Marwadi University Rajkot Ph.D Electronics and Communications Engineering: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. Yes, Marwadi University offers the PhD in Electronics and Communications Engineering under its Faculty of Engineering in both Full Time and Part Time modes. The Part Time mode is specifically designed for working ECE professionals such as M.Tech/M.E. graduates employed in telecom companies (BSNL, Jio, Airtel), semiconductor firms, defence organisations (DRDO, ISRO), embedded systems companies, or engineering colleges. Part Time candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer and can pursue research at their workplace and/or at MU, making it highly compatible with an engineering career.

Ans. The PhD in ECE at MU covers a broad range of research areas including VLSI design and semiconductor devices, embedded systems and IoT, digital signal and image processing, wireless and mobile communications (4G/5G/6G), antenna and microwave engineering, RF and photonic systems, optical communications, radar and satellite systems, machine learning applications in communications, and smart grid communications. The specific research topic is finalised based on mutual interest between the scholar and the assigned supervisor, subject to approval by the Departmental Research Committee (DRC).

Ans. GATE is not mandatory for PhD admission at MU. Candidates without GATE can appear in the university's own PhD entrance test (online MCQ-based, 1 hour), which covers 90% subject-specific questions (following GATE EC syllabus) and 10% research methodology. However, candidates with a valid GATE score in Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC paper) are exempted from the entrance test and are directly called for the personal interview. The GATE EC paper is the most relevant for this programme. GATE scores are valid for 3 years from the date of result declaration.

Ans. The key differences are: (1) Duration - Full Time PhD has a minimum of 3 years and maximum of 6 years, while Part Time PhD has a minimum of 3 years and maximum of 7 years. (2) Employment - Full Time scholars are expected to be available on campus full-time and cannot hold a full-time job elsewhere, while Part Time scholars must be employed and submit an NOC. (3) Fellowship - Full Time scholars may be eligible for internal research fellowships/assistantships, while Part Time scholars are not eligible for internal fellowships. (4) Research location - Part Time scholars can conduct part of their research at their workplace. The fees (Rs. 40,000/semester) and admission process are the same for both modes.

Ans. Before submitting the synopsis (which precedes thesis submission), you must have published a minimum of two research papers in peer-reviewed journals. For ECE scholars, publications in SCOPUS-indexed, Web of Science (Core Collection) indexed, ABDC listed, or UGC CARE listed journals are accepted. IEEE Transactions, Elsevier, Springer, and other reputed engineering journals are commonly targeted by ECE scholars. You must be the first author of these publications, and the papers must be directly related to your PhD research work. Alternatively, one Indian or international utility patent can substitute for one publication.

Ans. For Part Time PhD scholars, the maximum duration is 7 years from the date of registration. The university may allow an extension of up to 2 years beyond this maximum on the recommendation of the Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC). Women candidates and Persons with Disability (more than 40% disability) are eligible for an additional 2-year relaxation. In any case, the total period for completion cannot exceed 10 years. If the thesis is not submitted within the extended period, the registration is cancelled, and re-registration is not permitted after cancellation.