Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. in Chemistry (Part Time) at UPES (University of Petroleum and Energy Studies), Dehradun, is a part-time doctoral research program offered under the School of Advanced Engineering. The program spans a minimum of 3 years and can extend up to 6 years, covering research in Materials Chemistry, Synthetic Chemistry, Biological Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry, with applications in petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, solar cells, agrochemicals, and polymers. The part-time mode is designed for working professionals who wish to pursue doctoral research while continuing their employment. The program fee is INR 1,00,000 per semester (no fee waiver applicable for part-time scholars). The primary entrance exam is the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET), though candidates qualified in UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, GATE, SET, GPAT, or INSPIRE are exempted. UPES is NAAC 'A' accredited and ranked 46th among universities in India (NIRF 2024).

Admissions for the July 2026 intake are expected to open around April-May 2026, based on the July 2025 cycle (Last Date to Apply: 1st June 2025). The January 2026 intake cycle had a last date to apply of December 4, 2025, with the session commencing on February 16, 2026. For the upcoming July 2026 cycle, tentative dates are expected to follow the same pattern as July 2025. Candidates are advised to monitor the official UPES PhD admissions portal at phd.upes.ac.in for the latest updates.

Key Points

The Part Time PhD in Chemistry is designed for working professionals in the chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, or research industries who wish to pursue doctoral research alongside their careers.
Research areas include Materials Chemistry, Synthetic Chemistry, Biological Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, advanced materials, biofuels, and medicinal chemistry.
Students select a research adviser at the end of their first semester, following rotations in different research laboratories.
The program requires completion of 3 courses from distinct science divisions (12 credits) and 2 specialized courses in the chosen research area (8 credits).
Part-time scholars do NOT receive the 75% fee waiver or the monthly fellowship stipend (these are available only to full-time scholars).
UPES alumni enrolled in Part-Time PhD are eligible for a 50% fee waiver under the Alumni Scholarship.
Candidates qualified in UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/INSPIRE are exempted from the UPES RET exam.
Interviews are conducted online via MS Teams; candidates are not required to visit the campus for the interview.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

UPES PhD Chemistry Fees

The Ph.D. (Chemistry) Part Time program at UPES has a semester fee of INR 1,00,000 with no fee waiver applicable for part-time scholars. Over a minimum 3-year (6-semester) duration, the total program fee works out to INR 6,00,000. Additionally, a one-time refundable security deposit of INR 20,000 is payable at the time of registration. UPES alumni enrolled in part-time PhD can avail a 50% fee waiver, reducing the effective fee to INR 50,000 per semester.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Part Time
Program Semester Fee	INR 1,00,000 per semester
Fee Waiver	No waiver (except Alumni: 50% waiver)
Total Program Fee (6 semesters / 3 years)	INR 6,00,000
Refundable Security Deposit (one-time)	INR 20,000
Total Fees (including security deposit)	INR 6,20,000

The refundable security deposit of INR 20,000 is interest-free and is returned upon completion/exit from the program as per university norms.
Application fee: INR 1,000 (non-refundable), payable at the time of submitting the online application.
Part-time scholars are NOT eligible for the monthly fellowship stipend (INR 25,000/30,000 per month) - this is available only to full-time scholars.
UPES alumni (graduated 2021 onwards) enrolled in Part-Time PhD are eligible for a 50% fee waiver, reducing the semester fee to INR 50,000.
Hostel facility is optional. Hostel fee for AY 2026-27: INR 1,83,000 per year (triple sharing, common washroom) to INR 2,32,000 per year (double sharing, attached washroom). An additional refundable hostel security of INR 10,000 is applicable.
If any taxes/levies are charged by Central/State/Local Authorities, the same shall be borne by the student.

UPES PhD Chemistry Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Chemistry) Part Time program at UPES are conducted twice a year - July intake and January intake. The selection process involves an online application, the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET) (exempted for UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualified candidates), submission of a research proposal (~1000 words), and an online interview via MS Teams. Based on the July 2025 cycle, the July 2026 intake is expected to follow a similar timeline. The January 2026 intake cycle has already concluded with the session commencing in February 2026.

Admission Dates

Key Timeline	July 2025 Intake (Actual)	July 2026 Intake (Tentative)
Last Date to Apply	1st June 2025	~1st June 2026
RET Exam	11th June 2025	~11th June 2026
RET Result Declaration	27th June 2025	~27th June 2026
Research Proposal Submission	5th July 2025	~5th July 2026
Online Interview Booking	15th July 2025	~15th July 2026
Interviews (Online - MS Teams)	28th, 29th & 30th July 2025	~28th-30th July 2026
Interview Result Declaration	12th August 2025	~12th August 2026
Last Date to Pay Fee	17th August 2025	~17th August 2026
Registration Date	22nd August 2025	~22nd August 2026
Orientation Date	25th August 2025	~25th August 2026
Commencement of Session	27th August 2025	~27th August 2026

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Exam Date	Registration Period	Result/Remarks
GATE 2026	Feb 7, 8, 14 & 15, 2026	Aug 28 - Oct 13, 2025	Result: Mar 19, 2026. Valid GATE score exempts from RET.
CSIR-UGC NET Dec 2025	18th December 2025	Sep 25 - Oct 27, 2025	Qualified candidates exempted from RET
UGC-NET Dec 2025	Dec 31, 2025 - Jan 7, 2026	-	Qualified candidates exempted from RET
UGC-NET June 2026	Expected Jun 25-29, 2026	Expected Apr 2026	Qualified candidates exempted from RET

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master's degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, or a relevant discipline with a minimum of 55% marks (or equivalent grade) from a recognized institute.
Candidates with a 4-year Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 75% marks or 7.5 CGPA (on a 10-point scale) are also eligible.
Candidates must qualify the UPES RET (Research Entrance Test) unless exempted by holding a valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/INSPIRE qualification.

Admission Process

Fill the online application form at phd.upes.ac.in and pay the application fee of INR 1,000.
Appear for the UPES RET (online proctored, via Codetantra platform) - 3 hours, 100 marks (50 marks Research/General Aptitude + 50 marks Domain-specific Chemistry questions). Exempted for UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualified candidates.
RET-qualified and exempted candidates submit a Research Proposal (~1000 words) to phd@upes.ac.in.
Book an online interview slot via the link shared by the university.
Appear for an online interview conducted via MS Teams (no campus visit required).
Receive offer letter upon selection; pay the enrolment fee as per the offer letter.
Complete registration and attend orientation on campus.

UPES PhD Chemistry Scholarships 2026

While part-time PhD scholars at UPES do not receive the 75% fee waiver or monthly fellowship available to full-time scholars, several scholarship options are still available. UPES alumni, employees' wards, and spouses can avail significant fee concessions on the part-time PhD program. In AY 2023-24, UPES awarded INR 46 Crore in scholarships benefiting 6,844 students across all programs.

Scholarship Options

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount / Benefit
Alumni Scholarship	UPES alumni (graduated 2021 onwards) enrolled in Part-Time PhD	50% fee waiver on Part-Time PhD program fee (semester fee reduced to INR 50,000)
Employee Ward Scholarship	Wards of UPES employees in Part-Time PhD	75% scholarship on semester fee (Tuition + Academic Service fee)
Employee Sibling Ward Scholarship	Sibling wards of UPES employees in Part-Time PhD	50% scholarship on semester fee
Employee Spouse Scholarship	Spouse of UPES employees in Part-Time PhD	50% scholarship on semester fee
Vijay Scholarship (Sports)	National/International level sportspersons	35% to 100% on tuition fees based on level of achievement
Domicile Scholarship	Uttarakhand domicile students	25% on tuition fee per semester

Part-time scholars are NOT eligible for the 75% fee waiver or the monthly fellowship stipend (INR 25,000/30,000 per month) - these are exclusively for full-time scholars.
All scholarships are subject to the university's policy and may be revised at the university's discretion.
A student is eligible for only one type of scholarship/concession at a time (highest applicable is awarded).
Candidates receiving fellowship/scholarship from any other source (public or private) will not be eligible for UPES fellowship/financial assistance.

UPES PhD Chemistry FAQs

Ques. What is the key difference between the Full Time and Part Time PhD in Chemistry at UPES?

Ans. The primary differences are: (1) Fee - Part-time scholars pay the full semester fee of INR 1,00,000 per semester with no 75% waiver, while full-time scholars pay only INR 25,000 per semester after the waiver. (2) Fellowship - Part-time scholars are NOT eligible for the monthly fellowship stipend (INR 25,000/30,000 per month), which is available only to full-time scholars. (3) Flexibility - Part-time mode allows working professionals to continue their employment while pursuing doctoral research. The eligibility criteria and admission process are the same for both modes.

Ques. Can I switch from Part Time to Full Time PhD in Chemistry at UPES after admission?

Ans. UPES does not explicitly mention a switch policy on its official website. Candidates interested in switching modes should contact the Office of R&D at phd@upes.ac.in or call +91-9548644105 for clarification. It is advisable to choose the appropriate mode at the time of application itself, as the fee structure and fellowship eligibility differ significantly between the two modes.

Ques. What is the total cost of a Part Time PhD in Chemistry at UPES?

Ans. The part-time PhD in Chemistry at UPES costs INR 1,00,000 per semester with no fee waiver. Over a minimum 3-year (6-semester) program, the total program fee is INR 6,00,000, plus a one-time refundable security deposit of INR 20,000, bringing the total to INR 6,20,000. UPES alumni enrolled in part-time PhD can avail a 50% fee waiver under the Alumni Scholarship, reducing the total program fee to INR 3,00,000 (plus security deposit).

Ques. What research areas are available in the Part Time PhD (Chemistry) program at UPES?

Ans. The PhD in Chemistry at UPES covers research in Materials Chemistry, Synthetic Chemistry, Biological Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry. Specific research areas include advanced materials, biofuels, medicinal chemistry, petrochemicals, semiconductors, solar cells, agrochemicals, and polymers. Part-time scholars follow the same research curriculum as full-time scholars and are required to select a research adviser and complete the same coursework and dissertation requirements.

Ques. Is the RET exam required for Part Time PhD (Chemistry) admission at UPES?

Ans. The UPES Research Entrance Test (RET) is required for all PhD admissions at UPES, including part-time. However, candidates who have qualified UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, GATE, SET, GPAT, or INSPIRE are exempted from the RET and can directly proceed to the research proposal submission and online interview stages. This exemption applies equally to both full-time and part-time applicants.

Ques. What career benefits does a Part Time PhD in Chemistry from UPES offer for working professionals?

Ans. A Part Time PhD in Chemistry from UPES allows working professionals to enhance their academic credentials and research expertise without leaving their current employment. Graduates can advance to senior research, R&D management, or academic positions. The UPES PhD credential, backed by NAAC 'A' accreditation and NIRF ranking, is recognized by industry and academia. Career opportunities include roles as Research Scientist, R&D Manager, Professor, Quality Controller, and positions in pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, materials science, and environmental chemistry. The part-time mode is particularly beneficial for professionals in the chemical, pharmaceutical, or energy industries who wish to formalize their research expertise.