Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

The Ph.D. in Economics (Part Time) at UPES School of Business, Dehradun is a part-time doctoral research program with a minimum duration of 3 years, designed for working professionals who wish to pursue doctoral research alongside their careers. The program offers an in-depth exploration of economic theory, policy, and empirical research, with a distinctive emphasis on energy economics, environmental economics, and transportation economics. UPES is ranked 45th among universities in India by NIRF and holds a NAAC 'A' grade accreditation. The program fee for part-time scholars is Rs. 1 lakh per semester (no fee waiver applicable). The part-time mode allows professionals in academia, industry, government, and research organisations to earn a doctoral degree without interrupting their careers.

The January 2026 intake has already commenced (session started February 16, 2026). The next intake is expected to be July 2026, with applications typically opening in May-June 2026 based on the previous year's pattern. Candidates qualified in UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE are exempted from the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET). Applications can be submitted at phd.upes.ac.in.

Key Points

UPES is ranked 45th University in India by NIRF and is the No. 1 private university in India with maximum representation of faculty in the Stanford University Top 2% Researchers list (51 faculty members).
The part-time PhD is ideal for working professionals in academia, industry, government, and research organisations who wish to pursue doctoral research without leaving their jobs.
The program emphasises interdisciplinary research connecting economics, management, energy, and transportation, with a focus on energy economics and environmental economics.
Faculty actively support scholars in publishing in reputed journals (ABDC A*, ABDC A, and Scopus Q1 publications) and presenting at international conferences.
Candidates qualified in UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE are exempted from the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET).
The program offers international collaborations, conferences, and exchange programs for global exposure.
The interview process is conducted entirely online (MS Teams), so no campus visit is required during the admission process.

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

UPES Ph.D (Economics) Part Time Fees

The Ph.D. (Economics) Part Time program at UPES has a semester fee of Rs. 1 lakh per semester. Unlike full-time scholars, part-time scholars do not receive any fee waiver. The minimum duration of the program is 3 years (6 semesters), making the total fee approximately Rs. 6 lakhs over 3 years. Additional one-time charges include the application fee and registration fee.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Part Time
Program Semester Fee	Rs. 1,00,000 per semester
Fee Waiver	Not applicable for Part Time
Total Fee (3 years / 6 semesters)	Rs. 6,00,000
Application Fee	Rs. 1,000 (non-refundable)
Registration Fee	Rs. 31,300 (one-time)
Total Fees (approx., 3 years)	Rs. 6,31,300

Part-time PhD scholars do NOT receive the 75% fee waiver (applicable only for full-time scholars).
The monthly fellowship (Rs. 25,000-30,000/month) is also NOT available for part-time scholars.
The program duration is a minimum of 3 years; actual duration may extend based on research progress.
All fees are payable as per the University's policy and are subject to change.
For comparison: Full-time scholars pay an effective fee of Rs. 25,000 per semester (after 75% waiver) and are eligible for a monthly fellowship.

UPES Ph.D (Economics) Part Time Admission 2026

The January 2026 intake for UPES Ph.D. (Economics) Part Time has already commenced (session started February 16, 2026). The next intake is expected to be July 2026, with applications typically opening in May-June 2026 based on the previous year's pattern. Candidates qualified in UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE are exempted from the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET) and can directly submit a research proposal and appear for the interview. Note that the 4-year Bachelor's degree entry route is NOT available for part-time admissions.

Important Dates

Event	Date (January 2026 Intake)
Last Date to Apply	December 4, 2025
RET Exam	December 12, 2025
RET Result Declaration	December 24, 2025
Research Proposal Submission	December 30, 2025
Online Interview Booking	January 8, 2026
Online Interviews	January 19, 20, and 21, 2026
Interview Result Declaration	February 5, 2026
Last Date to Pay Fee	February 8, 2026
Orientation	February 12, 2026
Commencement of Session	February 16, 2026

Note: For the July 2026 intake, dates are expected to be announced in May 2026. Based on the July 2024 intake pattern, applications typically open in late May/early June and the session commences in August.

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Relevance	Notes
UGC-NET (June 2026)	Exempts from UPES RET	Notification expected April 2026; exam tentatively last week of June 2026
CSIR-NET/JRF	Exempts from UPES RET	Check CSIR official website for 2026 dates
GATE 2026	Exempts from UPES RET	GATE 2026 was held in February 2026
SET/GPAT/INSPIRE	Exempts from UPES RET	Check respective official websites for dates
UPES RET (Research Entrance Test)	Required for non-exempt candidates	Online, 3 hours, 100 questions (Section A: Research/General Aptitude; Section B: Domain-specific)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (Economics or related field) with a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent grade from a recognized institute.
Applicable for part-time admissions.
The 4-year Bachelor's degree entry route is NOT available for part-time admissions (only for full-time).

Admission Process

Fill the application form online at phd.upes.ac.in and pay the application fee of Rs. 1,000.
Appear for UPES Research Entrance Test (RET) - online proctored, 3 hours, 100 questions (Section A: Research/General Aptitude; Section B: Domain-specific Economics questions). Candidates with UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualification are exempted from RET.
Submit a Research Proposal of approximately 1,000 words to phd@upes.ac.in.
Book and appear for the Online Interview (conducted on MS Teams; no campus visit required).
Receive offer letter upon selection.
Pay the enrolment fee as per the date specified in the admission offer letter.
Attend orientation on campus and commence the PhD program.

UPES Ph.D (Economics) Part Time Scholarships 2026

Part-time PhD scholars at UPES have limited scholarship options compared to full-time scholars. The 75% fee waiver and monthly fellowship are not available for part-time scholars. However, the Alumni Scholarship (50% on tuition fee for UPES alumni) and the Employee Ward Scholarship are available. UPES alumni pursuing the part-time PhD are eligible for a 50% fee waiver on the tuition fee for the full duration of the program.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Support	Eligibility	Benefit
Alumni Scholarship	UPES alumni (graduated 2021 onwards)	50% on tuition fee for full duration of Part-Time PhD
Employee Ward Scholarship	Wards of UPES employees	75% on semester fee (Tuition and Academic Services fee)
Employee Spouse Scholarship	Spouse of UPES employees	50% on semester fee (Tuition and Academic Services fee)

The 75% semester fee waiver and monthly fellowship (Rs. 25,000-30,000/month) are NOT available for part-time PhD scholars.
A student is eligible for only one type of scholarship at a time.
Scholarships are applicable on tuition fees only unless otherwise specified.
Scholarship must be claimed at the time of admission; no retrospective claims are entertained.
All scholarships are payable as per the University's policy and are subject to change at the University's discretion.

UPES Ph.D (Economics) Part Time FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between the full-time and part-time Ph.D. (Economics) at UPES?

Ans. The key differences are: (1) Fee waiver: Full-time scholars get a 75% waiver (effective fee Rs. 25,000/semester); part-time scholars pay the full Rs. 1 lakh/semester. (2) Fellowship: Full-time scholars (100 selected) get Rs. 25,000-30,000/month; part-time scholars are not eligible. (3) Entry route: The 4-year Bachelor's degree entry is only for full-time. (4) Mode: Part-time allows working professionals to continue their careers while pursuing the PhD.

Ques. Can a working professional pursue the UPES Ph.D. (Economics) in part-time mode?

Ans. Yes, the part-time PhD is specifically designed for working professionals. The coursework and research can be pursued alongside a career. The interview process is conducted entirely online (MS Teams), so no campus visit is required during admissions. However, scholars may need to visit the campus for orientation and certain research activities as per university norms.

Ques. What is the total fee for the UPES Ph.D. (Economics) Part Time program?

Ans. The total fee for the part-time PhD is approximately Rs. 6,31,300 over the minimum 3-year duration. This includes the program semester fee of Rs. 1 lakh per semester (6 semesters = Rs. 6 lakhs), plus a one-time application fee of Rs. 1,000 and registration fee of Rs. 31,300. Note that no fee waiver is available for part-time scholars.

Ques. Is the UPES RET (Research Entrance Test) mandatory for part-time PhD admissions?

Ans. The RET is required for candidates who do not hold a qualifying exemption. Candidates with UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualification are exempted from the RET and can directly submit a research proposal and appear for the interview. The RET is a 3-hour online proctored test with 100 questions (50 on Research/General Aptitude and 50 on domain-specific Economics topics).

Ques. What research areas are available for the UPES Ph.D. (Economics) Part Time program?

Ans. The Ph.D. (Economics) at UPES School of Business covers energy economics, environmental economics, transportation economics, and general economics. The program emphasises interdisciplinary research connecting economics with management, energy, and transportation. Research areas include quantitative methods, economic policy analysis, energy sector economics, sustainability economics, and empirical research methodologies.

Ques. Are UPES alumni eligible for any fee concession in the part-time PhD program?

Ans. Yes, UPES alumni (graduated 2021 onwards) are eligible for the Alumni Scholarship, which provides a 50% waiver on the tuition fee for the full duration of the part-time PhD program. This significantly reduces the financial burden for UPES alumni pursuing doctoral research. The scholarship must be claimed at the time of admission and is subject to the university's scholarship policy.

Course Finder

Search from 20K+ Courses and 35+ Streams

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

Table of Contents

UPES Ph.D (Economics) Part Time Fees

Fee Components

UPES Ph.D (Economics) Part Time Admission 2026

Important Dates

Entrance Exam Dates

Eligibility Criteria

Admission Process

UPES Ph.D (Economics) Part Time Scholarships 2026

Scholarship Details

UPES Ph.D (Economics) Part Time FAQs

Course Finder

Popular Streams:

Popular Courses:

Comments

Are You Interested in this College?

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER