Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

The Ph.D. (Food and Nutrition) 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, as per UGC regulations. The total fee for the programme is Rs. 3.1 Lakhs for the entire 3-year duration. The primary qualifying exam accepted for admission is UGC-NET (Home Science), which covers Food and Nutrition as a subject area. The programme is popular among students seeking research and academic careers in nutrition science, food technology, dietetics, and public health nutrition. With growing awareness around food safety, functional foods, and nutritional disorders in India, this doctoral programme offers strong research relevance.

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. (Food and Nutrition) at SKDU is offered under the Faculty of Science, with research areas spanning nutritional biochemistry, food safety, dietetics, functional foods, and public health nutrition.
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.
UGC-NET (Home Science) is the primary national-level qualifying exam accepted for this programme; candidates qualifying with JRF are eligible for a monthly fellowship.
The programme is conducted in full-time, on-campus mode at the Hanumangarh campus, spread over 150 acres.
Research in Food and Nutrition at SKDU is supported by the university's central laboratory and science faculty infrastructure.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

SKDU Ph.D. (Food and Nutrition) Fees

The Ph.D. (Food and Nutrition) 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 consistent with other science-based PhD programmes at SKDU. 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. (Food and Nutrition) Admission 2026-27

SKDU Ph.D. (Food and Nutrition) admissions are merit-based and involve evaluation of academic records, a research proposal, and a personal interview. The university accepts UGC-NET (Home Science) scores as the primary qualifying criterion. 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. (Food and Nutrition) 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)

UGC-NET (Home Science) Exam Dates 2026

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

Note: UGC-NET (Home Science) is the primary national-level qualifying exam for this programme. Food and Nutrition falls under the Home Science subject in UGC-NET. Candidates qualifying with JRF are eligible for a monthly fellowship stipend. GATE is not applicable for this programme.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree (M.Sc./M.A.) in Food and Nutrition, Home Science, Dietetics, Food Technology, 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 (Home Science) / JRF 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 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 Food and Nutrition.
Appear for the Research Eligibility Test (RET) conducted by SKDU (if not NET/JRF 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. (Food and Nutrition) Scholarships 2026-27

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, UGC-NET JRF qualified candidates are eligible for the national JRF fellowship, which provides a monthly stipend 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 Table

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
UGC-JRF (National Fellowship)	UGC-NET qualified with JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (Year 1-2); Rs. 42,000/month (Year 3+)
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.
UGC-JRF fellowship is a national-level fellowship awarded by UGC/NTA and is separate from university scholarships.
Students must apply for NSP through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) within the stipulated deadline.

SKDU Ph.D. (Food and Nutrition) FAQs

Q1. Is UGC-NET (Home Science) the right exam for Ph.D. (Food and Nutrition) admission at SKDU?

Ans. Yes. Food and Nutrition is a specialisation within the Home Science subject in UGC-NET. Candidates aspiring for Ph.D. (Food and Nutrition) should appear for UGC-NET with Home Science as their Paper 2 subject. Qualifying with JRF also makes the candidate eligible for a monthly fellowship stipend during the PhD programme.

Q2. Can a candidate with an M.Sc. in Food Technology or Dietetics apply for Ph.D. (Food and Nutrition) at SKDU?

Ans. Yes. Candidates with a Master's degree in closely related disciplines such as Food Technology, Dietetics, Home Science, or Nutritional Biochemistry are generally eligible to apply, subject to the university's approval of the research proposal and availability of a suitable supervisor. The minimum marks requirement of 55% in PG applies.

Q3. What are the possible research areas under Ph.D. (Food and Nutrition) at SKDU?

Ans. Research areas under this programme may include nutritional biochemistry, food safety and quality, functional foods and nutraceuticals, dietary patterns and chronic disease prevention, food processing and preservation, maternal and child nutrition, and community nutrition. Candidates are advised to contact the department to align their research proposal with available supervisor expertise.

Q4. Is there a coursework component in the Ph.D. (Food and Nutrition) 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 covers research methodology, subject-specific advanced topics, and academic writing. Candidates must clear the coursework before proceeding to full-time research.

Q5. What is the maximum duration to complete Ph.D. (Food and Nutrition) at SKDU?

Ans. The maximum duration 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.

Q6. What career options are available after completing Ph.D. (Food and Nutrition) from SKDU?

Ans. A Ph.D. in Food and Nutrition opens career pathways including academic positions (Assistant/Associate Professor) in universities and colleges, research roles in food companies and FMCG firms, positions in government nutrition programmes (ICMR, NIN, FSSAI), clinical dietitian and nutrition consultant roles in hospitals, and policy advisory roles in public health nutrition. With India's growing focus on nutrition security and food safety regulation, the demand for qualified nutrition researchers is increasing steadily.