |
|---|
| IIT JAM (Physics) | Sep 5 - Oct 20, 2025 | February 15, 2026 | March 20, 2026 |
| GATE (Physics) | Aug 28 - Oct 13, 2025 | Feb 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026 | March 19, 2026 |
| UGC-NET (Phase 1) | Oct 7 - Nov 7, 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 - Jan 7, 2026 | Feb 4, 2026 |
| UGC-NET (Phase 2) | Apr 1 - May 1, 2026 | June 1, 2026 | July 1, 2026 |
| CSIR-NET | May 1 - May 21, 2026 | July 25-27, 2026 | September 4, 2026 |
The Ph.D. (Physics) program at Chandigarh University follows a merit-based admission process with multiple pathways for eligible candidates. The university conducts its own entrance examination (CU-Ph.D. Entrance Test) followed by a personal interview. However, candidates with valid scores in national-level exams like GATE, UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, or those who have passed M.Phil. programs are exempted from the entrance test. The current admission cycle for July 2026 intake is ongoing with applications being accepted until April 23, 2026.
The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria:
- A Master's degree in Physics or related discipline with a minimum of 55% marks (or 5.5 CGPA on 10-point scale), OR a 4-year Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 75% marks (or 7.5 CGPA on 10-point scale)
- Relaxation of 5% marks available for SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), Differently-Abled, and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates
- Exemption from entrance test for candidates with valid GATE, UGC-NET, CSIR-NET scores or M.Phil. qualification
Admission Process:
- Step 1: Online Registration - Register on the CU admission portal with basic details (name, email, mobile, state, gender, password)
- Step 2: Application Form - Complete the online application form with academic details and upload required documents
- Step 3: Entrance Examination - Appear for CU-Ph.D. Entrance Test (written exam) on April 26, 2026
- Step 4: Interview - Shortlisted candidates will be called for a personal interview to assess research aptitude and subject knowledge
- Step 5: Merit List - Final merit list prepared based on entrance exam score (70%) and interview performance (30%)
- Step 6: Admission - Selected candidates receive admission notification and proceed with fee payment and enrollment
CU Ph.D. (Physics) Scholarships 2026
Scholarship Details
Chandigarh University offers multiple scholarship and financial assistance options for Ph.D. scholars to support their research pursuits and reduce financial burden. The university provides full-time research fellowships, publication incentives, and merit-based scholarships for deserving candidates. Additionally, various concession schemes are available for specific categories of students including defence personnel, economically weaker sections, and girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Full-Time Research Fellowship: Selected Ph.D. scholars receive a monthly fellowship of 35,000 for the entire duration of their program, subject to maintaining satisfactory academic progress and research output.
Publication Incentive: Scholars receive up to 2 lakh funding for each research paper published in Q1 journals indexed in Scopus or Web of Science.
Merit-Based Scholarships: Candidates with exceptional academic records may be eligible for tuition fee waivers ranging from 10% to 50% based on their entrance exam performance.
| Scholarship Type | Eligibility | Amount/Benefit | Application Deadline |
|---|
| Full-Time Research Fellowship | Selected merit-based scholars | 35,000 per month | Upon admission |
| Q1 Journal Publication Grant | Published research in Q1 journals | Up to ₹2,00,000 per paper | Ongoing (upon publication) |
| Merit Scholarship (Top Performers) | Entrance exam score above 80% | 50% tuition fee waiver | Upon admission |
| Merit Scholarship (High Performers) | Entrance exam score 70-80% | 30% tuition fee waiver | Upon admission |
| Armed Forces Educational Welfare Scheme | Wards/spouses of defence personnel | 20% fee concession | Upon admission |
| Kalpana Chawla Scholarship | Girls from economically weaker sections of Chandigarh | 10% fee waiver | Upon admission |
| SC/ST/OBC Scholarship | SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates | 5% marks relaxation in eligibility | Upon admission |
- Scholarships are subject to maintaining minimum 7.5 CGPA each semester.
- Scholarship discontinuation occurs if student receives E, F, I, or Not Qualified grades.
- Patent filing and international conference travel grants are also available.
- Government research funding from DST, ICMR, and SERB can be accessed through faculty mentors.
- Renewal of scholarships requires satisfactory academic progress and no disciplinary action.
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