Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Ph.D. (Automobile Engineering) at Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) is a full-time doctoral research program offered under the Faculty of Science, Technology and Architecture (FoSTA), Department of Mechanical Engineering (which houses Automobile Engineering research). The program has a minimum duration of 3 years and is designed to enable scholars to conduct independent, original research in the field of automobile engineering. The total fee for Indian scholars is Rs. 10,000 (one-time registration fee) plus Rs. 30,000 per year (annual fee). Admissions are conducted twice a year (January and July sessions) through a university-level entrance test and personal interview. The program is popular among candidates interested in research areas such as vehicle dynamics, automotive powertrains, electric vehicles, automotive safety, and advanced manufacturing for automobiles.

Admissions for the July 2026 session are expected to open tentatively in May-June 2026, based on the pattern of previous sessions. The January 2026 session has already concluded, with results published and course work commencing from January 21, 2026.

Key Points

Full-time Ph.D. program with admissions twice a year (January and July sessions)
Candidates holding GATE/UGC-CSIR NET/JRF/SLET/M.Phil qualifications are exempted from the university entrance examination
Research areas include vehicle dynamics, automotive powertrains, electric vehicles, automotive safety, advanced manufacturing, and emission control
Full-time scholars are eligible for the Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship (stipend up to Rs. 45,000/month in the 3rd year)
Financial support available for attending and presenting at Scopus/WoS-indexed conferences (up to Rs. 30,000 one-time)
Access to Central Analytical Facilities (CAF) and Sophisticated Analytical Instrumental Facilities (SAIF) on campus

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

MUJ Ph.D. (Automobile Engineering) Fees

The Ph.D. (Automobile Engineering) program at MUJ has a transparent fee structure with a one-time registration fee and an annual fee payable until final thesis submission. For Indian scholars, the total cost over the minimum 3-year duration is Rs. 1,00,000. There are no hidden semester-wise charges.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (Indian Scholars)	Amount (Foreign/NRI Scholars)
Registration Fee (One-time)	Rs. 10,000	USD 300
Annual Fee (per year, till thesis submission)	Rs. 30,000	USD 1,100
Total Fees (for minimum 3 years)	Rs. 1,00,000	USD 3,600

Registration fee is non-refundable.
Annual fee is payable each year until the final thesis is submitted.
Hostel facility is available on campus but is optional; hostel fees are charged separately (not included in the above total).
Fees are subject to revision as per the Fee Fixation Committee's approval.
Payment can be made via Demand Draft drawn in favour of 'Manipal University Jaipur' payable at Jaipur, or through the online fee payment portal.

MUJ Ph.D. (Automobile Engineering) Admission 2026

MUJ conducts Ph.D. admissions twice a year. The January 2026 session has concluded with results published. The next upcoming session is July 2026, for which applications are expected to open tentatively in May-June 2026 based on the previous year's schedule. Candidates are selected through a written entrance test (online mode) followed by a personal interview. Those with GATE/UGC-NET/JRF/SLET/M.Phil qualifications are directly eligible for the interview round without appearing in the entrance test.

MUJ Ph.D. Admission Schedule

Activity	Date
Call for PhD Applications	December 8, 2025
PhD Applications Close	December 27, 2025
PhD Entrance Test (Online Mode)	January 5, 2026
Interview of Shortlisted Candidates	January 6-8, 2026
Declaration of Results	January 9, 2026
Dr. Ram Das Pai Scholarship Interview	January 12-13, 2026
Fee Submission, NOC, Document Verification	January 16, 2026
Last Date of PhD Registration	January 20, 2026
PhD Course Work Commences	January 21, 2026

GATE Exam Dates

Activity	Date
GATE 2026 Registration	August 28 - October 13, 2025
GATE 2026 Admit Card Release	January 13, 2026
GATE 2026 Exam	February 7, 8, 14 & 15, 2026
GATE 2026 Answer Key Release	February 19, 2026
GATE 2026 Result	March 19, 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold a Master's degree from a UGC-recognized institution with a minimum of 55% marks or CGPA of 5.5 on a 10-point scale.
Candidates from foreign universities must have their degree equivalence determined by the Directorate of Research (DoR) at MUJ.
Registration for Ph.D. is allowed in a department relevant to the candidate's field of study; the degree is awarded from the Faculty in which the PG degree was obtained.

Admission Process:

Apply online through the MUJ admissions portal (admissions.jaipur.manipal.edu)
Appear for the Ph.D. Entrance Test (online mode) - exempted for GATE/UGC-NET/JRF/SLET/M.Phil holders
Shortlisted candidates are called for a personal interview
Results are declared; selected candidates complete fee payment, NOC submission, and document verification
PhD registration is completed and course work begins

MUJ Ph.D. (Automobile Engineering) Scholarships 2026

MUJ offers the Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship for full-time Ph.D. scholars, providing a monthly stipend that increases progressively over three years. This makes the program financially viable for scholars who commit to full-time research. Additionally, conference presentation support is available for scholars presenting at Scopus/WoS-indexed conferences.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount	Duration
Dr. Ramdas Pai PhD Scholarship	Full-time Ph.D. scholars admitted at MUJ	Rs. 35,000/month (Year 1), Rs. 40,000/month (Year 2), Rs. 45,000/month (Year 3)	Maximum 3 years from date of registration
Conference Presentation Support	All full-time scholars	Up to Rs. 30,000 (one-time)	Entire duration of PhD

Scholars with CSIR/UGC NET-JRF, DBT/ICMR JRF, or those engaged in EMR project/scheme as JRF/SRF/RA/Project Fellow at MUJ are NOT eligible for the Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship.
A total of 20 scholarships are awarded per academic year (10 per semester).
Selection for the scholarship is through a personal interview conducted by the Directorate of Research at the start of the academic session.
If a scholar withdraws or completes their tenure, the scholarship can be reassigned to another scholar in the next semester.
Conference support covers attendance and presentation at Scopus/WoS-indexed conference proceedings.

Manipal University Jaipur Ph.D Automobile Engineering Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#165 out of 762 in India 2025

#6th in Rajasthan

Indiatoday Ranking

#46 out of 269 in India 2025

#4th in Rajasthan

The Week Ranking

#77 out of 286 in India 2025

#4th in Rajasthan

NIRF Ranking

#58 out of 300 in India 2025

#4th in Rajasthan

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MUJ Ph.D. (Automobile Engineering) FAQs

Ques. What are the key research areas in Ph.D. Automobile Engineering at MUJ?

Ans. The Automobile Engineering research at MUJ (housed under the Department of Mechanical Engineering) covers vehicle dynamics and control, automotive powertrain systems, electric and hybrid vehicles, automotive safety and crashworthiness, advanced manufacturing for automotive components, and emission control and alternative fuels. Candidates should review the list of eligible supervisors published with each admission notification.

Ques. Is GATE in Mechanical Engineering (ME) or Automobile Engineering required for entrance test exemption?

Ans. Candidates who have qualified GATE in Mechanical Engineering (ME) or any relevant discipline, or hold UGC-CSIR NET/JRF, SLET, or M.Phil are exempted from the MUJ PhD entrance test. Candidates should confirm the specific GATE paper accepted with the Directorate of Research.

Ques. What is the relevance of Ph.D. Automobile Engineering in the context of the EV revolution?

Ans. The electric vehicle (EV) revolution has significantly increased the relevance of Ph.D. research in Automobile Engineering. Research areas such as battery management systems, electric drivetrains, regenerative braking, lightweight materials, and autonomous driving systems are in high demand. A Ph.D. from MUJ in this field can open doors to R&D roles in EV companies, automotive OEMs, and government research organizations.

Ques. Can candidates with M.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering apply for Ph.D. Automobile Engineering at MUJ?

Ans. Yes, candidates with M.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering or related fields are eligible to apply for Ph.D. in Automobile Engineering at MUJ, subject to the relevance of their field of study. The final determination of eligibility is made by the Directorate of Research (DoR) at MUJ.

Ques. Does MUJ have industry tie-ups with automobile companies for Ph.D. research?

Ans. MUJ has industry-funded research projects and collaborations with various companies. The Directorate of Research facilitates industry-sponsored research. Candidates interested in industry-collaborative research should check the list of ongoing projects and supervisors at the time of application.

Ques. What is the career scope after completing Ph.D. Automobile Engineering from MUJ?

Ans. A Ph.D. in Automobile Engineering from MUJ opens career opportunities in academia (as faculty/researcher), R&D departments of automotive OEMs (Maruti, Tata Motors, Mahindra, etc.), EV startups, government research organizations (DRDO, CSIR-NML, etc.), and international automotive research institutions. The degree is nationally recognized and aligned with UGC guidelines.