PhD Programmes

Admission to PhD programmes is made through two channels viz. through direct mode and through entrance test.

Through Direct Mode

In this mode, certain categories of candidates will be exempted from the Entrance Test. They will be shortlisted on the bases of their CVs/SOPs/Research proposals/Letters of Recommendations and will be called directly for the interviews. The eligible categories are the following:

• Those who have been already awarded National fellowships in different SAARC countries on the basis of their respective National Entrance Tests
• Those who are funded by any Government agency to pursue PhD
• Those who are salaried and can get a leave from their organization for the two year residency period.

The students admitted through the direct mode will be provided the hostel accommodation (as per the Hostel rules) and will be exempted from paying the tuition fee. However, they will not be provided with any other financial support/fellowship/stipend throughout the tenure of the PhD programme.

For candidates applying through the above channel, separate merit lists will be drawn keeping in view the reservation of seats for candidates from different SAARC countries defined under SAU’s Rules.

Through Entrance Test

In this mode, the admission procedure for the PhD programme consists of an Entrance Test followed by an interview. Students are required to score at least 50% marks in both, the Entrance Test and the interview separately, to be eligible for admission.

The students admitted through the Entrance Test will be provided the hostel accommodation (as per the Hostel rules) and will be exempted from paying the tuition fee. They will be entitled to the university stipend of INR 25,000 per month for a maximum period of five years provided they are not receiving any other financial support/fellowship/stipend for the purpose of pursuing the PhD programme.

The list of PhD programmes offered at SAU both through Direct Mode as well as through Entrance Test is given below along with the number of seats available in each mode and for each programme. To know about the specific eligibility criteria, format of the entrance test and other related details, click on the respective programme.

* The Department of Computer Science has received 3 Full Time PhD seats under the "Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT” of Govt. of India for the Academic Year 2024-25.

Travel Subsidy for candidates invited for interview

In case the interviews are held in-person, the candidates invited for the interview will be given a travel subsidy (upper limit INR 5,000) towards actual travel cost by the shortest route as per instructions which will be communicated to those called for interview. If candidates from outside India are unable to travel to New Delhi for the interview, they can seek permission for an interview through Skype.

Candidates should know before joining Ph.D. programme

• The tenure of the PhD programme is five years.
• The pre-PhD course work is compulsory for all students and is spread over the first two semesters and carries 16 credits as follows: course work (14 credits) plus seminar and term paper (2 credits). Distribution of credits between the first two semesters is decided by individual Departments / Faculties. Some Faculties and Departments may have a slightly higher credit requirement depending on their specific needs. Candidates are advised to carefully read Faculty and Department-specific requirements online. In addition, students will be required to qualify a non-credit course on “Introduction to South Asia” offered by the university if they have not already done so.
• At the end of the first year, students with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) less than 5.0 will be deemed to have failed and shall leave the university. There is no provision for a repeat test for improvement of grades in any pre-PhD course.
• Candidates with a CGPA above 5.0 but less than 6.5 can opt for the MPhil programme and complete their dissertation within one year (8 Credits). M.Phil. students securing an overall FGPA of 6.50 and above (including the grade obtained in M.Phil. dissertation), will get another opportunity to enrol for the Ph.D. programme as per the SAU rules. Students with CGPA of less than 6.5 will leave the university with an MPhil degree.
• Students with a CGPA of 6.5 and above will be considered for direct admission to the PhD programme as per SAU regulations. Such candidates, if they so wish, will also be permitted to pursue the M.Phil. Degree.
• Minimum residency requirement for PhD is two years after admission.
• Students pursuing a PhD degree at SAU are full-time students and are not permitted to take up any full or part-time work during the residency period.