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The Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Amal Jyothi College of Engineering (AJCE), Kanjirappally, Kerala, is a research-based doctoral programme affiliated to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU), Thiruvananthapuram. The programme is available in both full-time and part-time modes with a minimum duration of 3 years (full-time) and up to 6 years. Research areas in the Mechanical Engineering department include Machining, Composites, Thermal and Energy Science, Incremental Sheet Metal Forming, Additive Manufacturing, and Industrial Engineering. The annual university fee is approximately Rs. 29,000, and full-time scholars are eligible for a KTU fellowship of Rs. 25,000 per month for 3 years. AJCE is the first engineering college in Kerala to receive NAAC A grade (currently A+), is AICTE-approved, and has strong industry tie-ups including Eicher, Yamaha, Bosch, and JK Tyre, making it a well-connected destination for Mechanical Engineering research in Kerala.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are expected to be notified by KTU around May 2026, based on the pattern of previous years (2025 notification was issued on April 30, 2025, with application window from May 1 to May 31, 2025, and entrance exam on June 20, 2025). Candidates are advised to monitor the KTU official website (ktu.edu.in) and AJCE website (ajce.in) for the 2026 notification.

Key Points

AJCE is an Autonomous institution (UGC Autonomous status granted July 2023) affiliated to KTU, with NAAC A+ accreditation and AICTE approval.
The Mechanical Engineering department at AJCE has 4 registered PhD research guides with expertise in Machining, Composites, Thermal Science, Additive Manufacturing, and Industrial Engineering.
Full-time PhD scholars at KTU-affiliated colleges are eligible for a fellowship of Rs. 25,000 per month for 3 years, plus a contingency grant of Rs. 10,000 per year.
The programme is available in three categories: Full-time (with or without fellowship), Part-time (for faculty of KTU-affiliated colleges), and External Part-time (for researchers in recognised R&D organisations).
The Mechanical Engineering department has industry tie-ups with Eicher, Yamaha India, Bosch, and JK Tyre, providing access to industry-relevant research problems and facilities.
AJCE hosts the Startups Valley TBI (Technology Business Incubator) with 32 startups, providing a vibrant research and innovation ecosystem on campus.

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Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

AJCE Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Fees

The Ph.D. programme at AJCE is affiliated to KTU, and the fee structure is governed by KTU norms. The annual university fee for PhD in Engineering and Technology is approximately Rs. 29,000. Full-time scholars who receive the KTU fellowship of Rs. 25,000 per month effectively have their fees covered by the fellowship. The total fee for the minimum 3-year duration is approximately Rs. 87,000 (university fee only), excluding any college-specific charges.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Per Year (Rs.)	Total for 3 Years (Rs.)
KTU University Fee (Engineering and Technology)	29,000	87,000
Application Fee (General)	1,100 (one-time)	1,100
Application Fee (SC/ST)	550 (one-time)	550
Total Fees (General Category)		88,100

The above fees are as per KTU norms for PhD in Engineering and Technology programmes.
College-specific fees (if any) are to be confirmed directly with AJCE at the time of admission.
Full-time scholars receiving the KTU fellowship of Rs. 25,000/month for 3 years (total Rs. 9,00,000) effectively have their fees and living expenses covered.
Part-time scholars do not receive the fellowship.
Fees are subject to revision by KTU from time to time.

AJCE Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) programme at AJCE are conducted through KTU's centralised PhD admission process. Candidates must appear in the KTU PhD Entrance Test under the Mechanical Engineering (ME) stream, qualify with a minimum of 50% marks (35/70), and then attend a personal interview at the place of research (AJCE). The 2026 admission notification is expected around May 2026. Candidates with valid GATE scores or UGC-NET qualification are exempted from the entrance test.

KTU PhD Admission Dates

Event	2025 (Actual)	2026 (Tentative)
KTU PhD Notification	April 30, 2025	May 2026
Application Window Opens	May 1, 2025	May 2026
Last Date to Apply	May 31, 2025	May/June 2026
PhD Entrance Examination	June 20, 2025	June 2026
Interview and Admission	July 2025	July 2026

Accepted Entrance Exams

Exam	Conducting Body	Relevance
GATE (ME - Mechanical Engineering)	IITs / IISc (NTA)	Exemption from KTU PhD Entrance Test
GATE (PI - Production and Industrial Engineering)	IITs / IISc (NTA)	Exemption from KTU PhD Entrance Test
UGC-NET (relevant subject)	NTA	Exemption from KTU PhD Entrance Test

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master's degree in Engineering/Technology (M.Tech/M.E.) or Master's degree by Research in Engineering/Technology with a minimum CGPA of 5.75 (General); CGPA of 5.25 for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/EWS/Differently-abled candidates.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Technology (B.Tech/B.E.) with a minimum CGPA of 7.75 (General); CGPA of 7.25 for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/EWS/Differently-abled candidates (direct PhD route).
Candidates with valid GATE score or UGC-NET qualification are exempted from the KTU PhD Entrance Test.
Part-time applicants must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer in the prescribed format.

Admission Process

Monitor KTU website (ktu.edu.in) for the annual PhD admission notification (typically May each year).
Apply online through the KTU portal (app.ktu.edu.in) and pay the application fee (Rs. 1,100 for General; Rs. 550 for SC/ST).
Appear in the KTU PhD Entrance Test under the ME (Mechanical Engineering) stream (if not exempted via GATE/UGC-NET).
Qualify in the entrance test (minimum 50% overall) and attend the personal interview at AJCE.
Identify a research supervisor from the AJCE Mechanical Engineering department and get the Doctoral Committee recommendation.
Complete registration formalities at AJCE and KTU.

AJCE Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Scholarships 2026

PhD scholars at AJCE can avail of several fellowship and scholarship opportunities. The KTU fellowship is the primary financial support for full-time scholars. Additionally, national-level fellowships from AICTE and other agencies are available for eligible candidates.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Offered By	Amount	Eligibility
KTU PhD Fellowship	APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University	Rs. 25,000/month for 3 years + Rs. 10,000/year contingency	Full-time PhD scholars at KTU-affiliated colleges
AICTE Doctoral Fellowship	AICTE	As per AICTE norms	Faculty of AICTE-approved institutions pursuing PhD
KSCSTE Fellowship	Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment	As per KSCSTE norms	Selected candidates; exempted from Part B of entrance test
UGC-NET JRF	UGC	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF)	Candidates qualifying UGC-NET with JRF; exempted from KTU entrance test
GATE Fellowship (MHRD/DST)	Government of India	As per scheme norms	Candidates with valid GATE score; exempted from KTU entrance test
Merit-cum-Means Scholarship	AJCE (Institutional)	As per AJCE norms	Meritorious and economically weaker students

KTU fellowship is available only for full-time scholars; part-time scholars are not eligible.
AICTE Doctoral Fellowship candidates are admitted separately through a separate KTU notification.
Candidates with KSCSTE fellowship need to appear only for Part A of the KTU entrance test.
GATE and UGC-NET qualified candidates are fully exempted from the KTU PhD entrance test.

AJCE Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) FAQs

Ques. Can I pursue a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at AJCE while working in the industry?

Ans. Yes, AJCE offers External Part-time PhD registration for professionals working in R&D centres or industries recognised by KTU for the purpose of external registration. Such candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer and are required to attend regular coursework at AJCE. External part-time scholars are not eligible for the KTU monthly fellowship.

Ques. Who are the research guides available in the Mechanical Engineering department at AJCE?

Ans. The Mechanical Engineering department at AJCE has four registered KTU PhD research guides: Dr. K. Jessy (Machining, Composites), Dr. P. Ganesan (Thermal and Energy Science), Dr. Vishal John Mathai (Incremental Sheet Metal Forming, Additive Manufacturing), and Dr. Joby George (Industrial Engineering). Candidates should contact the department to check current research vacancies before applying.

Ques. What GATE paper should I appear for to get exemption from the KTU PhD Entrance Test for Mechanical Engineering?

Ans. Candidates should appear for GATE ME (Mechanical Engineering) or GATE PI (Production and Industrial Engineering) to get exemption from the KTU PhD Entrance Test. A valid GATE score (not expired) is required at the time of application.

Ques. Are there any industry-sponsored PhD opportunities at AJCE for Mechanical Engineering?

Ans. AJCE has strong industry tie-ups with Eicher, Yamaha India, Bosch, and JK Tyre, particularly for the Mechanical Engineering (Automobile) department. While formal industry-sponsored PhD programmes are not explicitly listed, candidates with industry experience can explore External Part-time PhD registration and may be able to work on industry-relevant research problems in collaboration with these partners.

Ques. What is the scope of a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from AJCE (KTU)?

Ans. A PhD in Mechanical Engineering from AJCE opens doors to academic positions in engineering colleges and universities, research positions in DRDO, ISRO, BARC, CSIR-CMERI, and private R&D organisations, and senior technical roles in the automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing industries. The research areas at AJCE (Additive Manufacturing, Thermal Science, Composites) are highly relevant to current industry trends in lightweighting, sustainable manufacturing, and Industry 4.0.

Ques. Does AJCE have hostel facilities for PhD scholars from outside Kerala?

Ans. Yes, AJCE has separate hostel facilities for both male and female students with a combined capacity of 2,500 (Ladies Hostel: 1,200; Gents Hostel: 1,300). PhD scholars from outside Kerala can avail of hostel accommodation subject to availability. Hostel fees are charged separately and are not included in the university fee. The campus is located in Kanjirappally, Kottayam district, Kerala, which is well-connected by road and rail.

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Amal Jyothi College of Engineering Kanjirappally Ph.D Mechanical Engineering: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Table of Contents

AJCE Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Fees

Fee Structure

AJCE Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Admission 2026

KTU PhD Admission Dates

Accepted Entrance Exams

Eligibility Criteria

Admission Process

AJCE Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Scholarships 2026

Scholarship Details

AJCE Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) FAQs

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