Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

The Ph.D. (Travel and Tourism) programme at Vishwakarma University (VU), Pune is a full-time doctoral research programme offered under the Department of Travel and Tourism, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Established in 2018, the department provides 360-degree exposure to tourism education, covering foreign cultures, languages, world history, and real-time industry projects. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 5 years, 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 6 (3 Open, 3 Reserved) for AY 2026-27, making it one of the more niche doctoral programmes at VU. It is popular among candidates seeking research careers in sustainable tourism, heritage tourism, hospitality management, and tourism policy. The department has a Yuva Tourism Club approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and an academic collaboration with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad.

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. (Travel and Tourism) programme is offered under the Department of Travel and Tourism within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at VU, Pune.
Research supervisors for Ph.D. (Travel and Tourism) are Dr. Aarti Suryawanshi (HOD, Department of Travel and Tourism) and Dr. Harshada Satghare (Assistant Professor).
Key research areas include Sustainable Tourism, Heritage and Cultural Tourism, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) Management, Tourism Policy and Planning, Hospitality Management, and Emerging Trends in Tourism.
The department has a Yuva Tourism Club approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, providing students and scholars with industry exposure and field experience.
Academic collaboration with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, and industry connect with Happy Tours Pune enrich the research environment.
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.

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

VU Ph.D. (Travel & Tourism Management) Fees

The Ph.D. (Travel and Tourism) 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 5 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. (Travel & Tourism Management) Admission 2026-27

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Travel and Tourism) 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 only 6 seats (3 Open, 3 Reserved for AY 2026-27), this is one of the most limited Ph.D. intakes at VU. Candidates are strongly advised to check supervisor availability and research interests before applying.

VU Ph.D. 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's degree in Travel and Tourism 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 (Dr. Aarti Suryawanshi and Dr. Harshada Satghare) 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 (Travel and Tourism 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. (Travel & Tourism Management) Scholarships 2026-27

Vishwakarma University does not offer a broad institutional merit scholarship programme for Ph.D. students. Ph.D. scholars in Travel and Tourism 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.

Scholarship Details

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.

Vishwakarma University Pune Ph.D Travel & Tourism Management Ranking

TOI Ranking

#67 out of 100 in India 2025

#14th in Pune

#28 in Maharashtra

Collegedunia Ranking

#166 out of 320 in India 2025

#48th in Maharashtra

Do you think the Rankings are wrong ? Report Here

VU Ph.D. (Travel & Tourism Management) FAQs

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

Ans. The Department of Travel and Tourism at VU focuses on Sustainable Tourism, Heritage and Cultural Tourism, MICE Management, Tourism Policy and Planning, Hospitality Management, and Emerging Trends in Tourism. The department has conducted international workshops on tourism research and collaborates with Dr. BAM University, Aurangabad. Candidates should check the specific research interests of Dr. Aarti Suryawanshi and Dr. Harshada Satghare on the official VU website before applying.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. (Travel and Tourism) at VU, and is it very competitive?

Ans. For AY 2026-27, the total intake was 6 seats - 3 Open category and 3 Reserved category. This is one of the smallest Ph.D. intakes at VU, making it highly competitive. Candidates are strongly advised to confirm supervisor availability and apply early.

Ques. What is the Yuva Tourism Club at VU, and how does it benefit Ph.D. scholars?

Ans. The Yuva Tourism Club at VU is approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. It organizes field visits, clean India drives at heritage sites, and tourism awareness activities. For Ph.D. scholars, it provides access to field research opportunities, industry connections, and participation in national and international tourism events, enriching their research with practical insights.

Ques. Does the Travel and Tourism department at VU have any industry or academic collaborations?

Ans. Yes. The department has an academic collaboration with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad (Department of Tourism Administration), and an industry connect with Happy Tours Pune. Students and scholars have participated in events such as the Travel and Tourism India World Expo and Conference (Ministry of Tourism, India) and the Outbound Travel Mart at Jio Convention Center, Mumbai.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after completing Ph.D. (Travel and Tourism) from VU?

Ans. Ph.D. (Travel and Tourism) graduates can pursue careers as Assistant Professors or Researchers in tourism and hospitality management institutes, Tourism Policy Analysts and Consultants for government bodies (Ministry of Tourism, UNWTO), Destination Management Consultants, Researchers in sustainable tourism and heritage conservation, and Senior Managers in hospitality chains, travel companies, and MICE organizations.

Ques. Can candidates with a Master's degree in Hospitality Management or Hotel Management apply for Ph.D. (Travel and Tourism) at VU?

Ans. The official eligibility specifies a Master's degree in Travel and Tourism with more than 55% marks. Candidates with a Master's in Hospitality Management or Hotel Management may or may not qualify depending on the supervisor's discretion and the relevance of their background. It is strongly recommended to contact the department directly to confirm eligibility before applying.