Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

PES University offers a full-time Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Psychology through its Institute of Psychology, making it one of the few private universities in Bangalore to offer doctoral research in this discipline. The programme has a minimum duration of 3 years and is a research-intensive degree requiring coursework, a proposal defense, thesis research, publications, and an open viva-voce. The annual fee is INR 2,00,000, making the minimum total fee INR 6,10,000 over three years (including a one-time non-refundable administrative charge of INR 10,000). Admissions are open throughout the year, with processing done quarterly (March and September cycles). The programme is ideal for M.Sc. Psychology graduates seeking to pursue academic careers, clinical research, or advanced research roles in organisational and health psychology.

Admissions for the 2026 cycle are currently open. The most recent admission cycle had a last date to submit applications of February 27, 2026, with the entrance exam held on March 14, 2026. Registrations are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, with the next processing cycle expected in September 2026. Meritorious full-time Ph.D. scholars are eligible for a research fellowship of up to INR 33,000 per month.

Key Points

Ph.D. in Psychology is offered at PES University, one of the few private universities in Bangalore to offer doctoral research in this field
Minimum duration of 3 years; part-time option also available for teachers and industry professionals
Research fellowship of up to INR 33,000 per month available for meritorious full-time scholars
Admissions processed quarterly (March and September cycles); registrations open throughout the year
Candidates with UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE/GRE/CAT scores are given preference during selection
Interdisciplinary research candidates are especially encouraged to apply
Over 70 experienced Ph.D. faculty on campus; access to Crucible of Research and Innovation (CORI) for multi-disciplinary research

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

PES University Bangalore Latest Updates and News

24 Mar, 2026 PES University Bangalore Admission 2026 is open for UG/PG/PhD programs based on the University entrance exam. Check details here.

PESU Ph.D. (Psychology) Fees

The Ph.D. (Psychology) programme at PES University carries an annual fee of INR 2,00,000, with a minimum programme duration of 3 years, making the minimum total tuition fee INR 6,00,000. Including the one-time non-refundable administrative charge of INR 10,000, the minimum total cost of the programme is INR 6,10,000. Scholars who exceed the minimum duration will continue to pay INR 2,00,000 per year until completion. Hostel facilities are available on campus but are optional and charged separately.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (Per Annum)	Minimum Total (3 Years)
Tuition Fee (Ph.D.)	INR 2,00,000	INR 6,00,000
One-Time Non-Refundable Administrative Charges	INR 10,000 (one-time)	INR 10,000
Total Fees (excluding hostel)	-	INR 6,10,000
Hostel Fees (optional)	As applicable	As applicable

The one-time administrative charge of INR 10,000 is non-refundable.
Scholars exceeding the minimum 3-year duration will pay INR 2,00,000 per year for each additional year.
Application fee of INR 1,250 is payable by Demand Draft at the time of application submission.
Payments are accepted only by Demand Draft (DD) in favour of "PES UNIVERSITY - GENERAL FUND", payable at Bangalore.
Research fellowship of up to INR 33,000 per month is available for meritorious full-time Ph.D. scholars, which can significantly offset the cost.
Educational loans may be available through Union Bank of India for eligible students.

PESU Ph.D. (Psychology) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Psychology) programme at PES University are open throughout the year, with applications processed quarterly during March and September cycles. Candidates must submit a complete application with supporting documents, appear for an entrance exam, and attend an interview before the Research Admissions Committee makes the final selection. The most recent cycle had a last date of February 27, 2026, with the entrance exam on March 14, 2026. The next cycle is expected in September 2026.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Registrations Open	Throughout the year
Last Date to Submit Application (March 2026 cycle)	February 27, 2026
Entrance Exam (March 2026 cycle)	March 14, 2026
Interview	To be notified after entrance exam
Next Processing Cycle	September 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold a postgraduate degree (M.Sc. Psychology or equivalent) from a UGC-recognised university with a minimum of 60% aggregate marks (or equivalent GPA).
Candidates from SC/ST/Category-I/Physically Challenged and other reserved categories as notified by the Government of Karnataka are eligible for a 10% relaxation in the minimum marks requirement.
Candidates who have completed their education through distance education are not eligible.
Candidates awaiting final semester PG results are also eligible to apply.

Admission Process:

Register online at admissions.pes.edu/registration/ and submit the application form with all required documents.
Pay the application fee of INR 1,250 by Demand Draft in favour of "PES UNIVERSITY - GENERAL FUND", payable at Bangalore.
Submit the completed application form along with degree certificates, marks cards/transcripts, statement of purpose, two recommendation letters (from academic references), and GRE/GATE/UGC-NET scores (optional but preferred).
Appear for the university entrance exam on the scheduled date.
Attend the interview with the Registrar, Dean of Research, domain heads, and potential research supervisors.
Final selection is made by the Research Admissions Committee.
Candidates with valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE/GRE/CAT scores may be given preference and additional consideration.

PESU Ph.D. (Psychology) Scholarships 2026

PES University provides financial support to meritorious full-time Ph.D. scholars through research fellowships and merit-based scholarships. The research fellowship of up to INR 33,000 per month is a significant financial benefit that can substantially reduce the effective cost of the programme for deserving candidates. Additionally, the university's standard merit scholarships are available to eligible students.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Criteria	Benefit
PESU Research Fellowship	Meritorious full-time Ph.D. scholars	Up to INR 33,000 per month
Prof. MRD Scholarship	Top 5% of students based on CGPA	Merit Certificate + 50% Tuition Fee Refund
Prof. CNR Rao Scholarship	Next 20% of students based on SGPA	Merit Certificate + 40% Tuition Fee Refund
Teaching Assistantship	Students with proven teaching acumen	Monetary compensation
Research Assistantship	Students with keen research interest	Monetary compensation

The PESU Research Fellowship is available only for full-time Ph.D. scholars and is subject to merit-based selection.
Scholarships and awards are subject to qualifying CGPA/SGPA and other conditions stipulated by the Scholarship Committee each year.
A student is eligible for only one award per semester/year.
External fellowships such as UGC-JRF/SRF, CSIR-JRF/SRF, and DST-INSPIRE are also applicable and can be availed alongside the programme.
All scholarship information is subject to change by the University.

PESU Ph.D. (Psychology) FAQs

Ques. Is UGC-NET mandatory for Ph.D. (Psychology) admission at PES University?

Ans. UGC-NET is not mandatory for Ph.D. admission at PES University. The university conducts its own entrance exam and interview process. However, candidates with valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE/GRE/CAT scores are given preference during selection and may be exempted from the university entrance exam. Having a UGC-NET score also makes candidates eligible for the JRF fellowship, which can be availed alongside the PES University Ph.D. programme.

Ques. Can I pursue Ph.D. (Psychology) at PES University on a part-time basis while working?

Ans. Yes. PES University offers a part-time Ph.D. option for teachers and industry professionals. Candidates employed in reputed organisations are eligible to apply for the part-time research programme with approval from their sponsoring organisation. The part-time option allows working professionals to pursue doctoral research without leaving their jobs.

Ques. What is the research fellowship amount available for Ph.D. scholars at PES University?

Ans. PES University offers a research fellowship of up to INR 33,000 per month for meritorious full-time Ph.D. scholars. This fellowship is merit-based and subject to selection by the university. It can significantly offset the annual fee of INR 2,00,000, making the programme financially viable for deserving candidates.

Ques. What are the research areas available under Ph.D. (Psychology) at PES University?

Ans. PES University's Institute of Psychology offers research opportunities across various areas of psychology. While specific sub-specialisations are not listed publicly, the university encourages interdisciplinary research. Candidates are advised to identify potential research supervisors from the faculty and align their statement of purpose with the supervisor's research interests before applying. Common research areas in psychology at Indian universities include clinical psychology, organisational behaviour, health psychology, cognitive psychology, and educational psychology.

Ques. How long does it typically take to complete a Ph.D. (Psychology) at PES University?

Ans. The minimum duration for a Ph.D. at PES University is 3 years. The actual duration depends on the progress of research, completion of coursework, proposal defense, publications requirement, and thesis submission. Most Ph.D. scholars complete their degree in 4 to 5 years. The programme requires credit compliance for coursework and research work, successful proposal defense, open seminars, pre-submission seminar, thesis submission, and a successful open viva-voce.

Ques. What documents are required to apply for Ph.D. (Psychology) at PES University?

Ans. The following documents are required: a cover letter, degree certificates (UG and PG), photocopies of marks cards and transcripts, a statement of purpose, two recommendation letters (at least one each from undergraduate and postgraduate institutions), and GRE/GATE/CAT/UGC-NET scores (optional but preferred). The completed application form along with a Demand Draft of INR 1,250 must be sent to the Registrar, PES University, 100 Ft. Ring Road, Banashankari 3rd Stage, Bengaluru 560085.