Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

The Ph.D. (Biotechnology) programme at Shri Khushal Das University (SKDU), Hanumangarh, is a full-time doctoral research programme offered under the Faculty of Science. The programme has a minimum duration of 3 years (including coursework) and a maximum of 6 years, in line with UGC regulations. The total fee for the programme is Rs. 3.1 Lakhs for the entire 3-year duration. The primary qualifying exams accepted for admission are UGC-NET (Biotechnology), CSIR-NET (Life Sciences), and GATE (Biotechnology). The programme is popular among students seeking research and academic careers in the rapidly growing fields of molecular biology, genetic engineering, bioinformatics, and applied biotechnology. SKDU's science faculty and research infrastructure make it a viable option for doctoral aspirants in the Rajasthan region.

Admissions for the 2026-27 batch are open, as confirmed by the university's official channels. The university typically invites PhD applications between June and August each year. Candidates are advised to apply through the official SKDU admission portal at admission.skduniversity.org. Based on the 2025 admission season, the registration window was around June-September 2025; for 2026-27, the tentative registration window is expected between June 2026 and August 2026.

Key Points

Ph.D. (Biotechnology) at SKDU is offered under the Faculty of Science, with research areas spanning molecular biology, genetic engineering, bioinformatics, and applied biotechnology.
The programme duration is a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, as per UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations.
Candidates qualifying CSIR-NET (Life Sciences) or UGC-NET (Biotechnology) with JRF are eligible for a national fellowship/stipend during the programme.
GATE (Biotechnology) qualified candidates may also be considered for admission and may be eligible for MHRD/GATE scholarships.
The programme is conducted in full-time, on-campus mode at the Hanumangarh campus.

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

SKDU Ph.D. (Biotechnology) Fees

The Ph.D. (Biotechnology) programme at SKDU is priced at Rs. 3.1 Lakhs for the total 3-year duration, which works out to approximately Rs. 1,03,333 per year. This is slightly higher than humanities-based PhD programmes at SKDU due to the science/lab component. The fee structure primarily comprises tuition fees. Hostel accommodation is available on campus at an additional cost and is not mandatory.

Fee Structure Table

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Tuition Fee (Total - 3 Years)	3,10,000
Registration Fee	1,000 (per year, approx.)
Total Fees (3 Years)	3,10,000

Hostel Fees (Optional)

Hostel Component	Amount (INR)
Hostel Fee	72,000 to 1,05,000 per year

Hostel fee is not mandatory and is charged separately.
A caution/security deposit (refundable) may be applicable at the time of admission as per university norms.
Fee once paid is generally non-refundable except for the refundable caution deposit component.
Semester-wise fee payment may be accommodated on request.

SKDU Ph.D. (Biotechnology) Admission 2026

SKDU Ph.D. (Biotechnology) admissions are merit-based and involve evaluation of academic records, a research proposal, and a personal interview. The university accepts UGC-NET (Biotechnology), CSIR-NET (Life Sciences), and GATE (Biotechnology) scores as qualifying criteria. Candidates without a national-level qualifying exam may appear for the university's Research Eligibility Test (RET). Admissions for 2026-27 are open; candidates should apply through the official portal at admission.skduniversity.org.

SKDU Ph.D. (Biotechnology) Admission Dates 2026-27

Event	Tentative Date
Application Portal Opens	June 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date to Apply	August 2026 (Tentative)
Research Proposal Submission	Along with application
Personal Interview / RET	August - September 2026 (Tentative)
Batch Commencement	October - November 2026 (Tentative)

Qualifying Exam Dates 2026

Exam	Event	Date
UGC-NET	Phase 1 Registration	October 7 - November 7, 2025
UGC-NET	Phase 1 Exam	December 31, 2025 - January 7, 2026
UGC-NET	Phase 1 Result	February 4, 2026
UGC-NET	Phase 2 Registration (Tentative)	April 2026 - May 2026
UGC-NET	Phase 2 Exam (Tentative)	June 2026
UGC-NET	Phase 2 Result (Tentative)	July 2026
GATE	Registration	August 28 - October 13, 2025
GATE	Admit Card	January 13, 2026
GATE	Exam Dates	February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026
GATE	Result	March 19, 2026
CSIR-NET	Registration (Tentative)	May 1 - May 21, 2026
CSIR-NET	Exam (Tentative)	July 2026
CSIR-NET	Result (Tentative)	September 2026

Note: UGC-NET (Biotechnology) and CSIR-NET (Life Sciences) are the primary national-level qualifying exams for this programme. GATE (Biotechnology) is also accepted. Candidates qualifying with JRF are eligible for a monthly fellowship stipend.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree (M.Sc./M.Tech.) in Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Life Sciences, or a closely related discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates).
Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET (Biotechnology) / CSIR-NET (Life Sciences) / GATE (Biotechnology) are given preference; those without a national qualifying exam may appear for the university's Research Eligibility Test (RET).
There is no upper age limit for Ph.D. admission at SKDU.

Admission Process

Visit the official SKDU admission portal at admission.skduniversity.org and register online.
Fill in the application form and upload required documents (mark sheets, degree certificates, NET/JRF/GATE certificate if applicable, ID proof, category certificate if applicable).
Pay the application fee of Rs. 1,000 (as per university norms).
Submit a research proposal outlining the proposed area of study in Biotechnology.
Appear for the Research Eligibility Test (RET) conducted by SKDU (if not NET/JRF/GATE qualified).
Attend the personal interview before the admission committee.
Receive admission offer based on merit, research proposal quality, and interview performance.
Complete fee payment and document verification to confirm admission.

SKDU Ph.D. (Biotechnology) Scholarships 2026

SKDU offers a comprehensive scholarship framework applicable to Ph.D. students. Scholarships are applied on the tuition fee component only, and students can avail only one category of scholarship at a time. Additionally, CSIR-NET/UGC-NET JRF and GATE qualified candidates are eligible for national fellowships, which provide monthly stipends independent of the university's scholarship scheme. The university's own SKDU-NEST (Scholarship Test) can also be used to earn up to 100% tuition fee waiver.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount
SKDU-NEST (University Scholarship Test)	Score 95% or above	100% of tuition fee
SKDU-NEST	Score 90-94.99%	50% of tuition fee
SKDU-NEST	Score 80-89.99%	30% of tuition fee
Merit-based (Qualifying Exam)	91% or above in PG	30% of tuition fee
Merit-based (Qualifying Exam)	75-90% in PG	20% of tuition fee
Merit-based (Qualifying Exam)	65-74% in PG	10% of tuition fee
Social Responsibility - Defence	Son/Daughter of Armed Forces	30% of tuition fee
Social Responsibility - Disability	More than 50% physical impairment	30% of tuition fee
Sports Scholarship	International players	100% of tuition fee
Sports Scholarship	National Medal Winners	50% of tuition fee
CSIR-JRF / UGC-JRF (National Fellowship)	CSIR-NET/UGC-NET qualified with JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (Year 1-2); Rs. 42,000/month (Year 3+)
GATE Scholarship (MHRD)	GATE qualified candidates admitted to full-time PhD	Rs. 12,400/month (as per MHRD norms)
NSP (PM-USP Yojana)	80% in qualifying exam, parental income up to Rs. 4.5 Lakhs	Up to Rs. 82,000 per annum

Scholarships from SKDU are applicable on tuition fee only and cannot be combined with each other (except SKDU-NEST which can be combined with others).
Scholarship continuation requires clearing all semester exams without backlog in the first attempt and maintaining 80% attendance.
CSIR-JRF/UGC-JRF and GATE fellowships are national-level fellowships and are separate from university scholarships.
Students must apply for NSP through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) within the stipulated deadline.

SKDU Ph.D. (Biotechnology) FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between UGC-NET (Biotechnology) and CSIR-NET (Life Sciences) for Ph.D. admission at SKDU?

Ans. Both UGC-NET (Biotechnology) and CSIR-NET (Life Sciences) are accepted for Ph.D. (Biotechnology) admission at SKDU. CSIR-NET is conducted by NTA for science subjects including Life Sciences, which covers Biotechnology broadly. UGC-NET (Biotechnology) is a separate subject under UGC-NET. Both exams, if qualified with JRF, make the candidate eligible for a monthly fellowship. Candidates can appear for either or both to strengthen their application.

Ques. Can a candidate with an M.Sc. in Microbiology or Biochemistry apply for Ph.D. (Biotechnology) at SKDU?

Ans. Yes. Candidates with a Master's degree in closely related disciplines such as Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or Life Sciences are generally eligible to apply for Ph.D. (Biotechnology) at SKDU, subject to the university's approval of the research proposal and the availability of a suitable supervisor. The minimum marks requirement of 55% in PG applies.

Ques. Is there a coursework component in the Ph.D. (Biotechnology) programme at SKDU?

Ans. Yes, as per UGC regulations, all Ph.D. programmes in India must include a mandatory coursework component of at least one semester. This coursework covers research methodology, subject-specific advanced topics, and academic writing. Candidates must clear the coursework before proceeding to full-time research.

Ques. What is the maximum duration allowed to complete Ph.D. (Biotechnology) at SKDU?

Ans. The maximum duration for completing the Ph.D. (Biotechnology) programme at SKDU is 6 years from the date of registration, as per UGC norms. Extensions beyond 6 years may be granted in exceptional circumstances with the approval of the university's research committee.

Ques. Are there laboratory and research facilities available for Biotechnology PhD scholars at SKDU?

Ans. SKDU has a Faculty of Science with dedicated laboratories and a Central Laboratory and Research facility on its 150-acre campus. Ph.D. scholars in Biotechnology have access to these facilities for their experimental research. Candidates are advised to contact the Department of Biotechnology/Science directly to confirm the availability of specific equipment and infrastructure relevant to their proposed research area.

Ques. What career options are available after completing Ph.D. (Biotechnology) from SKDU?

Ans. A Ph.D. in Biotechnology opens diverse career pathways including academic positions (Assistant/Associate Professor) in universities and colleges, research scientist roles in pharmaceutical and biotech companies, positions in government research organisations (CSIR, ICAR, DBT-funded institutes), bioinformatics and genomics roles in the IT-biotech sector, and entrepreneurship in the biotech startup ecosystem. With India's growing bioeconomy and government push for biotechnology research, the career prospects for PhD holders in this field are strong.