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The Ph.D. (Law) programme at Vishwakarma University (VU), Pune is a full-time doctoral research programme offered under the Department of Law, Faculty of Law and Governance. Established in 2018, the department was one of the first at VU to offer a Ph.D. programme, reflecting its strong commitment to legal research and education. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years as per UGC norms, with an annual tuition fee of Rs. 75,000. Admission is through the university's VUPET (Vishwakarma University Ph.D. Entrance Test) followed by a personal interview. The programme has a seat intake of 9 (4 Open, 5 Reserved) for AY 2026-27, and is suited for candidates aspiring to careers in legal academia, judicial services, policy research, and corporate law. The department runs the Vishwakarma University Law Journal (ISSN: 2583-2190), a biannual blind peer-reviewed journal, and the VU Legal Aid Clinic, providing scholars with platforms for research publication and practical legal experience.

Admissions for AY 2026-27 are currently ongoing. The VUPET application window opened on 1 February 2026, and the last date for form submission was 22 March 2026. The VUPET entrance test was scheduled for 12 April 2026, with results and interviews to follow in April-May 2026. The final admission deadline for selected candidates is 30 May 2026.

Key Points

The Ph.D. (Law) programme is offered under the Department of Law within the Faculty of Law and Governance at VU, Pune, with programmes approved by the Bar Council of India.
Research supervisors for Ph.D. (Law) include Dr. Deepshikha Sharma, Dr. Sukdeo Ingale, Dr. Apurva Thosar, Dr. Pritee Deotale, Dr. Padmaja Kathikar, Dr. Sarika Sagar, and Dr. Shruti Das.
Active research areas include Constitutional Law, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, Cyber Law, IPR and Innovation Law, Child Rights and Law, Criminal Law, Corporate and Business Law, and Legal Services.
The department publishes the Vishwakarma University Law Journal (ISSN: 2583-2190), a biannual blind peer-reviewed journal, providing Ph.D. scholars a platform for research publication.
The VU Legal Aid Clinic provides Ph.D. scholars with hands-on experience in socio-legal issues and access to real-world legal cases.
Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR NET (Category 1, 2, or 3), GATE, or CEED with a valid score may be exempted from the VUPET written test; however, form submission and interview remain mandatory for all.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

VU Ph.D. (Law) Fees

The Ph.D. (Law) programme at Vishwakarma University carries an annual fee of Rs. 75,000, payable every year for the duration of the programme (minimum 3 years, maximum 6 years). A one-time thesis submission fee of Rs. 25,000 is payable at the time of thesis submission. The VUPET application form fee is Rs. 1,200 for Open category and Rs. 1,000 for SC/ST/OBC/Differently-Abled/EWS candidates. Hostel facility is available on campus separately and is not mandatory for Ph.D. students.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Annual Tuition Fee	75,000 per year
VUPET Application Form Fee (Open)	1,200 (one-time)
VUPET Application Form Fee (SC/ST/OBC/EWS)	1,000 (one-time)
Thesis Submission Fee	25,000 (one-time, at thesis submission)
Total Fees (3 years, excluding thesis fee)	2,25,000
Total Fees (3 years, including thesis fee)	2,50,000

Hostel charges (optional, not mandatory): Rs. 1,25,000 to Rs. 1,45,000 per year depending on seat type; includes mess (breakfast and dinner) and a refundable deposit of Rs. 5,000.
Laundry charges are separate.
If admission is cancelled before 31 August 2026, a deduction will be made and the balance will be refunded.
No refund is applicable for cancellations after 31 August 2026.
Refunds (if applicable) are processed within 15 working days via RTGS/NEFT.
Fees are payable annually; no EMI option is explicitly mentioned for Ph.D. fees.

VU Ph.D. (Law) Admission 2026-27

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Law) programme at Vishwakarma University for AY 2026-27 are currently in progress. The VUPET entrance test was scheduled on 12 April 2026, and the final admission deadline for selected candidates is 30 May 2026. With 9 seats (4 Open, 5 Reserved for AY 2026-27), the programme is moderately competitive. Candidates are advised to check supervisor availability and research interests before applying, and to monitor the official website for any schedule updates.

VU Ph.D. (Law) Admission Schedule

Event	Date
VUPET Application Form Opens	1 February 2026
Last Date for Form Submission	22 March 2026
VUPET Entrance Test	12 April 2026
Result of VUPET Paper II	21 April 2026
Interview Schedule Declared	27 April 2026
Result of Interview	15 May 2026
Final Deadline for Ph.D. Admission (Selected Candidates)	30 May 2026

UGC-NET Entrance Exam Dates

Event	Phase 1	Phase 2 (Tentative)
Registration Start	7 October 2025	1 April 2026
Registration End	7 November 2025	1 May 2026
Admit Card	28 December 2025	1 June 2026
Exam Date	31 December 2025 - 7 January 2026	1 June 2026
Answer Key Release	14 January 2026	1 July 2026
Result	4 February 2026	1 July 2026

Note: UGC-NET qualified candidates (Category 1, 2, or 3) with a valid score may be exempted from the VUPET written test. However, form submission and interview are mandatory for all candidates including those with UGC-NET qualification.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have completed a Master in Law (LLM) with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC/Differently-Abled/EWS candidates).
Candidates who have completed M.Phil. with at least 55% marks in aggregate are also eligible.
Candidates qualifying their Master's degree in 2026 may also apply; they must submit their final result on or before 30 July 2026.

Admission Process

Check eligibility and available research supervisors on the official VU website before applying.
Fill the VUPET application form online at vupet.edupluscampus.com and pay the application fee (Rs. 1,200 for Open; Rs. 1,000 for SC/ST/OBC/EWS).
Appear for VUPET Paper I (Research Methodology and Aptitude) - minimum 50% required to qualify for Paper II.
Appear for VUPET Paper II (Law subject-specific, subjective) - minimum 50% required to qualify for interview.
Candidates qualifying both papers appear for a personal interview at the university.
Selected candidates must complete admission formalities and pay fees by the final deadline (30 May 2026 for AY 2026-27).
UGC-NET qualified candidates with valid scores are exempted from the written test but must submit the form and appear for the interview.

VU Ph.D. (Law) Scholarships 2026-27

Vishwakarma University does not offer a broad institutional merit scholarship programme for Ph.D. students. Ph.D. scholars in Law may avail of government-funded fellowships and scholarships based on eligibility. The university facilitates student loan assistance through banking partners such as SBI, HDFC, and Oriental Bank of Commerce. Students from EWS, SC, ST, and OBC categories may be eligible for government scholarships and fee concessions under state and central government schemes.

Scholarships and Fellowships

Scholarship / Fellowship	Offered By	Amount	Eligibility
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	University Grants Commission (UGC)	Rs. 37,000/month (1st 2 years); Rs. 42,000/month (subsequent years)	Qualify UGC-NET with JRF; valid for Ph.D. enrolment
UGC Non-NET Fellowship	UGC / University	As per UGC norms	Ph.D. scholars not holding JRF but enrolled full-time
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	Government of Maharashtra / Central Govt.	Varies	SC/ST students; income-based
EWS Fee Concession	Vishwakarma University	Up to 50% fee reduction	EWS certificate holders
Central Sector Scholarship	Ministry of Education, Govt. of India	Rs. 10,000/year	Merit-based; income criteria apply
Education Loan	SBI, HDFC, Oriental Bank of Commerce	As per bank norms	All eligible students

UGC-JRF holders are exempted from the VUPET written test and receive a monthly fellowship directly from UGC.
Students must apply separately for government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
EWS concession is subject to submission of a valid EWS certificate at the time of admission.
Scholarship deadlines vary; students are advised to check the National Scholarship Portal and UGC website for current deadlines.

VU Ph.D. (Law) FAQs

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

Ans. The Department of Law at VU has active research in Constitutional Law, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, Cyber Law, IPR and Innovation Law, Child Rights and Law, Criminal Law, Corporate and Business Law, and Legal Services. Ongoing Ph.D. research topics include charitable trust law, international arbitration, religious death practices and constitutional law, child trafficking, Lok Adalat systems, and cyber crimes. Candidates should check the specific research interests of available supervisors on the official VU website before applying.

Ques. Is LLM mandatory for Ph.D. (Law) admission at VU, or can LLB graduates apply directly?

Ans. The official eligibility for Ph.D. (Law) at VU requires a Master in Law (LLM) with more than 55% marks. LLB graduates are not directly eligible; they must first complete LLM before applying for the Ph.D. programme.

Ques. Does VU have a Law Journal where Ph.D. scholars can publish their research?

Ans. Yes. The Vishwakarma University Law Journal (ISSN: 2583-2190) is a biannual, blind peer-reviewed journal published by the Department of Law. It provides Ph.D. scholars and researchers a platform to publish original, outstanding, and socially relevant legal research. The journal is accessible at vulj.vupune.ac.in.

Ques. What is the VU Legal Aid Clinic, and how does it benefit Ph.D. scholars?

Ans. The VU Legal Aid Clinic was inaugurated in October 2021 with a commitment to provide free legal aid to socio-economically weaker sections of society. For Ph.D. scholars, it provides first-hand experience in dealing with real socio-legal issues, access to live cases, and opportunities to contribute to legal awareness and research. It is aligned with Article 39A of the Constitution of India.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. (Law) at VU, and what is the category-wise split?

Ans. For AY 2025-26, the total intake for Ph.D. (Law) was 9 seats - 4 Open category and 5 Reserved category. The seat matrix for AY 2026-27 should be checked on the official VUPET notification.

Ques. Can working legal professionals (advocates, corporate lawyers) pursue Ph.D. (Law) at VU?

Ans. The Ph.D. (Law) programme at VU is offered in full-time mode, which requires regular on-campus presence and active engagement with the research supervisor. Working professionals should clarify the attendance and residency requirements directly with the university before applying, as part-time Ph.D. in Law is not listed as an available option at VU.

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Vishwakarma University Pune Ph.D Law: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Table of Contents

VU Ph.D. (Law) Fees

Fee Components

VU Ph.D. (Law) Admission 2026-27

VU Ph.D. (Law) Admission Schedule

UGC-NET Entrance Exam Dates

Eligibility Criteria

Admission Process

VU Ph.D. (Law) Scholarships 2026-27

Scholarships and Fellowships

VU Ph.D. (Law) FAQs

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