Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering at UPES, Dehradun is a full-time research-intensive doctoral program offered by the School of Computer Science, designed for candidates seeking to contribute to academic, scientific, and industrial advancements in computing. The program spans a minimum of 3 years and involves a structured coursework phase followed by an intensive research phase culminating in a dissertation and viva voce. The program fee is INR 1,00,000 per semester (before waiver), and full-time scholars receive a 75% fee waiver, bringing the effective semester fee down to INR 25,000. UPES is ranked 46th among universities in India (NIRF 2024) and 148th in QS World Rankings Asia 2025, making it a sought-after destination for doctoral research in CSE. The program covers specialisations including Computer Science and Engineering (for M.Tech. holders) and accepts a limited intake of scholars per batch.

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 tentative last date to apply around June 2027.

Key Points

The Ph.D. (CSE) at UPES is specifically for M.Tech. holders; M.Sc./MCA holders are eligible for Ph.D. (Computer Science) - a separate program.
100 full-time Ph.D. scholars are awarded a fellowship of INR 25,000 per month during coursework and INR 30,000 per month after coursework (up to 3 years from commencement).
INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF qualified candidates receive an additional INR 2,00,000 per year for scholastic purposes.
Candidates holding UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualifications are exempted from the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET).
The selection process is conducted entirely online (MS Teams), so candidates are not required to visit the campus for interviews.
Research areas include Quantum Computing, Cybersecurity, IoT, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science.
UPES has 46 faculty members in the Stanford University top 2% researchers globally list, ensuring high-quality research mentorship.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Placements
Ranking
FAQs

UPES Ph.D. CSE Fees

The Ph.D. (CSE) program at UPES has a base semester fee of INR 1,00,000. However, full-time scholars benefit from a significant 75% waiver on the program semester fee, reducing the effective per-semester cost to INR 25,000. For a minimum 6-semester (3-year) program, the total effective fee payable by a full-time scholar is INR 1,50,000. Additionally, full-time scholars may receive a monthly fellowship of INR 25,000-30,000, which substantially offsets living and academic expenses. Hostel accommodation is optional and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Per Semester (Before Waiver)	Per Semester (After 75% Waiver - Full Time)	Total (6 Semesters / 3 Years - Full Time)
Program Semester Fee (Tuition)	INR 1,00,000	INR 25,000	INR 1,50,000
Total Fees (Excluding Hostel)	INR 1,00,000	INR 25,000	INR 1,50,000
Hostel Fee (Optional)	-	INR 1,65,000 per year	INR 4,95,000 (3 years, if availed)

The 75% fee waiver is applicable only for full-time Ph.D. scholars for the full tenure of the program.
Part-time scholars pay the full semester fee of INR 1,00,000 per semester with no waiver.
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 - contact the university for updated hostel fees.
Application fee: INR 1,000 (non-refundable).
For exact and updated fee details, contact: research@ddn.upes.ac.in
The program duration may extend beyond 3 years; fellowship continuation after 3 years is subject to performance review.

UPES Ph.D. CSE Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (CSE) 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. 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 Ph.D. CSE 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 and UGC-NET qualified candidates are exempted from the UPES RET. GATE (CS/IT paper) and UGC-NET (Computer Science & Applications) are the primary relevant exams for this program.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Must hold a Master's degree (M.Tech./M.E.) or a professional degree equivalent to a Master's in Computer Science or allied sciences 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. CSE Scholarships 2026

UPES offers a robust financial support ecosystem for Ph.D. scholars, making doctoral education financially accessible. Full-time Ph.D. scholars automatically receive a 75% waiver on the program semester fee. Additionally, 100 full-time scholars are awarded a monthly fellowship, and special scholarships are available for Uttarakhand domicile students, UPES alumni, and employees' wards. The combination of fee waivers and fellowships makes the Ph.D. (CSE) program at UPES one of the more financially supportive doctoral programs among private universities in India.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Benefit	Eligibility
Full-Time Ph.D. Fee Waiver	75% waiver on program semester fee (effective fee: INR 25,000/semester)	All full-time Ph.D. scholars
UPES Ph.D. Fellowship	INR 25,000/month during coursework; INR 30,000/month post-coursework (up to 3 years)	100 full-time Ph.D. scholars (merit-based)
INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF Grant	INR 2,00,000 per year for scholastic purposes	INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF qualified candidates
Domicile Scholarship	25% scholarship on tuition fee per semester	Bonafide Uttarakhand domicile students
Jyoti Scholarship (Freeship)	100% scholarship on semester fees (all components except security deposit)	Meritorious students from underprivileged backgrounds; family income below INR 8 lakh/year; minimum 80% in 10th and 12th
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.
Vijay Scholarship (Sports)	35%-100% on tuition fee	National/International level sportspersons

Fellowship continuation after 3 years is subject to performance review and is at the university's discretion.
The INR 2,00,000 scholastic grant for INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF candidates is subject to the university's discretionary policy.
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 fellowship and scholarship queries, contact: research@ddn.upes.ac.in

UPES Ph.D. CSE Placement 2026

Ph.D. graduates typically pursue careers in academia (as faculty/researchers), R&D organisations, or senior industry roles rather than campus placements. UPES does not conduct formal campus placements for Ph.D. scholars in the same manner as UG/PG programs. However, the university's strong industry connect, research collaborations, and alumni network provide significant networking opportunities. Ph.D. holders in CSE from reputed institutions can command salaries of INR 15-45 LPA or more in industry roles, depending on their research specialisation and publications.

Placement Overview

Placement Aspect	Details
Career Focus	Academia (faculty/researchers), R&D organisations, senior industry roles
Campus Placement	No formal campus placements like UG/PG programs
Support Provided	Industry connect, research collaborations, alumni network
Salary Range	INR 15-45 LPA or more (depending on specialisation and publications)

UPES Ph.D Computer Science And 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

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UPES Ph.D. CSE FAQs

Ques. Is the Ph.D. (CSE) at UPES different from Ph.D. (Computer Science)?

Ans. Yes. UPES offers two separate doctoral programs under the School of Computer Science: Ph.D. (Computer Science and Engineering) is designed for candidates with an M.Tech./M.E. background, while Ph.D. (Computer Science) is for M.Sc./MCA holders with specialisations in AI-ML, Cybersecurity, and Data Science. It is important to apply to the correct program based on your qualifying degree.

Ques. Can I pursue the Ph.D. (CSE) at UPES while working full-time in a company?

Ans. No. The Ph.D. (CSE) listed here is a full-time program that requires regular campus presence, especially during the coursework phase. UPES does offer a part-time Ph.D. option for working professionals, but that is a separate program with different fee structures (no fee waiver; full INR 1,00,000 per semester).

Ques. What is the UPES RET, and how difficult is it?

Ans. The UPES Research Entrance Test (RET) is a 3-hour online proctored test conducted on the Codetantra platform. It has two sections: Section A (50 questions on Research/General Aptitude) and Section B (50 questions on domain-specific topics in CSE). Candidates with valid GATE/UGC-NET/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE scores are fully exempted from the RET.

Ques. Is it mandatory to submit a research proposal before the interview? What should it cover?

Ans. Yes, shortlisted candidates (both RET-qualified and 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 relevance, proposed methodology, and expected contributions. UPES provides a guideline document (How to Write Research Proposal) available for download on the official PhD CSE page.

Ques. What is the monthly fellowship amount, and is it guaranteed for all scholars?

Ans. UPES offers a fellowship of INR 25,000 per month during the coursework phase and INR 30,000 per month after coursework, for up to 3 years from the commencement of the session. However, this fellowship is available for 100 full-time Ph.D. scholars and is awarded on a merit basis - it is not guaranteed for all admitted scholars. Continuation after 3 years is subject to performance review.

Ques. Does UPES provide campus placement support for Ph.D. (CSE) graduates?

Ans. Ph.D. graduates typically pursue careers in academia (as faculty/researchers), R&D organisations, or senior industry roles rather than campus placements. UPES does not conduct formal campus placements for Ph.D. scholars in the same manner as UG/PG programs. However, the university's strong industry connect, research collaborations, and alumni network provide significant networking opportunities. Ph.D. holders in CSE from reputed institutions can command salaries of INR 15-45 LPA or more in industry roles, depending on their research specialisation and publications.