Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at UPES, Dehradun is a full-time doctoral program offered by the School of Advanced Engineering. The program spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with a semester fee of INR 1 lakh; full-time scholars receive a 75% waiver, bringing the effective semester fee down to INR 25,000. The program focuses on niche areas such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), aerodynamics, aeronautics, astronautics, space technology, defense and military aerospace, aerospace manufacturing, lightweight materials, composites, and propulsion systems. Admission is based on the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET), with exemptions for UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualified candidates, and the program is popular for its fellowship support, access to cutting-edge research facilities, and strong connections with organizations like ISRO, CSIR, and DRDO.

Admissions for the July 2026 intake are currently ongoing. Applications opened on March 10, 2026, and the last date to apply is June 1, 2026. The RET exam is scheduled for June 10-11, 2026, with interviews in late July 2026 and the session commencing in August 2026.

Key Points

The program is offered by the UPES School of Advanced Engineering and focuses on specialized aerospace research areas including CFD, aerodynamics, propulsion, space technology, and aerospace manufacturing.
Full-time PhD scholars receive a monthly fellowship of INR 25,000 during coursework and INR 30,000 per month after clearing the mandatory coursework examination, valid for up to 3 years from commencement.
UPES is ranked 42nd in the Engineering category and 46th among universities in India as per NIRF 2024, and is ranked 148th in QS World University Rankings Asia 2025.
Scholars have access to state-of-the-art laboratories and research infrastructure, and are encouraged to participate in national and international conferences.
The program has strong industry connections with aerospace and defense organizations including ISRO, CSIR, DRDO, and global aerospace companies.
INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF qualified candidates receive an additional INR 2 lakh per year as a contingency grant for research activities.
The program is aligned with emerging trends in aerospace including sustainable aviation, electric propulsion, autonomous aerial vehicles, and AI-integrated aerospace systems.

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

UPES PhD Fees

The Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at UPES follows the university-wide PhD fee structure with a semester fee of INR 1 lakh. Full-time scholars benefit from a 75% waiver, effectively paying INR 25,000 per semester. Over the minimum duration of 6 semesters (3 years), the total program fee for a full-time scholar amounts to INR 1,50,000. Additional one-time charges include a registration fee of INR 31,300 and a refundable security deposit of INR 20,000. A thesis submission fee of INR 15,000 is payable at the time of thesis submission.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Program Semester Fee (per semester, before waiver)	1,00,000
75% Waiver for Full-Time Scholars	-75,000 per semester
Effective Semester Fee (Full-Time)	25,000
Total Program Fee - 6 Semesters (Full-Time, minimum 3 years)	1,50,000
Registration Fee (one-time)	31,300
Refundable Security Deposit (one-time)	20,000
Thesis Submission Fee (one-time, at thesis stage)	15,000
Application Fee (non-refundable)	1,000
Total Fees (Full-Time, excluding hostel, including all one-time charges)	2,17,300
Hostel Fee (optional, triple-sharing, per year)	1,83,000

The security deposit of INR 20,000 is refundable (interest-free) at the time of program completion or exit.
The application fee of INR 1,000 is non-refundable.
Hostel accommodation is optional and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Hostel fee is for the Bidholi/Kandoli campus (triple-sharing with common washroom). An additional refundable hostel security of INR 10,000 is charged at the time of registration.
If the PhD extends beyond 3 years (6 semesters), additional semester fees at INR 25,000 per semester (full-time) will apply.
Fee payment is accepted via NEFT/RTGS/IMPS/Cash Deposit/Bank Gateway.

UPES PhD Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at UPES are conducted twice a year - for the January intake and the July intake. The July 2026 intake is currently open with applications accepted until June 1, 2026. The selection process involves the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET), submission of a research proposal (approximately 1,000 words), and an online interview conducted via MS Teams. Candidates with valid UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualifications are exempted from the RET.

UPES PhD Aerospace Engineering Admission Dates

Event	Date
Application Opens	March 10, 2026
Last Date to Apply	June 1, 2026
RET Exam	June 10-11, 2026
RET Result Declaration	June 27, 2026
Research Proposal Submission	(Approx.) Early July 2026
Online Interview Booking/Scheduling	(Approx.) Mid-July 2026
Interviews	July 28, 29 and 30, 2026
Interview Result Declaration	August 12, 2026
Last Date to Pay Fee	August 17, 2026
Orientation and Registration	(Approx.) August 22-25, 2026
Commencement of Session	(Approx.) August 27, 2026

Exemption Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
UGC-NET	Phase 1 Exam	December 31, 2025 - January 7, 2026
UGC-NET	Phase 1 Result	February 4, 2026
UGC-NET	Phase 2 Exam (Tentative)	June 2026
GATE	GATE 2026 Exam	February 1-2 and 8-9, 2026
GATE	GATE 2026 Result	March 19, 2026

Note: UGC-NET (JRF/NET), GATE, SET, GPAT, CSIR, and INSPIRE qualified candidates are exempted from the UPES RET.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant engineering discipline with a minimum of 55% marks (or equivalent grade) from a recognized institute. A relaxation of 5% (from 55% to 50%) is available for SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-abled candidates as per UGC norms.
Candidates with a 4-year undergraduate degree (B.Tech/BE) with a minimum of 75% marks or 7.5 CGPA (on a 10-point scale) are also eligible for full-time admission, subject to additional conditions including a high-quality research publication from the bachelor's project.
Candidates must meet the minimum academic eligibility as notified by UGC from time to time.

Admission Process

Fill the online application form at the UPES PhD portal and pay the non-refundable application fee of INR 1,000.
Appear for the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET) - exempted for UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualified candidates.
Shortlisted candidates (RET qualified and exempted) submit a research proposal of approximately 1,000 words to phd@upes.ac.in.
Book an online interview slot through the link shared by the university.
Appear for the online interview conducted via MS Teams (no campus visit required).
Receive offer letter upon selection; pay the enrolment fee by the specified deadline.
Attend orientation on campus and commence the session.

UPES PhD Scholarships 2026

UPES offers a comprehensive scholarship and fellowship ecosystem for PhD scholars in Aerospace Engineering, making the program financially accessible. Full-time scholars automatically receive a 75% waiver on the semester fee and a monthly fellowship, significantly reducing the financial burden. Scholars who bring external fellowships (NET-JRF, INSPIRE, etc.) receive an additional contingency grant from UPES.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount / Benefit	Eligibility
UPES PhD Fellowship (Full-Time)	INR 25,000/month during coursework; INR 30,000/month after coursework clearance (up to 3 years)	All full-time PhD scholars (100 seats across all schools)
NET-JRF / INSPIRE Contingency Grant	INR 2,00,000 per year (additional support)	Scholars with NET-JRF, INSPIRE, or equivalent national fellowship
Semester Fee Waiver (Full-Time)	75% waiver on program semester fee (INR 25,000 effective per semester)	All full-time PhD scholars
Alumni Scholarship	50% fee waiver on Part-Time PhD program fee	UPES alumni (graduated 2021 onwards)
Employee Ward Scholarship	75% on semester fee (Tuition + Academic Service)	Wards of UPES employees (regular/confirmed)
Employee Sibling Ward Scholarship	50% on semester fee	Wards of siblings of UPES employees
Employee Spouse Scholarship	50% on semester fee	Spouses of UPES employees
Vijay Scholarship (Sports)	35%-100% on tuition fee	National/International level sports achievers

The PhD fellowship is available for 100 full-time scholars across all schools and is subject to the university's policy. Continuation after 3 years is based on performance.
The NET-JRF/INSPIRE contingency grant of INR 2 lakh per year is subject to the university's discretionary policy and may be changed/cancelled.
Alumni scholarship for Part-Time PhD requires renewal based on a minimum CGPA of 8.0 with no backlogs and no disciplinary cases.
A student is eligible for only one type of scholarship at a time (except Academic Performance Scholarship from 2nd year onwards, which can be clubbed).
All scholarships are subject to the university's prevailing policy and the decision of the Competent Authority is final.

UPES Ph.D Aerospace Engineering Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#87 out of 762 in India 2025

#4th in Uttarakhand

NIRF Ranking

#43 out of 300 in India 2025

#2nd in Uttarakhand

Do you think the Rankings are wrong ? Report Here

UPES PhD FAQs

Ques. What are the specific research areas available for the PhD in Aerospace Engineering at UPES?

Ans. The PhD in Aerospace Engineering at UPES covers specialized research areas including Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), aerodynamics, aeronautics, astronautics, space technology, defense and military aerospace, aerospace manufacturing, lightweight materials and composites, and propulsion systems. The program also aligns with emerging trends such as sustainable aviation, electric propulsion, autonomous aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones), and AI-integrated aerospace systems.

Ques. Is GATE score required for PhD admission in Aerospace Engineering at UPES?

Ans. GATE qualification is not mandatory but provides an exemption from the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET). Candidates with a valid GATE score are exempted from the RET and can directly proceed to the research proposal submission and interview stages. Similarly, UGC-NET (JRF/NET), SET, GPAT, CSIR, and INSPIRE qualified candidates are also exempted from the RET.

Ques. What is the monthly fellowship amount for a full-time PhD scholar in Aerospace Engineering at UPES?

Ans. Full-time PhD scholars receive a monthly fellowship of INR 25,000 during the coursework period and INR 30,000 per month after clearing the mandatory coursework examination. This fellowship is valid for up to 3 years from the commencement of the session. Additionally, scholars who bring external fellowships (NET-JRF, INSPIRE, etc.) receive an additional contingency grant of INR 2 lakh per year from UPES for research activities.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from UPES?

Ans. PhD holders in Aerospace Engineering from UPES can pursue academic careers as professors or researchers in universities and research institutions. Industry options include leadership roles in R&D departments of major aerospace corporations, specializing in aircraft design, propulsion systems, or materials engineering. Government agencies such as ISRO, CSIR, and DRDO offer roles in spacecraft development, policy-making, and national defense projects. The growing commercial spaceflight sector also presents opportunities with companies focused on spacecraft design, systems engineering, and mission planning.

Ques. How long does the PhD in Aerospace Engineering at UPES take to complete?

Ans. The minimum duration is 3 years (6 semesters) for full-time scholars. The maximum duration is 6 years. The program is designed for completion within 3 to 4 years, balancing comprehensive coursework with independent research. If the PhD extends beyond the minimum duration, additional semester fees at INR 25,000 per semester (full-time) will apply.

Ques. Does UPES have research collaborations with aerospace organizations like ISRO or DRDO for PhD scholars?

Ans. Yes, UPES School of Advanced Engineering has strong industry connections with aerospace and defense organizations including ISRO, CSIR, and DRDO, providing PhD scholars with opportunities to work on real-world aerospace challenges. The university also facilitates international internships and collaborative projects, allowing scholars to gain global research experience. Scholars are encouraged to present their research at industry conferences, fostering networking opportunities within the aerospace community.