Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai offers a full-time M.Phil. in Nano Science and Technology, a 1-year (2-semester) research-oriented postgraduate programme under the School of Biotechnology, Department of Genetic Engineering. The programme is designed to equip students with advanced knowledge in nanomaterials, nanofabrication, and their applications in medicine, electronics, and energy. The total programme fee is approximately Rs. 60,000, and admission is based on a university-level entrance test. The course has a limited seat intake and is popular among students seeking a research career in the rapidly growing field of nanotechnology. The mode of study is full-time, on-campus at Palkalai Nagar, Madurai.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are currently open. The last date to submit online applications is April 6, 2026, and the entrance examination for PG programmes is scheduled for May 23-24, 2026 (tentative). Applications are available on the MKU admissions portal from March 2, 2026.

Key Points

Offered under the School of Biotechnology, Department of Genetic Engineering, one of MKU's most research-active departments.
The programme includes core courses in Research Methodology, Nanoscience and Advances in Nanoscience, an elective related to project work, and a research dissertation.
Minimum 36 credits required for successful completion (31 course credits + 5 SSS credits).
MKU is NAAC A++ accredited (4th Cycle, 2021) and ranked 9th among government multidisciplinary universities in India (Education World, 2022).
The programme provides access to MKU's Central Instrumentation Centre, which houses advanced research equipment worth over Rs. 9 crore.
Students can avail of the university's 1 Gbps internet connectivity and a modernized central library with over 3 lakh books and 15,000 e-journals.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

MKU M.Phil. Nano Science and Technology Fees

The M.Phil. (Nano Science and Technology) at MKU carries a total programme fee of approximately Rs. 60,000 for the full 1-year duration. This is among the higher-fee M.Phil. programmes at MKU, reflecting the laboratory-intensive nature of the course. SC/ST students are eligible for tuition fee waivers as per Tamil Nadu Government norms, and differently-abled students are exempt from tuition and special fees.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	15,000
Laboratory Fee	3,000
Special Fee	7,000
Other Fees (Admission + Recognition)	5,000
Research Registration Fee (Science)	15,000
Course Work Fee	2,000
Administrative Fee	2,000
Alumni Fee	1,000
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	1,000
Miscellaneous / Additional Charges	9,000
Total Fees	Rs. 60,000

SC/ST students are exempt from tuition fees as per Tamil Nadu Government norms.
Differently-abled students are exempt from tuition and special fees.
Caution Deposit of Rs. 1,000 is fully refundable at the end of the programme.
100% of Special Fees paid are non-refundable.
Refund of 80% of fees (excluding special fee and caution deposit) is available if withdrawal is made at least 15 days before the closing date of admission.
Refund of 50% of fees is available if withdrawal is made less than 15 days before the closing date.
No refund is applicable after the closing date of admission or for spot/varanda admissions.
Fees can be paid semester-wise (approximately Rs. 30,000 per semester).
Payment is to be made through SBI I-Collect to the MKU Registrar Account.

Hostel Fees (Optional)

Hostel Type	Annual Fee (Approx.)
Men's Hostel (Non-AC Room)	Rs. 13,500 - Rs. 28,500
Women's Hostel (Non-AC Room)	Rs. 13,500 - Rs. 28,500
Mess Charges (Vegetarian)	Rs. 5,000 per year (approx.)
Mess Charges (Non-Vegetarian)	Rs. 8,500 per year (approx.)

Hostel accommodation is optional and subject to availability.
Separate hostels are available for men and women on the MKU campus.

MKU M.Phil. Nano Science and Technology Admission 2026-27

Admissions to M.Phil. (Nano Science and Technology) at MKU are conducted annually through a university-level entrance test. For 2026-27, the online application process opened on March 2, 2026, with a last date of April 6, 2026. The entrance examination is tentatively scheduled for May 23-24, 2026. Selection is based on 50% weightage to entrance exam marks and 50% weightage to PG marks (up to 5th semester/final year).

MKU M.Phil. Admission Dates

Event	Date
Online Application Opens	March 2, 2026
Last Date for Application Submission	April 6, 2026
Entrance Examination (Tentative)	May 23-24, 2026
Counselling / Selection List Publication	To be announced on MKU website
Commencement of Classes	July 2026 (Tentative)

Relevant Exam Dates

Exam	Purpose	Key Dates
MKU M.Phil. Entrance Test	Mandatory for MKU M.Phil. admission	May 23-24, 2026 (Tentative)
CSIR NET (Life Sciences / Physical Sciences)	Qualifying exam for JRF/Research Fellowship	Exam: July 25-27, 2026 (Tentative); Registration: May 1 - May 21, 2026 (Tentative)
UGC NET	Qualifying exam for JRF/Lectureship	Phase 2 Exam: June 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree (M.Sc. / M.Tech. or equivalent) in Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Physics, Chemistry, Nanoscience, or a related discipline from a recognized university.
Minimum 55% aggregate marks in the Master's degree (50% for SC/ST/OBC/Differently-abled candidates).
Candidates appearing in the final year of their Master's programme are also eligible to apply.

Admission Process

Submit online application at admissions.mkuniversity.ac.in before April 6, 2026.
Pay application fee of Rs. 500 (non-entrance) or Rs. 1,200 (entrance-based) online.
Appear for the MKU M.Phil. Entrance Test (objective type, 100 minutes).
Selection is based on 50% entrance test marks + 50% PG marks.
Selected candidates are notified via the MKU website and must report for counselling with original documents.
Pay the prescribed fees through SBI I-Collect on the day of admission.
SC/ST and Christian AdiDravidar students are exempt from registration fees for one programme.

MKU M.Phil. Nano Science and Technology Scholarships 2026-27

MKU M.Phil. students can avail of a range of government and university-level scholarships. SC/ST students benefit from tuition fee waivers directly at the time of admission, while other categories can apply for post-matric and merit-based scholarships. Research-oriented students can also apply for prestigious national fellowships such as CSIR JRF and DST-INSPIRE.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount (Approx.)	Offered By
Tamil Nadu State BC/MBC/DNC Scholarship	BC/MBC/DNC students	Varies	Tamil Nadu Government
Post Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh	Up to Rs. 20,000 per year	Central / State Government
Post Matric Scholarship for Minorities	Minority community students	Varies	Ministry of Minority Affairs
Post Matric Scholarship for Disabilities	Differently-abled students	Varies	Ministry of Social Justice
CSIR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	CSIR NET qualified candidates	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF)	CSIR, Govt. of India
UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	UGC NET qualified candidates	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF)	UGC, Govt. of India
DST-INSPIRE Fellowship	Top 1% in qualifying exam or DST selection	Rs. 80,000/year + Rs. 20,000 contingency	DST, Govt. of India
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)	SC/ST students	Rs. 25,000/month (JRF level)	UGC, Govt. of India
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)	Minority community students	Rs. 25,000/month	UGC, Govt. of India
DBT Junior Research Fellowship	Biotechnology students; DBT-JRF exam	Rs. 25,000/month	DBT, Govt. of India
Non-NET Fellowship	M.Phil. students not holding NET/JRF	Rs. 5,000/month	UGC
University Research Fellowship (URF)	MKU students selected by university	Varies	Madurai Kamaraj University

SC/ST students must apply for scholarships through the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Welfare Department.
BC/MBC students must apply through the Tamil Nadu BC/MBC Welfare Department.
CSIR JRF and UGC JRF are highly competitive and require qualifying the respective national-level examinations.
DST-INSPIRE is available for students who have secured top ranks in their qualifying examinations.
Application deadlines for government scholarships vary; students should check the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) for current deadlines.

MKU M.Phil. Nano Science and Technology FAQs

Ques. Is the M.Phil. Nano Science and Technology at MKU a full-time or part-time programme?

Ans. The M.Phil. Nano Science and Technology at MKU is a full-time, on-campus programme of 1-year (2 semesters) duration. Students are required to maintain a minimum attendance of 75% and are expected to be present on campus for coursework and research activities. There is no part-time or distance mode for this programme.

Ques. What is the syllabus structure of the M.Phil. Nano Science and Technology at MKU?

Ans. The programme follows the CBCS (Choice Based Credit System) and requires a minimum of 36 credits. The curriculum includes Research Methodology (5 credits), Nanoscience and Advances in Nanoscience as a core course (5 credits), an elective course related to the project work (5 credits), research work/internal marks (6 credits), a project/dissertation (10 credits), and a viva-voce (5 credits). Students also need to complete SSS (Soft Skill/Supportive) courses.

Ques. Can students from Physics or Chemistry backgrounds apply for M.Phil. Nano Science and Technology at MKU?

Ans. Yes. Candidates with a Master's degree in Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, or related science disciplines are eligible to apply, provided they have a minimum of 55% marks in their PG degree (50% for SC/ST/OBC). The interdisciplinary nature of nanotechnology makes it accessible to students from multiple science backgrounds.

Ques. Is there a fellowship or stipend available for M.Phil. students at MKU?

Ans. Yes. Students who qualify CSIR NET or UGC NET with JRF are eligible for a monthly fellowship of Rs. 37,000. Additionally, MKU offers a Non-NET Fellowship of Rs. 5,000/month for M.Phil. students who do not hold a JRF. The University Research Fellowship (URF) is also available for selected students. SC/ST students can apply for the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF).

Ques. What are the career prospects after completing M.Phil. Nano Science and Technology from MKU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue Ph.D. programmes in nanotechnology, materials science, biotechnology, or related fields at premier institutions like IITs, IISc, CSIR labs, and international universities. Career opportunities exist in research and development roles at DRDO, ISRO, CSIR institutes, pharmaceutical companies, semiconductor firms, and nanotechnology startups. The field is growing rapidly with applications in drug delivery, biosensors, solar cells, and advanced materials.

Ques. How competitive is the MKU M.Phil. Nano Science and Technology entrance test, and what topics does it cover?

Ans. The entrance test is an objective-type examination of 100 minutes duration. The question paper typically covers topics from the candidate's PG subject area, including nanomaterials, synthesis techniques, characterization methods (TEM, SEM, XRD), quantum mechanics, surface chemistry, and research methodology. Since the seat intake is limited, competition can be moderate to high. Candidates are advised to thoroughly revise their PG syllabus and refer to standard nanotechnology textbooks for preparation.