UNIVERSITY OF TOMORROW
Ph.D. Summer Admissions 2026 Open
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Law, Design, Economics, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Liberal Studies & Humanities, Biomedical Engineering, Food & Nutrition Sciences, Political Science, Media & Communication, CIDRI, CIKS and more
Application Deadline: 10th June 2026
RANKED NO. 1
IN ACADEMIC REPUTATION*
51 FACULTY MEMBERS AMONG WORLD'S TOP 2% RESEARCHERS GLOBALLY, AS PER STANFORD UNIVERSITY LIST
*QS World University Rankings 2025, among Pvt Universities
**for full time Ph.D. scholars only.
^₹25,000 per month during coursework and ₹30,000 per month after that, until end of 3 years from commencement of session.
75%
FEE WAIVER**
MONTHLY FELLOWSHIP UP TO ₹30,000^
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UPES Ph.D. Summer Admissions 2026
Last Date to Apply- 10th June, 2026
RET Exam- 19th June, 2026
Benefits for Ph.D. Scholars:
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100 full time Ph.D. scholars shall be awarded a fellowship of ₹25,000 per month during coursework and ₹30,000 per month thereafter, up to 3 years from commencement of session.
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INSPIRE/CSIR-NET-JRF qualified candidates to receive INR 2 lakh per year for scholastic purposes.*
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75% waiver on semester program fee for full-time Ph.D. scholars.
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Research and innovation friendly environment having state-of-the-art infrastructure.
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Strong Ph.D. alumni network.
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51 faculty members among Stanford University's top 2% researchers globally
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NAAC Grade ‘A’ Accredited
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NIRF Rank 45
Why UPES for Your Ph.D.
16,165+
Research Articles
187,947+
Citations
2,477
IPRs Filed
170
Funded Projects
Ph.D. Programs available at UPES
School of Advanced Engineering
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Ph.D. (Physics)
Ph.D. (Chemistry)
Ph.D. (Mathematics)
Ph.D. (Geosciences)
Ph.D. (Engineering)
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Astronomy & Astrophysics High Energy, Atmosphere physics, Nuclear Physics, Computational Physics, Materials Science, Condensed matter physics
Renewable Energy, Advanced Materials, Waste Valorization, Sensing & Catalysis, Polymers, Drug delivery, CO2 Sequestration, Organic Synthesis, Crystallography, Sensors, Natural products, Nanotechnology, Self-assembly & Supramolecular Chemistry
Optimization and Reliability Theory, Fluid Dynamics, Computational Mechanics, Fractional Calculus, Integral Equations, Modelling and Simulation, Numerical methods, Abstract Harmonic analysis, Function spaces theory, Abstract Algebra, Cryptography
Geoinformatics
Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, HSE (Health, Safety & Environment) Engineering, Sustainability Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Renewable Energy
Environmental Science
Ph.D. (Environmental Science)
Ph.D. (Sustainability Science)
Sustainability Science
School
Degree name
Program Domain
School of Computer Science
Ph.D. (Computer Science and Engineering)
Ph.D. (Computer Science)
Data Science, Cyber Security, AIML, IOT, Networking and Communication, Software Engineering
Data Science, Cyber Security, AIML, IOT, Networking and Communication, Software Engineering
School of Business
Ph.D. (Economics)
Ph.D. (Management)
Economics
Energy, General, Transportation, Technology
School of Law
School of Design
Ph.D. (Law)
Ph.D. (Design)
Constitutional Law
Criminal Law
Environmental Law
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
Corporate Law
Energy Law
AI and Technology Law
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Animation and Film, Mobility and Vehicle Design, Universal and Inclusive Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Applied Ergonomics and Human Factors in Design, Neuro-cognitive aspects of Creativity, Creativity and Innovation, Visual Narratives, Comics Studies, Design for Culture, Sustainable Design, Craft Design, Textile & Apparel Design, Design Pedagogy, Audience Studies, Design Education, Habitat and Heritage Studies and Allied Design domains
School of Health Sciences & Technology
Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Ph.D. (Food & Nutrition Sciences)
Ph.D. (Microbiology)
Ph.D. (Biotechnology)
PhD (Biomedical Engineering)
Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Analysis, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry, Clinical Pharmacy
Food Product Development & Functional Foods, Food Processing & Post-Harvest Technology, Food Safety, Quality Control & Assurance, Food Packaging & Shelf-Life Enhancement, Post-Harvest Technology & Supply Chain Management, Maternal and Child Nutrition, Fortified and Functional foods
Medical Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Food and Dairy Microbiology, Agricultural Microbiology, Industrial Microbiology, Microbial Technology, Virology, Microbial Diagnostics
Molecular Biology, Genomics, Genetic Engineering & Enzyme Technology, Bioinformatics, AI in Biology & Multi-omics Analysis, Cancer Biology, Autophagy, Drug Discovery & Metabolic Reprogramming, Synthetic Biology & Metabolic Engineering, Infectious Diseases, Vaccines & Diagnostic Biotechnology
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering, Biosensors, Diagnostics & Lab-on-Chip Systems, Microfluidics & Point-of-Care Devices, Targeted Drug Delivery & Nanotechnology, Medical Devices, Imaging & AI-enabled Healthcare
Ph.D. (Himalayan Institute for Learning and Leadership) **
PhD Center of Indian Knowledge System (CIKS)**
Ph.D. (Himalayan Institute for Learning and Leadership)
PhD Center of Indian Knowledge System
Science, Technology, Innovation and Management areas for Himalayan Region.
Ecology and Environment
Management of Himalayan biodiversity
Disaster Management
Frugal Innovation
Sustainability
Entrepreneurship opportunities
Himalayan Resource Management
Cultural Anthropology and Ethnography
Geological Studies in Himalayan Studies
Indian Mathematics and astronomy
Ayurveda and its contemporary relevance
Indian tradition of Engineering
Sustainability principles from Indian texts
Any other relevant topic that draws and builds from ancient/medieval Indian texts
Ph.D. (Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation)**
Ph.D. (Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation)
Advanced Functional Materials; Environmental Monitoring, Energy, Electronics, Sensors
Digital Health; AI Systems
Smart Sensors; PoC Technologies; Digital Health
Translational Research & Innovation
Smart Devices; Innovation
Translational Research; Regulatory Pathways
Sustainability; Societal Integration
School of Liberal Studies & Humanities
Ph.D. (Economics)
Ph.D. (Political science)
Ph.D. (English Literature)
Ph.D. (Psychology)
Ph.D. (History)
PhD (Media and Communication)
Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Development Economics, International Trade, Finance, International Economics, Education Economics
Comparative Politics, Political Economy, International Relations, Governance, Development, Public Policy, Indian and South Asian Politics
Comparative Politics, Political Economy, International Relations, Governance, Development, Public Policy, Indian and South Asian Politics
Clinical & Counselling Psychology, Cognitive Psychology & Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology, Biological & Behavioral Neuroscience
Ancient/Medieval/Modern History of India, 20th Century South Asia, Archaeology in India/South Asia, History of post-independence India (1947-1984).
Digital Media, Intercultural Communication, Mass Media, Journalism, Visual Communication, AI and Multimedia, Advertising and Public Relations, Film Studies
** Selected candidates will be registered in relevant school.
Eligibility:
Eligibility for candidates having Master’s Degree (Post Graduation):
Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant discipline with minimum 55% marks or equivalent grade from a recognized institute (applicable for full time and part time).
Eligibility for candidates having 4-Year Bachelor’s Degree (Graduation):
Minimum 75% marks or 7.5 CGPA (on 10-point scale) at 4 year undergraduate level. (applicable only for full time).
Minimum 75% marks in UPES written admission test and minimum 75% marks in oral interview.
Desirable at least one high-quality research publication from Bachelor’s degree project work in reputed peer-reviewed journal.
Coursework: 1st semester is common for all PhD students. Additionally, to complete 22-25 credits worth of courses suggested from the School by the end of 2nd year.
Eligibility for candidates having Master’s/ MTech Degree:
Master’s/ MTech degree or equivalent with minimum 55% marks or equivalent grade from a recognized institute at the qualifying level. Such applicants will write the RET written exam in the subject of their Master’s degree, followed by interview in the subject area of PhD. Minimum 75% marks in oral interview will be required to qualify.
Cross-Disciplinary Ph.D. Admission
Admission to PhD from Cross-Disciplinary Qualifying Degree
Given the growing interdisciplinary nature of subjects, UPES offers students from any Master’s/MTech degree the opportunity to pursue a higher PhD degree in another area.
Eligibility for candidates having Master’s/MTech Degree:
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Master’s/MTech degree or equivalent with minimum 55% marks or equivalent grade from a recognized institute at the qualifying level.
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Applicants will appear for the RET written examination in the subject of their Master’s degree, followed by an interview in the intended PhD subject area.
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Minimum 75% marks in oral interview will be required to qualify.
Coursework:
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The 1st semester is common for all PhD students.
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Students must additionally complete 22–25 credits worth of courses suggested by the respective school by the end of the 2nd year.
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Mobility across disciplines will be determined by a committee through a pre-screening interaction with the candidate.
Please Note- All scholarships are payable as per the University’s policy
Fee Structure for Ph.D. programs:
₹ 1,00,000 per semester.
Semester Fee Waiver/ Scholarship (valid for full tenure of Ph.D. program)
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Full Time: 75% waiver applied (Net Fee: ₹ 25,000).
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Part Time: No waiver (Fee: ₹ 1,00,000).
Please Note- All scholarships are payable as per the University’s policy
Selection Process
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Fill the application form online https://phd.upes.ac.in/appform.aspx and pay application fee of INR 1000 before 10th June 2026.
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Appear for UPES Research Entrance Test (RET) on 19th June 2026 in online-proctored mode i.e. online mode, exempted for UGCNET/GATE/SET/GPAT/CSIR/Inspire qualified candidates.
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RET Selected and Exempted candidates to submit Research proposal on phd@upes.ac.in approximately 1000 words for all schools and only for School of Liberal Studies & Humanities it should be approximately 2200 words, on or before 1st July 2026.
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RET Selected and Exempted candidates to book interview slots on 8th July 2026 through the link which shall be shared on or before 8th July 2026.
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RET Selected and Exempted candidates to appear for interview on 15th, 16th, 17th July, 2026.
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Issuance of Offer letters to finally selected candidates on or before 27th July 2026.
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Payment of enrolment fee as per date specified in the admission offer letter i.e. 3rd August 2026.
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Orientation scheduled in Campus on 10th August 2026 at 9 AM.
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Commencement of session – 12th August 2026.
Research Entrance Test (RET) Details:
RET is a 3 hours online proctored (online through Codetantra Platform) test having two sections. It will be held on 19th June 2026, between 10 am-1 pm. You will receive online test login details from Codetantra team via email. RET details are:
SECTION
TOTAL QUESTIONS
MARKS
TOPIC
Time
3 Hours
Section A
50 Questions (1 Mark Each)
50
Research/General Aptitude Objective Questions
Section B
50 Questions (1 Mark Each)
50
Domain specific Objective Questions
Total
100
*For School of Liberal Studies & Humanities and School of Design, RET will have subjective components.
*For School of Liberal Studies & Humanities and School of Design, RET will have subjective components.
Important Dates to Remember:
Key Timelines
Important Dates
July 2026 Intake
Last Date to Apply
10th June, 2026
RET Exam
19th June, 2026
RET Result Declaration
26th June, 2026
Submission of Research Proposal on phd@upes.ac.in – approx. 1000 words.
*Only for School of Liberal Studies & Humanities Research Proposal should be approximately 2200 words.
1st July, 2026
Online Interview Booking/Scheduling
8th July, 2026
Online Interviews
15th, 16th, 17th July, 2026
Full Time HILL interviews at HESCO location (Dehradun)
20th July, 2026
Interview Result Declaration
27th July, 2026
Last date to Pay Fee
3rd August, 2026
Orientation Date/Registration
10th August, 2026
Commencement of Session Date
12th August, 2026
Important: RET will be in the online mode. Candidates will receive online login credentials through the Codetantra team before the test date. The test will be conducted over the Codetantra platform.
*University reserves the right to change/cancel/withdraw the fellowship amount or research grant of INR 2 lakh purely on discretionary basis.
ALUMNI SPEAK
Dr Swaminathan Mani
VP, Tech Mahindra
UPES is an excellent blend of intellectual horsepower, state-of the art infrastructure, top-notch faculty, research orientation and high quality peer group. The salubrious campus environment nestled in the valley surrounded by the Himalayas added to the charm.
Dr D.C Patra
Retd. Exec. Director, BPCL
The strong Industry collaboration of UPES and application oriented approach to teaching & learning enabled me to earn my Ph. D in Petroleum Economics in 2007. I am privileged to be the first Ph.D pass out from UPES.
Dr Neelesh Kane
Chief -Power Distribution, Tata Power
Journey during by Ph.D. work at UPES is memorable with hill side beautiful campus and infrastructure with state of art facilities including a world class library covering all research journal and international papers useful for performing the research work.
Dr Sushanta Chatterjee
Chief Regulatory Affairs, CERC
The Ph.D. course at UPES gave real impetus to my academic and research aptitude and acted as a catalyst to my future pursuits I am happy to inform that I have also been recommended recently for Fulbright Scholarship for the year 2022-23
Disclaimers
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Application fee non-refundable
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Admission norms subject to UGC changes
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Seats limited
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Online interviews via MS Teams
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Communication only through phd@upes.ac.in
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International scholar visa note
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University liability notes
Contact Us
For any communication regarding Ph.D. at UPES, please get in touch only with +91-9548644105 or write to phd@upes.ac.in.