Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. in Economics at UPES School of Business, Dehradun is a full-time doctoral research program with a minimum duration of 3 years. The program is designed to provide an in-depth exploration of economic theory, policy, and empirical research, with a distinctive emphasis on the application of economic principles within the energy sector, 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 is Rs. 1 lakh per semester, with a 75% waiver for full-time scholars, bringing the effective fee to Rs. 25,000 per semester. Additionally, 100 full-time Ph.D. scholars are awarded a fellowship of Rs. 25,000 per month during coursework and Rs. 30,000 per month after coursework (for up to 3 years from commencement).

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).
100 full-time Ph.D. scholars are awarded a fellowship of Rs. 25,000 per month during coursework and Rs. 30,000 per month after coursework, for up to 3 years from commencement.
INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF qualified candidates receive an additional Rs. 2 lakh per year for scholastic purposes.
Full-time Ph.D. scholars receive a 75% waiver on the semester program fee, reducing the effective fee from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 25,000 per semester.
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.
The program offers international collaborations, conferences, and exchange programs for global exposure.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

UPES Ph.D. (Economics) Fees

The Ph.D. (Economics) program at UPES has a semester fee of Rs. 1 lakh. Full-time scholars receive a 75% waiver, making the effective fee Rs. 25,000 per semester. The minimum duration of the program is 3 years (6 semesters), making the total effective fee for full-time scholars approximately Rs. 1.5 lakhs over 3 years (after waiver). Part-time scholars pay the full Rs. 1 lakh per semester with no waiver.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Full Time (After 75% Waiver)	Part Time (No Waiver)
Program Semester Fee	Rs. 1,00,000 per semester	Rs. 1,00,000 per semester
Fee Waiver (Full Time)	75% waiver	No waiver
Effective Semester Fee	Rs. 25,000 per semester	Rs. 1,00,000 per semester
Total Effective Fee (3 years / 6 semesters)	Rs. 1,50,000	Rs. 6,00,000
Application Fee	Rs. 1,000 (non-refundable)	Rs. 1,000 (non-refundable)
Registration Fee	Rs. 31,300 (one-time)	Rs. 31,300 (one-time)
Total Fees (approx., 3 years)	Rs. 1,81,300	Rs. 6,31,300

The 75% fee waiver is valid for the full tenure of the PhD program for full-time scholars.
Fellowship of Rs. 25,000/month (during coursework) and Rs. 30,000/month (after coursework) is available for 100 selected full-time scholars, subject to university policy.
INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF qualified candidates receive an additional Rs. 2 lakh per year for scholastic purposes.
The program duration is a minimum of 3 years; actual duration may extend based on research progress.
All scholarships and fellowships are payable as per the University's policy and are subject to change.

UPES Ph.D. (Economics) Admission 2026

The January 2026 intake for UPES Ph.D. (Economics) 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 (July 2024 intake: last date to apply June 3, 2024). 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.

UPES Ph.D. Admission 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.

Relevant Exam Exemptions

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; additional Rs. 2 lakh/year scholastic support	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 both full-time and part-time admissions.
Candidates with a 4-year Bachelor's degree (minimum 75% marks or 7.5 CGPA) are also eligible for full-time PhD only, subject to additional conditions.

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) Scholarships 2026

UPES offers significant financial support for Ph.D. scholars, making the program highly attractive for research-oriented candidates. The fellowship of Rs. 25,000-30,000 per month, combined with the 75% fee waiver, substantially reduces the financial burden on full-time scholars. INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF qualified candidates receive an additional Rs. 2 lakh per year for scholastic purposes. The Alumni Scholarship (50% on tuition fee) is also available for UPES alumni pursuing the PhD program.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Support	Eligibility	Benefit
PhD Fellowship (Full Time)	100 selected full-time PhD scholars	Rs. 25,000/month during coursework; Rs. 30,000/month after coursework (up to 3 years)
Semester Fee Waiver (Full Time)	All full-time PhD scholars	75% waiver on semester program fee (effective fee: Rs. 25,000/semester)
INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF Scholastic Support	INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF qualified candidates	Rs. 2 lakh per year for scholastic purposes
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)

All scholarships and fellowships are payable as per the University's policy and are subject to change at the University's discretion.
Fellowship is given till the end of 3 years from commencement of session/classes.
University reserves the right to change/cancel/withdraw the fellowship amount or research grant purely on a discretionary basis.
Part-time PhD scholars do not receive the 75% fee waiver.

UPES Ph.D. (Economics) FAQs

Ques. What is the effective fee for a full-time Ph.D. (Economics) student at UPES after the fee waiver?

Ans. The program semester fee is Rs. 1 lakh per semester. Full-time PhD scholars receive a 75% waiver, making the effective fee Rs. 25,000 per semester. Over the minimum 3-year (6-semester) duration, the total effective fee is approximately Rs. 1.5 lakhs. Additionally, selected full-time scholars receive a fellowship of Rs. 25,000-30,000 per month, which can offset the fee and living expenses significantly.

Ques. Is the UPES Ph.D. (Economics) program available in part-time mode?

Ans. Yes, the Ph.D. (Economics) program is available in both full-time and part-time modes. However, the 75% fee waiver and the monthly fellowship are only available for full-time scholars. Part-time scholars pay the full Rs. 1 lakh per semester with no waiver. Note that the 4-year Bachelor's degree entry route is only available for full-time admissions.

Ques. What is the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET) for PhD admissions?

Ans. The 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 Economics topics). The test is held in online mode and candidates receive login credentials from the Codetantra team before the test date. Candidates qualified in UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE are exempted from RET.

Ques. What research areas are covered under the UPES Ph.D. (Economics) program?

Ans. The Ph.D. (Economics) at UPES School of Business focuses on 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. How does the UPES PhD fellowship compare to other universities?

Ans. UPES offers a fellowship of Rs. 25,000/month during coursework and Rs. 30,000/month after coursework for 100 selected full-time scholars, which is competitive with UGC-funded fellowships at central universities (JRF: Rs. 37,000/month; SRF: Rs. 42,000/month). Additionally, INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF qualified candidates receive Rs. 2 lakh/year for scholastic purposes. The 75% fee waiver further reduces the financial burden, making UPES a financially viable option for PhD research.

Ques. Can I do a PhD at UPES while working (part-time mode)?

Ans. Yes, UPES offers a part-time PhD option for working professionals. However, part-time scholars do not receive the 75% fee waiver and pay the full Rs. 1 lakh per semester. The monthly fellowship is also not available for part-time scholars. The program structure allows part-time scholars to complete their coursework and research while continuing their professional careers. All PhD regulations and guidelines of UPES apply to both full-time and part-time scholars.