Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. in Safety Engineering at UPES, Dehradun is a full-time doctoral program offered by the School of Advanced Engineering, designed to produce highly skilled researchers and professionals in the field of safety management, risk assessment, hazard identification, and disaster mitigation. The program spans 3 to 5 years and combines rigorous coursework with original research culminating in a doctoral dissertation. The base program fee is INR 1,00,000 per semester, with full-time scholars receiving a 75% fee waiver, bringing the effective semester fee to INR 25,000. UPES is ranked 42nd in Engineering and 46th among universities in India (NIRF 2024), and 148th in QS World Rankings Asia 2025. The program is particularly popular among professionals from the oil and gas, chemical, fire safety, and occupational health sectors who wish to advance into research and academia.

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 a tentative last date to apply around June 2027.

Key Points

The Ph.D. (Safety Engineering) program spans 3 to 5 years, offering flexibility for research completion.
Full-time scholars receive a monthly stipend of up to INR 30,000, providing significant financial support throughout the program.
Scholars holding NET-JRF or INSPIRE fellowships receive an additional annual cash grant of INR 2,00,000 for scholastic/research purposes.
The program features state-of-the-art sustainability clusters with dedicated laboratories for environmental, fire, health, and occupational safety engineering research.
Ph.D. scholars are mentored by faculty from IITs, NITs, and top QS-ranked universities, along with 6 international faculty members.
Research areas include hazard identification, risk assessment, safety management systems, system safety engineering, human factors in safety, environmental safety, and fire safety.
Candidates with valid GATE/UGC-NET/SET/GPAT/CSIR/INSPIRE qualifications are exempted from the UPES Research Entrance Test (RET).

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UPES Ph.D. Safety Eng Fees

The Ph.D. (Safety Engineering) program at UPES has a base semester fee of INR 1,00,000. Full-time scholars benefit from a 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. The monthly stipend of up to INR 30,000 further offsets living and research 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 up to 5 years; fellowship continuation after 3 years is subject to performance review.

UPES Ph.D. Safety Eng Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Safety Engineering) 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 conducted via MS Teams. 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. 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 (relevant papers: Environmental Science & Engineering / Chemical Engineering / Mechanical Engineering) and UGC-NET qualified candidates are exempted from the UPES RET.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Must hold a Master's degree or a professional degree equivalent to a Master's in Engineering/Technology 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. Safety Eng Scholarships 2026

UPES offers a comprehensive financial support ecosystem for Ph.D. scholars in Safety Engineering. Full-time scholars automatically receive a 75% waiver on the program semester fee, and selected scholars receive a monthly stipend of up to INR 30,000. Additional grants are available for NET-JRF and INSPIRE fellowship holders. Domicile scholarships, alumni scholarships, and employee-related scholarships further enhance financial accessibility for eligible candidates.

Scholarship Benefits

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. Monthly Stipend	Up to INR 30,000 per month	Selected full-time Ph.D. scholars (merit-based)
NET-JRF / INSPIRE Annual Grant	INR 2,00,000 per year for scholastic/research purposes	Scholars with NET-JRF or INSPIRE fellowship
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

The monthly stipend and fellowship continuation after 3 years are subject to performance review and the university's discretionary policy.
The INR 2,00,000 annual grant for NET-JRF/INSPIRE 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 Safety 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. Safety Eng FAQs

Ques. What is the scope of a Ph.D. in Safety Engineering from UPES?

Ans. A Ph.D. in Safety Engineering from UPES opens doors to careers in academia (as professors/researchers), R&D departments of oil and gas companies, chemical plants, fire safety organizations, and government regulatory bodies. Graduates can also work as safety consultants, environmental safety specialists, or occupational health researchers. Given India's growing focus on industrial safety regulations, the demand for Ph.D.-level safety professionals is steadily increasing.

Ques. Is a B.Tech. in Safety Engineering sufficient to apply for the Ph.D. program?

Ans. No. The minimum eligibility for the Ph.D. program at UPES requires a Master's degree (M.Tech./M.E. or equivalent) with at least 55% marks. A B.Tech. alone is not sufficient. However, candidates with a 4-year undergraduate degree with a minimum of 75% marks or 7.5 CGPA may be considered as per revised UGC norms - it is advisable to confirm this directly with UPES at phd@upes.ac.in.

Ques. What research areas are available under Ph.D. (Safety Engineering) at UPES?

Ans. The program covers a wide range of research areas including hazard identification and risk assessment, safety management systems, fire and explosion safety, occupational health and safety, environmental safety, human factors in safety, system safety engineering, wastewater-based surveillance, and green/fire-resistant construction. Scholars work with faculty mentors to identify a specific research problem within these domains.

Ques. Are there international collaboration opportunities in this program?

Ans. Yes. The Ph.D. (Safety Engineering) program at UPES involves 6 international faculty members and offers collaborative supervision with international experts. UPES also facilitates international internships and collaborative research projects through its Global Pathway Program, providing scholars with global research exposure.

Ques. How is the UPES RET conducted, and what does it test?

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

Ques. What is the difference between the July 2024 and July 2025 admission timelines shown on the UPES website?

Ans. The Safety Engineering page on the UPES website still shows July 2024 batch dates, while the main Ph.D. Engineering page and the official admission PDF confirm the July 2026 batch dates (last date to apply: June 1, 2026; session commencement: August 27, 2026). Prospective applicants should always refer to the official UPES PhD admission document or contact phd@upes.ac.in for the most current dates for the upcoming July 2027 cycle.