Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

LJ University (LJKU), Ahmedabad, offers a full-time Ph.D. programme in Urban and Regional Planning under its Doctoral Program. The programme is designed to foster advanced research in urban planning, regional development, land use, housing, transportation, environmental planning, and related disciplines. The minimum duration for the full-time Ph.D. is 3 years, with a maximum of 6 years. The annual tuition fee for the full-time Ph.D. is Rs. 70,000 per year. Admission is based on qualifying a relevant entrance exam (UGC-NET/GATE) followed by two rounds of personal interviews. The programme is open to candidates with a Master's degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Geography, Economics, or related disciplines with a minimum of 55% marks.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are upcoming. Based on the 2025 admission cycle, LJ University typically opens applications in March, conducts the entrance exam in May, and announces shortlisted candidates by late May. The 2026 admission schedule is yet to be officially announced; candidates are advised to monitor the LJ University official website (ljku.edu.in) for updates.

Key Points

Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning at LJ University is one of the few doctoral programmes in urban planning offered by a private university in Gujarat, providing a research-focused environment for planning professionals and academics.
The programme is open to both full-time scholars and part-time scholars (working professionals), making it accessible to urban planners, architects, civil engineers, and government officials already working in the field.
Ph.D. scholars are required to publish a minimum of 2 research papers indexed in Scopus/Web of Science/ABDC/EBSCO and present at least one paper at an international conference before thesis submission.
The coursework (12 credits) includes Research Methodology (generic), Specialised Research Methodology, Discipline-Specific Courses, and one/two courses from SWAYAM/UGC-recognised platforms.
LJ University offers a 57% tuition fee reduction for its full-time faculty and staff pursuing a Ph.D., and a scholarship equivalent to the full tuition fee is refunded to LJU faculty/staff upon completion of the programme.
Research Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings are held at the university campus, with a minimum of six 6-monthly RACs required before submitting the final synopsis.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

LJU Ph.D. (Urban Planning) Fees

The annual tuition fee for the full-time Ph.D. (Urban Planning) at LJ University is Rs. 70,000 per year, as per the official LJ University fee structure for 2026-27. For part-time Ph.D. scholars, the fee structure is semester-based. The programme requires fees for a maximum of 8 semesters, regardless of the actual duration of the programme (up to 6 years). A refundable security deposit of Rs. 15,000 is also charged.

Full-Time Ph.D. Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition Fee (per year)	70,000
Total Fees (for 3 years minimum)	2,10,000

Part-Time Ph.D. Fee Structure (per semester)

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Registration Fees (One Time)	2,500
Tuition Fees (per semester)	35,000
Course Work Fees (One Time)	1,200
Refundable Security Deposit	15,000
Registration Certificate Fees (One Time)	1,000
Total per Semester (including one-time charges in first semester)	54,700
Viva-Voce Exam Fees (last semester only)	20,000
Total Fees (8 semesters tuition + one-time + viva)	3,19,700

Application fee: Rs. 1,500 + applicable taxes (payable online, non-refundable).
The security deposit of Rs. 15,000 is refundable upon completion of the programme.
Non-payment of fees for 3 consecutive semesters will lead to cancellation of registration.
LJU faculty/staff are eligible for a subsidised fee of Rs. 15,000 per semester (part-time), with the balance refunded upon programme completion.
Fees are payable via online QR code or bank transfer; details available on the LJU Ph.D. section portal.

LJU Ph.D. (Urban Planning) Admission 2026

Admission to the Ph.D. (Urban Planning) at LJ University is a two-stage process: qualifying a relevant entrance exam followed by personal interviews. For full-time Ph.D., candidates must have a valid UGC-NET or GATE score. For part-time Ph.D., candidates without NET/GATE must qualify the LJU Ph.D. Entrance Exam. The 2025 admission cycle has concluded. The 2026 admission schedule is expected to follow a similar pattern, with applications opening in March 2026.

Important Dates

Event	Tentative Date (2026)
Application Process Starts	March 2026 (tentative)
Last Date for Application	April 2026 (tentative)
LJU Ph.D. Entrance Exam (Part-Time, non-NET/GATE)	May 2026 (tentative)
Entrance Exam Result	May 2026 (tentative)
Personal Interviews (Round 1 and Round 2)	May 2026 (tentative)
Declaration of Shortlisted Candidates	Late May 2026 (tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree (or equivalent professional degree recognised by UGC) in Urban Planning, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Geography, Economics, Sociology, or a related discipline with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC/Differently-Abled candidates).
For full-time Ph.D.: Candidates must have a valid UGC-NET or GATE score in a relevant discipline. The upper age limit for JRF is 35 years for men and 45 years for women as on July 1 of the year of application.
For part-time Ph.D.: Candidates without NET/GATE must qualify the LJU Ph.D. Entrance Exam (written test: 50% domain knowledge + 50% research methodology) followed by an interview/viva-voce. M.Phil. degree holders are exempt from the entrance exam.

Admission Process

Fill the online application form on the LJ University doctoral programme portal (ljku.edu.in/doctoral-program/registration-form) and pay the application fee of Rs. 1,500 + taxes.
Submit scanned copies of required documents including mark sheets, entrance exam scorecard, passport-size photograph, and employer NOC (for part-time candidates).
Appear for the LJU Ph.D. Entrance Exam (if applicable) or submit valid NET/GATE scorecard.
Shortlisted candidates appear for two rounds of personal interviews at the LJU campus.
Final selection is based on entrance exam/NET/GATE score and interview performance.
Selected candidates complete registration formalities and pay the prescribed fees to confirm admission.

LJU Ph.D. (Urban Planning) Scholarships 2026

Ph.D. scholars at LJ University can avail scholarships and financial support through government schemes and university-specific benefits. UGC-NET/JRF qualified candidates are eligible for the JRF fellowship, which provides a monthly stipend. LJU faculty/staff pursuing Ph.D. receive a significant fee subsidy. Additionally, government scholarship schemes for SC/ST and minority students are available.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship/Fellowship	Eligibility	Benefit	Application Portal
UGC-JRF Fellowship	UGC-NET/JRF qualified candidates	Rs. 37,000/month (1st-2nd year), Rs. 42,000/month (3rd year onwards)	ugc.ac.in
GATE-based Research Fellowship	GATE-qualified candidates admitted to full-time Ph.D.	As per MHRD/UGC norms	Varies by institution
LJU Faculty/Staff Ph.D. Scholarship	LJU faculty/staff pursuing Ph.D.	57% tuition fee reduction; full tuition refunded on completion	ljku.edu.in
Gujarat Government Post Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students; Gujarat domicile	Partial financial assistance	digitalgujarat.gov.in
National Scholarship for Minority Students	Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi students	Partial financial assistance	scholarships.gov.in

JRF fellowship amounts are subject to revision by UGC from time to time.
LJU faculty/staff must continue with the university throughout the Ph.D. programme to avail the fee scholarship; the refund is made upon completion.
Government scholarship application deadlines are typically announced after the commencement of the academic term.

LJU Ph.D. (Urban Planning) FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between full-time and part-time Ph.D. (Urban Planning) at LJ University?

Ans. Full-time Ph.D. scholars are required to be present on campus and dedicate themselves entirely to research. They must have a valid UGC-NET or GATE score for admission. Part-time Ph.D. is designed for working professionals who can pursue research alongside their jobs. Part-time scholars must qualify the LJU Ph.D. Entrance Exam (unless NET/GATE qualified) and attend coursework classes in the evenings/weekends at the LJU campus. The fee structure also differs: full-time is Rs. 70,000/year, while part-time is Rs. 35,000/semester.

Ques. What entrance exam is required for Ph.D. (Urban Planning) admission at LJ University?

Ans. For full-time Ph.D., candidates must have a valid UGC-NET or GATE score. For part-time Ph.D., candidates with UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR NET, GATE, GPAT, or teacher fellowship are exempt from the LJU entrance exam. Others must qualify the LJU Ph.D. Entrance Exam, which consists of a written test (50% domain knowledge + 50% research methodology) followed by an interview/viva-voce. M.Phil. degree holders are also exempt from the entrance exam.

Ques. What is the minimum and maximum duration for Ph.D. (Urban Planning) at LJ University?

Ans. The minimum duration for the Ph.D. programme at LJ University is 3 years (full-time) and the maximum is 6 years. However, scholars are required to pay fees for a maximum of 8 semesters only, regardless of the actual duration. Non-payment of fees for 3 consecutive semesters leads to cancellation of registration.

Ques. What are the research publication requirements for Ph.D. scholars at LJ University?

Ans. Ph.D. scholars at LJ University must publish a minimum of 2 research papers related to their thesis topic, indexed in Scopus/Web of Science/Hien Database/ABDC/EBSCO, and present at least one paper at an international conference before submitting their final thesis. Additionally, scholars must complete a minimum of six 6-monthly Research Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings before submitting the final synopsis.

Ques. Is there a specific background required to pursue Ph.D. in Urban Planning at LJ University?

Ans. Candidates with a Master's degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Geography, Economics, Sociology, or related disciplines are eligible. The programme is listed under the discipline of Urban and Regional Planning at LJ University. Candidates from interdisciplinary backgrounds with relevant research interests in urban planning, housing, transportation, environmental planning, or regional development are also encouraged to apply.

Ques. Can working professionals from government urban planning departments apply for the part-time Ph.D. at LJ University?

Ans. Yes, the part-time Ph.D. programme at LJ University is specifically designed for working professionals, including those employed in government urban planning departments, municipal corporations, development authorities, and private planning firms. Working candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer at the time of application. Coursework classes are scheduled in the evenings and weekends to accommodate working professionals.