Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (Data Science) at Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) is a full-time, on-campus doctoral research program offered under the Department of Data Science and Engineering within the Faculty of Science, Technology and Architecture (FoSTA). The program is designed to train scholars in advanced research in areas such as machine learning, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, data mining, and computational intelligence, with a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years. The annual fee for Indian scholars is Rs. 30,000 per year (plus a one-time registration fee of Rs. 10,000), making it one of the more affordable doctoral programs at a private university. Admissions are conducted twice a year (July and January batches) through a university-level entrance test and interview. The program is popular among working professionals and fresh postgraduates seeking to build careers in academia, research institutions, and the rapidly growing data science industry.

Admissions for the July 2026 batch are expected to open tentatively in May 2026, based on the pattern of previous cycles. The January 2026 batch admission process has already been completed (applications closed December 27, 2025; course work started January 21, 2026). Candidates interested in the July 2026 cycle should watch the official MUJ PhD page for notifications.

Key Points

The Ph.D. in Data Science at MUJ is offered under the specialization "Data Science and Engineering" within the Engineering faculty.
Admissions are held twice a year (January and July cycles), giving candidates two opportunities annually.
Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/JRF/GATE/SLET/M.Phil are exempted from the university entrance examination.
Full-time scholars are eligible to apply for the Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship, which provides a monthly stipend of Rs. 35,000 (Year 1), Rs. 40,000 (Year 2), and Rs. 45,000 (Year 3).
MUJ supports scholars to attend and present at Scopus/WoS-indexed conferences, with up to Rs. 30,000 claimable during the entire PhD duration.
The program follows the latest UGC guidelines for PhD programs, ensuring national recognition and academic rigor.

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

Manipal University Jaipur Latest Updates and News

27 Apr, 2026 Manipal University Online, Jaipur Admission 2026 is ongoing till Apr 29, 2026 (extended). Apply Now!

MUJ Ph.D. (Data Science) Fees

The Ph.D. (Data Science) at MUJ is structured with a simple and transparent fee model. Indian scholars pay a one-time registration fee of Rs. 10,000 at the time of admission, followed by an annual fee of Rs. 30,000 per year until final thesis submission. The total fee for a 3-year full-time PhD works out to Rs. 1,00,000 (registration + 3 years of annual fee). Hostel accommodation is optional and available on campus at an additional cost.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Indian Scholars)
Registration Fee (One-time)	Rs. 10,000
Annual Tuition Fee (per year)	Rs. 30,000
Total Fee (3 Years - Minimum Duration)	Rs. 1,00,000
Hostel Fee (Double Occupancy, per year)	Rs. 1,74,050 (optional)
Hostel Security Deposit (Refundable)	Rs. 24,250

Registration fee is non-refundable.
Annual fee of Rs. 30,000 is payable each year till the final thesis submission (applicable for all years beyond the minimum duration as well).
Hostel accommodation is optional and not mandatory for PhD scholars.
Hostel fees are strictly non-refundable once the academic year commences.
A refundable security deposit of Rs. 24,250 is collected for hostel accommodation.
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 online modes.

MUJ Ph.D. (Data Science) Admission 2026

MUJ conducts PhD admissions twice a year, in January and July. The selection process involves a written entrance test (conducted online) followed by a personal interview of shortlisted candidates. Candidates holding UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/JRF/GATE/SLET/M.Phil qualifications are exempted from the entrance test and directly called for an interview. The January 2026 batch admission process has been completed; the next cycle (July 2026) is expected to open around May-June 2026 based on previous year patterns.

MUJ PhD Admission Schedule

Activity	Tentative Date
Call for PhD Applications (July 2026 Cycle)	May 2026 (Tentative)
PhD Application Deadline	June 2026 (Tentative)
PhD Entrance Test (Online Mode)	July 2026 (Tentative)
Interview of Shortlisted Candidates	July 2026 (Tentative)
Declaration of Results	July 2026 (Tentative)
Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship Interview	July 2026 (Tentative)
Fee Submission and Document Verification	July 2026 (Tentative)
PhD Course Work Commencement	July/August 2026 (Tentative)

Relevant Exam Dates

Exam	Registration	Exam Date	Result
GATE 2026	Aug 28 - Oct 13, 2025	Feb 7-8, 14-15, 2026	Mar 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 (Tentative)	Jun 1, 2026 (Tentative)	Jul 1, 2026 (Tentative)

Note: GATE and UGC-NET qualified candidates are exempted from the MUJ PhD entrance test. These scores are used for direct interview eligibility.

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 with M.Phil/UGC-CSIR NET/JRF/SLET/GATE/Teacher Fellowship qualifications are exempted from the entrance examination.
For candidates with degrees from foreign universities, equivalence will be determined by the Directorate of Research (DoR) at MUJ.

Admission Process

Apply online through the MUJ admissions portal (admissions.jaipur.manipal.edu).
Appear for the PhD Entrance Test (online mode) - exempted for NET/GATE/M.Phil holders.
Shortlisted candidates are called for a personal interview conducted by the respective department.
Results are declared, followed by the Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship interview (for eligible full-time scholars).
Complete fee payment, NOC submission, and document verification within the stipulated deadline.
PhD course work commences as per the academic schedule.

MUJ Ph.D. (Data Science) Scholarships 2026

MUJ offers meaningful financial support to PhD scholars, particularly through the Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship, which is exclusively available to full-time research scholars. This scholarship provides a monthly stipend that increases progressively over three years, making it a significant incentive for full-time doctoral candidates. Additionally, scholars can claim conference travel support of up to Rs. 30,000 during their entire PhD tenure for presenting at Scopus/WoS-indexed conferences.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount	Duration
Dr. Ramdas Pai PhD Scholarship	Full-time PhD scholars at MUJ (excluding those with CSIR/UGC NET-JRF, DBT/ICMR JRF, or project fellows)	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 Travel Support	All full-time PhD scholars	Up to Rs. 30,000 (one-time, entire PhD duration)	One-time claim
Differently-Abled Scholarship	PhD scholars with disability certificate	20% fee waiver (40-75% disability); 50% fee waiver (>75% disability)	Per year, subject to CGPA >= 7.5
Wards of Martyrs (Defence/Para-Military)	PhD scholars whose parent is a martyr	20% fee waiver on annual tuition fee	Per year, subject to CGPA >= 7.5
Single Mother's Ward Scholarship	PhD scholars who are wards of single mothers (income < Rs. 8 lakh)	20% fee waiver on annual tuition fee	Per year, subject to CGPA >= 7.5

A total of 20 Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarships are awarded per academic year (10 per semester).
Scholars already receiving CSIR/UGC NET-JRF, DBT/ICMR JRF, or any external project fellowship are not eligible for the Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship.
Scholarship candidates are selected through a personal interview conducted by the Directorate of Research.
All scholarships are subject to approval by the competent authority and require submission of relevant documents at the time of application.
A student may apply for only one type of scholarship per academic session.

MUJ Ph.D. (Data Science) FAQs

Ques. Is the Ph.D. in Data Science at MUJ a full-time program only, or can I pursue it while working?

Ans. MUJ offers both full-time and part-time PhD options. The full-time program requires the scholar to be present on campus and is eligible for the Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship. The part-time option is available for working professionals who cannot commit to full-time residency. The course listed here (course_id: 24264) is the full-time variant.

Ques. What is the minimum and maximum duration of the PhD (Data Science) at MUJ?

Ans. The minimum duration is 3 years and the maximum is 6 years from the date of registration, as per UGC guidelines followed by MUJ.

Ques. Do I need to clear GATE or NET to apply for the PhD at MUJ?

Ans. No, GATE or NET is not mandatory for applying. However, candidates who have qualified GATE, UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, JRF, SLET, or M.Phil are exempted from the university's own entrance test and are directly called for an interview. Others must appear for the MUJ PhD Entrance Test.

Ques. What research areas are covered under the PhD in Data Science at MUJ?

Ans. The Department of Data Science and Engineering at MUJ covers research areas including machine learning, deep learning, big data analytics, data mining, natural language processing, computer vision, IoT data analytics, and computational intelligence. Scholars are assigned supervisors based on their research interests and available faculty expertise.

Ques. Is hostel accommodation available for PhD scholars at MUJ?

Ans. Yes, hostel accommodation is available on campus. It is optional for PhD scholars. The hostel fee for double occupancy is Rs. 1,74,050 per year (2026-27), with a refundable security deposit of Rs. 24,250. Scholars can also opt for nearby off-campus accommodations.

Ques. How many times a year does MUJ conduct PhD admissions, and when should I apply for the next cycle?

Ans. MUJ conducts PhD admissions twice a year - in January and July. The January 2026 batch admissions have already been completed. The next cycle (July 2026) is expected to open around May 2026. Candidates should regularly check the official MUJ PhD page (jaipur.manipal.edu/research-phd.php) for notifications and application deadlines.