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The Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering (Part Time) at UPES, Dehradun is a doctoral program offered by the School of Advanced Engineering, designed for working professionals in the chemical, petrochemical, oil and gas, and process industries who wish to pursue advanced research without leaving their careers. The program spans 3 to 5 years and covers a broad range of research areas including catalysis and reaction engineering, nanomaterials and nanotechnology, polymer science, process control and optimization, environmental engineering, renewable energy, and computational modeling. The program fee is INR 1,00,000 per semester with no fee waiver for part-time scholars. UPES is ranked 42nd in Engineering and 46th among universities in India (NIRF 2024), and 148th in QS World Rankings Asia 2025. Given UPES's strong legacy in petroleum and energy studies, the Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) is particularly well-regarded in the oil and gas sector.

Admissions for the July 2026 batch have closed (last date to apply was June 1, 2026, with the session commencing August 27, 2026). For the next intake (July 2027), applications are expected to open around April-May 2027 based on the previous year's schedule, with a tentative last date to apply around June 2027.

Key Points

The Part Time Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) is designed for working professionals; it does not require full-time campus residency.
The program spans 3 to 5 years, with the same academic rigor as the full-time program.
Part-time scholars do NOT receive the 75% fee waiver; the full program semester fee of INR 1,00,000 per semester is applicable.
Research areas include catalysis and reaction engineering, nanomaterials, polymer science, process optimization, environmental engineering, renewable energy, sustainable chemical processes, and computational modeling.
The program has strong industry ties with E&P companies, chemical manufacturers, and process industries, offering access to sponsored projects and internships.
Financial support is available for presenting research at international conferences, workshops, and seminars.
Candidates with valid GATE/UGC-NET/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualifications are exempted from the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET).

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

UPES Ph.D. Chemical Eng. (PT) Fees

The Part Time Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) at UPES carries a program semester fee of INR 1,00,000 per semester, with no fee waiver applicable for part-time scholars. For a minimum 6-semester (3-year) program, the total fee payable is INR 6,00,000. Part-time scholars are not eligible for the monthly stipend available to full-time scholars. Hostel accommodation is optional and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Program Fee Structure

Fee Component	Per Semester	Total (6 Semesters / 3 Years)
Program Semester Fee (Tuition)	INR 1,00,000	INR 6,00,000
Total Fees (Excluding Hostel)	INR 1,00,000	INR 6,00,000
Hostel Fee (Optional)	INR 1,65,000 per year	INR 4,95,000 (3 years, if availed)

No fee waiver is applicable for part-time Ph.D. scholars.
Part-time scholars are not eligible for the monthly stipend (INR 30,000/month) available to full-time scholars.
An interest-free refundable hostel security deposit of INR 10,000 is applicable for students availing hostel facility.
Hostel fee mentioned (INR 1,65,000 per year) is based on 2022-23 rates on a triple-sharing basis; current rates may vary.
Application fee: INR 1,000 (non-refundable).
For exact and updated fee details, contact: research@ddn.upes.ac.in
The program duration may extend up to 5 years.

UPES Ph.D. Chemical Eng. (PT) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) Part Time program at UPES are conducted once a year for a July intake. The selection process involves an online Research Entrance Test (RET), submission of a research proposal, and an online interview conducted via MS Teams. Candidates with valid UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualifications are exempted from the RET. The July 2026 batch admission process has concluded; the next cycle (July 2027) is expected to follow a similar timeline with applications opening around April-May 2027.

UPES Admission Dates

Event	Date
Last Date to Apply	June 1, 2026
UPES RET Exam	June 11, 2026
RET Result Declaration	June 27, 2026
Submission of Research Proposal	July 5, 2026
Online Interview Booking/Scheduling	July 15, 2026
Interviews (Online - MS Teams)	July 28, 29 & 30, 2026
Interview Result / Offer Letter Issuance	August 12, 2026
Last Date to Pay Fee	August 17, 2026
Registration Date	August 22, 2026
Orientation Date	August 25, 2026
Commencement of Session	August 27, 2026

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
GATE 2027	Registration Start	August 28, 2026
GATE 2027	Registration End	October 13, 2026
GATE 2027	Admit Card	January 13, 2027
GATE 2027	Exam Dates	February 7, 8, 14 & 15, 2027
GATE 2027	Result	March 19, 2027
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Registration Start	October 7, 2026
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Registration End	November 7, 2026
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Admit Card	December 28, 2026
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Exam Dates	December 31, 2026 - January 7, 2027
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Result	February 4, 2027
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Registration Start	April 1, 2027 (Tentative)
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Exam Date	June 2027 (Tentative)

Note: GATE (relevant papers: Chemical Engineering / Petroleum Engineering) and UGC-NET qualified candidates are exempted from the UPES RET.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Must hold a Master's degree or a professional degree equivalent to a Master's in Chemical Engineering or allied disciplines from a recognized institution, with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (or equivalent grade 'B' on the UGC 7-point scale).
SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-abled candidates are eligible for a 5% relaxation in the minimum marks requirement (i.e., 50% instead of 55%).
Candidates who obtained their Master's degree before September 19, 1991, are also eligible for the 5% relaxation.

Admission Process

Fill the online application form at https://phd.upes.ac.in/appform.aspx and pay the non-refundable application fee of INR 1,000.
Appear for the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET) - a 3-hour online proctored test (100 marks: 50 marks Research/General Aptitude + 50 marks Domain-specific). Candidates with valid GATE/UGC-NET/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE scores are exempted.
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 an online interview conducted via MS Teams.
Receive offer letter upon selection; pay the enrolment fee by the specified deadline.
Complete registration and attend orientation on campus.

UPES Ph.D. Chemical Eng. (PT) Scholarships 2026

For part-time Ph.D. scholars in Chemical Engineering, the scholarship options at UPES are limited compared to full-time scholars. The 75% fee waiver and monthly stipend are not applicable. However, UPES alumni, employees' wards, and sports achievers may still be eligible for certain concessions. The Alumni Scholarship, offering a 50% fee waiver on the part-time Ph.D. program fee, is the most significant financial benefit available for eligible candidates.

Scholarship Options

Scholarship / Fellowship	Benefit	Eligibility
Alumni Scholarship	50% fee waiver on Part-Time Ph.D. program fee	UPES alumni (graduated 2021 onwards)
Employee Ward Scholarship	75% scholarship on semester fee (tuition + academic service fee)	Wards of regular UPES employees enrolled in Part-Time Ph.D.
Employee Sibling Ward Scholarship	50% scholarship on semester fee	Wards of siblings of UPES employees enrolled in Part-Time Ph.D.
Employee Spouse Scholarship	50% scholarship on semester fee	Spouses of UPES employees enrolled in Part-Time Ph.D.
Domicile Scholarship	25% scholarship on tuition fee per semester	Bonafide Uttarakhand domicile students
Vijay Scholarship (Sports)	35%-100% on tuition fee	National/International level sportspersons

The 75% fee waiver and monthly stipend are NOT applicable for part-time Ph.D. scholars.
NET-JRF/INSPIRE annual grant of INR 2,00,000 is also not applicable for part-time scholars.
A student is eligible for only one type of scholarship/concession at a time; the highest applicable scholarship is awarded.
All scholarship decisions are subject to the final authority of the Vice Chancellor.
For scholarship queries, contact: research@ddn.upes.ac.in

UPES Ph.D. Chemical Eng. (PT) FAQs

Ques. Is the Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) Part Time at UPES suitable for professionals working in oil refineries or petrochemical plants?

Ans. Yes, the Part Time Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) is highly suitable for professionals in oil refineries, petrochemical plants, and process industries. UPES has a strong legacy in petroleum and energy studies, and the program's research areas - including catalysis, process optimization, and environmental engineering - are directly relevant to these industries. The part-time format allows professionals to continue working while conducting research on industry-relevant problems.

Ques. Can I pursue research on renewable energy or green chemistry under this program?

Ans. Yes. The Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) program at UPES explicitly covers renewable energy, sustainable chemical processes, and environmental engineering as research areas. Scholars can work on topics such as green hydrogen production, carbon capture, biofuels, and sustainable polymer synthesis. The program's emphasis on addressing critical global challenges makes it well-suited for research in these emerging areas.

Ques. What is the difference between the Part Time and Full Time Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) at UPES?

Ans. The key differences are: (1) Full-time scholars receive a 75% fee waiver (effective fee: INR 25,000/semester), while part-time scholars pay the full INR 1,00,000 per semester. (2) Full-time scholars are eligible for a monthly stipend of up to INR 30,000, which is not available for part-time scholars. (3) Full-time scholars are expected to be on campus regularly, while part-time scholars can continue their jobs. Both programs have the same academic rigor and duration (3-5 years).

Ques. Does UPES provide financial support for attending international conferences during the Ph.D. program?

Ans. Yes. The Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) program at UPES provides financial support for scholars to present their research at international conferences, workshops, seminars, and symposiums. This facilitates knowledge exchange and networking on a global scale, which is particularly valuable for part-time scholars who may have limited time for such activities.

Ques. What are the interdisciplinary research opportunities in this program?

Ans. The program encourages collaboration across departments and research groups, addressing complex challenges at the intersection of chemical engineering and other disciplines such as materials science, environmental science, data analytics, and machine learning. Scholars can work on projects that combine chemical engineering with computational modeling, nanotechnology, or pharmaceutical research, broadening the scope and impact of their doctoral work.

Ques. How does the research proposal submission work for the Part Time Ph.D. admission?

Ans. Shortlisted candidates (both RET-qualified and RET-exempted) must submit a research proposal of approximately 1,000 words to phd@upes.ac.in before the interview. The proposal should outline the research problem, its significance, proposed methodology, and expected contributions. UPES provides a guideline document (How to Write Research Proposal) available for download on the official Ph.D. Engineering page. The proposal is evaluated by the faculty committee during the interview stage.

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UPES Ph.D Chemical Engineering: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Table of Contents

UPES Ph.D. Chemical Eng. (PT) Fees

Program Fee Structure

UPES Ph.D. Chemical Eng. (PT) Admission 2026

UPES Admission Dates

Entrance Exam Dates

Eligibility Criteria

Admission Process

UPES Ph.D. Chemical Eng. (PT) Scholarships 2026

Scholarship Options

UPES Ph.D. Chemical Eng. (PT) FAQs

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