Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

SASTRA University offers a full-time Ph.D. programme in Education at its Thanjavur campus under the School of Arts, Sciences, Humanities and Education (SASHE). The programme is a rigorous doctoral degree designed to produce highly qualified researchers and educators who contribute to the advancement of educational theory, pedagogy, curriculum development, educational technology, and policy. The minimum duration is 3 years and the maximum is 6 years (extendable up to 8 years with Vice-Chancellor approval). Admissions are open throughout the year on a rolling basis, with selections done once a quarter. SASTRA is NAAC A++ accredited, ranked 62nd in NIRF 2025 (Overall), and has over 350 active research scholars and 13,491+ publications, reflecting a strong research culture.

Ph.D. admissions at SASTRA are currently open on a rolling basis throughout the year. Applications can be submitted at any time, and selections are conducted quarterly. The January 2026 batch had its test and interview on December 12, 2025, with joining on January 5, 2026. The next admission cycle (April 2026) dates will be communicated by SASTRA. Candidates with UGC-NET/JRF, CSIR-NET/JRF, GATE, or other recognised competitive exam qualifications are exempted from the entrance test and need only clear the interview.

Key Points

The Ph.D. (Education) programme focuses on research in educational theory, pedagogy, curriculum design, educational technology, teacher education, and educational policy.
Admissions are open throughout the year with quarterly selection cycles, making it flexible for candidates to apply at any time.
Candidates who have qualified in UGC-NET (including JRF), UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF), GATE, UPSC, or any other recognised competitive exam are exempted from the entrance test.
Full-time internal research scholars may be appointed as Teaching Assistants (TA) or Research Assistants (RA), and JRF/SRF/Project Fellows supported by government or non-government funding are also eligible.
SASTRA has 23 research centres, 120+ funded projects, 190+ patents, and 97 crore worth of research collaborations, providing a rich research ecosystem.
The programme requires scholars to publish at least one paper (or file one patent) before synopsis submission, and at least two papers (or two patents) before the final defence.
A 5% relaxation in minimum marks is available for SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), Differently Abled, and EWS candidates.

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01 Apr, 2026 Sastra University Phase 1 Registration 2026 begins @sastra.edu. The last date to apply ranges between Apr 19 & Jun 5, 2026. Learn more.

SASTRA Ph.D. (Education) Fees

SASTRA University does not publish a specific tuition fee for the Ph.D. programme on its official fee structure page. The fee is communicated to admitted scholars at the time of registration and varies based on the category of admission (Full-time Internal, Part-time Internal, or External). Based on available information, the annual fee for Ph.D. scholars at SASTRA is in the range of Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 2,00,000 per year depending on the school and category. JRF/SRF scholars supported by government funding typically have their fees covered through their fellowship grants.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Details
Tuition Fee (Full-time Internal Scholar)	Communicated at the time of registration (contact admissions office)
Tuition Fee (Part-time / External Scholar)	Communicated at the time of registration (contact admissions office)
Development Fee (one-time)	Rs. 10,000 (as per general SASTRA fee structure)
Special / Registration / Medical Exam Fee (one-time)	Rs. 6,000 (as per general SASTRA fee structure)
Total Fees	Contact SASTRA admissions office for exact Ph.D. fee details

JRF/SRF scholars supported by government or non-government funding agencies typically receive a monthly stipend (Rs. 31,000 to Rs. 35,000 per month for JRF; Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 42,000 per month for SRF as per UGC/CSIR norms) which covers their fees and living expenses.
Hostel accommodation is available at the Thanjavur campus. Hostel lodging fee for shared accommodation (3-in-1 Non-AC) is Rs. 16,000 per year. Mess charges are approximately Rs. 5,000 per month (at actuals).
Candidates are advised to contact the SASTRA admissions office at admissions@sastra.edu or call +91 4362 264101-108 for the exact Ph.D. fee structure.

SASTRA Ph.D. (Education) Admission 2026

SASTRA University accepts Ph.D. applications throughout the year, with admissions conducted once a quarter. The selection process for full-time internal candidates involves a SASTRA entrance test followed by an interview. Candidates with UGC-NET/JRF, CSIR-NET/JRF, GATE, or UPSC qualifications are exempted from the entrance test and need only clear the interview. External candidates (from recognised institutions, R&D organisations, and corporates) are selected based on a critique of selected peer-reviewed journal articles presented before a pre-registration committee. The January 2026 batch had its test and interview on December 12, 2025, with joining on January 5, 2026.

SASTRA Ph.D. (Education) Admission Dates

Event	Date
January 2026 Batch - Test and Interview	December 12, 2025
January 2026 Batch - Intimation of Selection	On or before December 20, 2025
January 2026 Batch - Date of Joining	January 5, 2026
April 2026 Batch - Application (Rolling Basis)	Open throughout the year
April / July 2026 Batch - Test and Interview	To be communicated by SASTRA
Selection Cycle	Once every quarter

Key Qualifying Exams for Entrance Test Exemption

Exam	Relevance
UGC-NET (including JRF)	Exemption from entrance test; JRF provides monthly stipend
UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF)	Exemption from entrance test; JRF provides monthly stipend
GATE	Exemption from entrance test
UPSC	Exemption from entrance test

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have completed a 2-year/4-semester Master's degree (M.Ed. or M.A. in Education or equivalent) after a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate from a recognised institution. OR completed a 2-year/4-semester Master's degree after a 3-year Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 55% marks. OR hold a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate.
A 5% relaxation in minimum marks is available for SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), Differently Abled, and EWS candidates.
Foreign qualifications from accredited institutions recognised by an assessment and accreditation agency in the home country are also considered.

Admission Process

Submit the application online at sas.sastra.edu/rapform/ or contact the admissions office at admissions@sastra.edu.
Candidates with UGC-NET/JRF, CSIR-NET/JRF, GATE, or UPSC qualifications are exempted from the entrance test and proceed directly to the interview.
Other candidates appear for the SASTRA Ph.D. entrance test; the syllabus and date are communicated after application review.
Shortlisted candidates appear for an interview before the selection committee.
External candidates present a critique of 10 selected peer-reviewed journal articles before a pre-registration committee chaired by the Dean-Research.
Upon selection, the Doctoral Committee is formed within one month of registration.
Scholars must complete a minimum of 4 courses (12 credits) within 18 months of registration.
A Research Critique is conducted after coursework completion.
Synopsis submission requires at least 1 published/accepted paper or 1 filed patent.
Final defence requires at least 2 published/accepted papers or 2 patents.

SASTRA Ph.D. (Education) Scholarships 2026

SASTRA University and various government agencies offer financial support to Ph.D. scholars. JRF/SRF fellowships from UGC, CSIR, DST, DBT, and other agencies provide monthly stipends that cover both fees and living expenses. SASTRA also offers Teaching Assistantship (TA) and Research Assistantship (RA) positions to full-time internal scholars, providing financial support during the doctoral programme.

Fellowship Details

Fellowship / Support	Amount	Eligibility
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	Rs. 31,000/month (first 2 years)	UGC-NET qualified with JRF rank
UGC-SRF (Senior Research Fellowship)	Rs. 35,000/month (after 2 years)	Upgrade from JRF after 2 years
CSIR-JRF	Rs. 31,000/month (first 2 years)	CSIR-NET qualified with JRF rank
CSIR-SRF	Rs. 35,000/month (after 2 years)	Upgrade from JRF after 2 years
DST-INSPIRE Fellowship	Rs. 31,000/month + Rs. 20,000/year contingency	Top 1% in graduation/post-graduation
SASTRA Teaching Assistantship (TA)	As per SASTRA norms	Full-time internal scholars appointed as TA
SASTRA Research Assistantship (RA)	As per SASTRA norms	Full-time internal scholars appointed as RA

Fellowship amounts are as per UGC/CSIR norms and are subject to revision by the respective funding agencies.
Scholars are advised to apply for fellowships through the respective agency portals (UGC, CSIR, DST, DBT) before or at the time of Ph.D. registration.
SASTRA also has industry-sponsored Ph.D. programmes where the sponsoring industry covers the scholar's fees and provides a stipend.

SASTRA Ph.D. (Education) FAQs

Ques. What research areas are covered under Ph.D. (Education) at SASTRA?

Ans. The Ph.D. (Education) programme at SASTRA under SASHE covers research areas including educational theory and philosophy, pedagogy and teaching methods, curriculum design and development, educational technology and e-learning, teacher education, educational psychology, higher education policy, and inclusive education. Candidates should contact the SASTRA admissions office or visit the SASHE school website to confirm the availability of a supervisor in their specific area of research interest before applying.

Ques. What is the eligibility for Ph.D. (Education) at SASTRA?

Ans. Candidates must hold a Master's degree (M.Ed., M.A. in Education, or equivalent) with a minimum of 55% marks from a recognised institution. Candidates with a 4-year Bachelor's degree with 75% marks are also eligible for Direct Ph.D. A 5% relaxation is available for SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), Differently Abled, and EWS candidates.

Ques. Is UGC-NET mandatory for Ph.D. (Education) admission at SASTRA?

Ans. No, UGC-NET is not mandatory. However, candidates with UGC-NET (including JRF), CSIR-NET (including JRF), GATE, or UPSC qualifications are exempted from the SASTRA Ph.D. entrance test and need only clear the interview. Candidates without these qualifications must appear for the SASTRA entrance test followed by an interview. Having a JRF qualification also provides a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 per month.

Ques. What career options are available after Ph.D. (Education) from SASTRA?

Ans. Ph.D. (Education) graduates can pursue careers as university professors, assistant professors, educational researchers, curriculum designers, educational policy analysts, school principals, educational consultants, and training and development specialists. The degree is also valuable for those seeking positions in international organisations, NGOs, and government bodies working in the education sector.

Ques. Can I pursue Ph.D. (Education) at SASTRA while working (part-time)?

Ans. Yes, SASTRA offers a Part-time Internal Research Scholar category for Institute Teaching Faculty (ITF) and Technical Staff (TS) of SASTRA. There is also a Full-time/Part-time External Research Scholar category for candidates from recognised institutions, R&D organisations, and educational institutions. External candidates are selected based on a critique of peer-reviewed journal articles and must have a co-supervisor from their parent organisation who is a recognised SASTRA supervisor.

Ques. How often are Ph.D. admissions conducted at SASTRA?

Ans. Ph.D. admissions at SASTRA are conducted once a quarter (approximately January, April, July, and October). Applications are accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis. The January 2026 batch had its test and interview on December 12, 2025, with joining on January 5, 2026. Dates for subsequent batches are communicated by SASTRA through the official website and by email to applicants.