Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. in Design at UPES, Dehradun is a full-time doctoral program offered by the School of Design, one of the few structured doctoral programs in India dedicated to design research. The program has a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years (up to 7 years in exceptional cases), with a semester fee of INR 1 lakh; full-time scholars receive a 75% waiver, bringing the effective semester fee down to INR 25,000. The program covers a wide spectrum of design domains including industrial design, graphic and communication design, product design, fashion and textiles, animation, craft, service design, space and interior design, and emerging areas like AI-integrated design systems. Admission is based on the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET), with exemptions for UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualified candidates, and the program is popular for its fellowship support, interdisciplinary research approach, and strong industry-academia linkages.

Admissions for the July 2026 intake are currently ongoing. Applications opened on March 10, 2026, and the last date to apply is June 1, 2026. The RET exam is scheduled for June 10-11, 2026, with interviews in late July 2026 and the session commencing in August 2026.

Key Points

The program is offered by the UPES School of Design and covers diverse research areas including industrial design, graphic design, interaction design, animation, mobility and vehicle design, sustainable design, craft design, textiles and apparel design, design pedagogy, and habitat and heritage studies.
Full-time PhD scholars receive a monthly fellowship of INR 25,000 during coursework and INR 30,000 per month after clearing the mandatory coursework examination, valid for up to 3 years from commencement.
The RET for the School of Design includes subjective components, unlike most other UPES schools where it is fully objective.
The program is structured to develop research intelligence, creativity, innovation, intercultural competency, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
Scholars have the flexibility to choose research topics aligned with their interests post-coursework, with a collaborative mentorship model.
The coursework covers statistics, ethics, research methodology, ergonomics, human factors, and academic writing, building a strong research foundation.
INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF qualified candidates receive an additional INR 2 lakh per year for scholastic purposes (subject to university policy).

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

UPES PhD Design Fees

The Ph.D. in Design at UPES follows the university-wide PhD fee structure with a semester fee of INR 1 lakh. Full-time scholars benefit from a 75% waiver, effectively paying INR 25,000 per semester. Over the minimum duration of 6 semesters (3 years), the total program fee for a full-time scholar amounts to INR 1,50,000. Additional one-time charges include a registration fee of INR 31,300 and a refundable security deposit of INR 20,000. A thesis submission fee of INR 15,000 is payable at the time of thesis submission.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Program Semester Fee (per semester, before waiver)	1,00,000
75% Waiver for Full-Time Scholars	-75,000 per semester
Effective Semester Fee (Full-Time)	25,000
Total Program Fee - 6 Semesters (Full-Time, minimum 3 years)	1,50,000
Registration Fee (one-time)	31,300
Refundable Security Deposit (one-time)	20,000
Thesis Submission Fee (one-time, at thesis stage)	15,000
Application Fee (non-refundable)	1,000
Total Fees (Full-Time, excluding hostel, including all one-time charges)	2,17,300
Hostel Fee (optional, triple-sharing, per year)	1,83,000

The security deposit of INR 20,000 is refundable (interest-free) at the time of program completion or exit.
The application fee of INR 1,000 is non-refundable.
Hostel accommodation is optional and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Hostel fee is for the Bidholi/Kandoli campus (triple-sharing with common washroom). An additional refundable hostel security of INR 10,000 is charged at the time of registration.
If the PhD extends beyond 3 years (6 semesters), additional semester fees at INR 25,000 per semester (full-time) will apply.
Fee payment is accepted via NEFT/RTGS/IMPS/Cash Deposit/Bank Gateway.

UPES PhD Design Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. in Design at UPES are conducted twice a year - for the January intake and the July intake. The July 2026 intake is currently open with applications accepted until June 1, 2026. The selection process involves the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET) - which includes subjective components for the School of Design - submission of a research proposal (approximately 1,000 words), and an online interview conducted via MS Teams. Candidates with valid UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualifications are exempted from the RET.

UPES Ph.D. Design Admission Dates

Event	Date
Application Opens	March 10, 2026
Last Date to Apply	June 1, 2026
RET Exam	June 10-11, 2026
RET Result Declaration	June 27, 2026
Research Proposal Submission	(Approx.) Early July 2026
Online Interview Booking/Scheduling	(Approx.) Mid-July 2026
Interviews	July 28, 29 and 30, 2026
Interview Result Declaration	August 12, 2026
Last Date to Pay Fee	August 17, 2026
Orientation and Registration	(Approx.) August 22-25, 2026
Commencement of Session	(Approx.) August 27, 2026

UGC-NET Exam Dates

Event	Date
UGC-NET Phase 1 Registration	October 7, 2025
UGC-NET Phase 1 Exam	December 31, 2025 - January 7, 2026
UGC-NET Phase 1 Result	February 4, 2026
UGC-NET Phase 2 Registration (Tentative)	April 1, 2026
UGC-NET Phase 2 Exam (Tentative)	June 2026
UGC-NET Phase 2 Result (Tentative)	July 2026

Note: UGC-NET qualified candidates (JRF/NET) are exempted from the UPES RET. GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualified candidates are also exempted.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (Design or related field) with a minimum of 55% marks (or equivalent grade) from a recognized institute (applicable for both full-time and part-time).
Candidates with a 4-year undergraduate degree with a minimum of 75% marks or 7.5 CGPA (on a 10-point scale) are also eligible for full-time admission, subject to additional conditions including a high-quality research publication from the bachelor's project.
Candidates must meet the minimum academic eligibility as notified by UGC from time to time.

Admission Process

Fill the online application form at the UPES PhD portal and pay the non-refundable application fee of INR 1,000.
Appear for the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET) - exempted for UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualified candidates. Note: RET for School of Design includes subjective components.
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 the online interview conducted via MS Teams (no campus visit required).
Receive offer letter upon selection; pay the enrolment fee by the specified deadline.
Attend orientation on campus and commence the session.

UPES PhD Design Scholarships 2026

UPES offers a comprehensive scholarship and fellowship ecosystem for PhD scholars in Design, making the program financially accessible. Full-time scholars automatically receive a 75% waiver on the semester fee and a monthly fellowship, significantly reducing the financial burden. Additional scholarships are available for alumni, employees' wards, and sports achievers.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount / Benefit	Eligibility
UPES PhD Fellowship (Full-Time)	INR 25,000/month during coursework; INR 30,000/month after coursework clearance (up to 3 years)	All full-time PhD scholars (100 seats across all schools)
INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF Scholastic Grant	INR 2,00,000 per year	INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF qualified candidates
Semester Fee Waiver (Full-Time)	75% waiver on program semester fee (INR 25,000 effective per semester)	All full-time PhD scholars
Alumni Scholarship	50% fee waiver on Part-Time PhD program fee	UPES alumni (graduated 2021 onwards)
Employee Ward Scholarship	75% on semester fee (Tuition + Academic Service)	Wards of UPES employees (regular/confirmed)
Employee Sibling Ward Scholarship	50% on semester fee	Wards of siblings of UPES employees
Employee Spouse Scholarship	50% on semester fee	Spouses of UPES employees
Vijay Scholarship (Sports)	35%-100% on tuition fee	National/International level sports achievers

The PhD fellowship is available for 100 full-time scholars across all schools and is subject to the university's policy. Continuation after 3 years is based on performance.
The INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF grant of INR 2 lakh per year is subject to the university's discretionary policy and may be changed/cancelled.
Alumni scholarship for Part-Time PhD requires renewal based on a minimum CGPA of 8.0 with no backlogs and no disciplinary cases.
A student is eligible for only one type of scholarship at a time (except Academic Performance Scholarship from 2nd year onwards, which can be clubbed).
All scholarships are subject to the university's prevailing policy and the decision of the Competent Authority is final.

UPES PhD Design FAQs

Ques. What design specializations can I pursue for my PhD at UPES School of Design?

Ans. The UPES School of Design PhD program covers a very wide range of specializations including industrial design, graphic design, interaction design, animation and film, mobility and vehicle design, universal and inclusive design, human-centered interaction, applied ergonomics and human factors, neuro-cognitive aspects of creativity, visual narratives, comics studies, design for culture, sustainable design, craft design, textiles and apparel design, design pedagogy, design education, and habitat and heritage studies. You can also explore emerging areas like AI-integrated design systems.

Ques. Is the UPES RET for the PhD in Design different from other schools?

Ans. Yes. For the School of Design, the RET includes subjective components, unlike most other UPES schools where the test is fully objective (100 MCQs). This means you will need to demonstrate your design thinking and research aptitude through written responses in addition to objective questions. Candidates with valid UGC-NET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualifications are exempted from the RET entirely.

Ques. What is the minimum and maximum duration of the PhD in Design at UPES?

Ans. The minimum duration is 3 years (6 semesters) for full-time scholars. The maximum duration is 6 years, with an exceptional extension possible up to 7 years. Part-time scholars have a minimum duration of 4 years and a maximum of 7 years.

Ques. Do I need to visit the UPES campus for the PhD interview or any part of the admission process?

Ans. No campus visit is required for the interview. The interview is conducted entirely online via MS Teams. However, orientation after selection and fee payment is held on campus in Dehradun, and the coursework and research activities are conducted on campus for full-time scholars.

Ques. How much will I actually pay as fees for the full-time PhD in Design at UPES, considering the fellowship and fee waiver?

Ans. Full-time PhD scholars receive a 75% waiver on the semester fee, bringing it down from INR 1 lakh to INR 25,000 per semester. Over the minimum 3-year (6-semester) duration, the total program fee is INR 1,50,000. Additionally, you receive a monthly fellowship of INR 25,000 during coursework and INR 30,000 after clearing coursework (for up to 3 years), which effectively offsets the fee and living expenses significantly. One-time charges include a registration fee of INR 31,300, a refundable security deposit of INR 20,000, and a thesis submission fee of INR 15,000.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after a PhD in Design from UPES?

Ans. A PhD in Design from UPES opens pathways to teaching and research roles in design institutes and universities in India and abroad. Graduates can also work as design experts in research and development divisions of companies, contribute to design policy development, lead innovation labs, and work in creative industries. The program's emphasis on interdisciplinary research and practical design application also prepares scholars for consultancy roles and leadership positions in design-driven organizations.