GITAM School of Science Visakhapatnam Ph.D Food Science And Technology: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Visakhapatnam, Andhra PradeshEstd 1980NAAC Grade A++ 3.5
Collegedunia Team's profile photo

Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated on - Aug 3, 2026

GITAM School of Science, Visakhapatnam, offers a full-time, on-campus Ph.D. in Life Sciences (Food Science and Technology) under GITAM Deemed to be University, which is NAAC A++ accredited. The programme has a minimum duration of 3 years and covers original research in areas such as food processing and preservation, food safety and quality, food microbiology, nutraceuticals, functional foods, food packaging, food biotechnology, and food chemistry. The annual tuition fee is Rs. 30,000. Admission is based on the GITAM Research Admissions Test (GReAT) or valid scores in CSIR/UGC-NET, GATE, or ICAR, followed by a personal interview. The Ph.D. in Life Sciences (Food Science and Technology) is available at all three GITAM campuses - Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. The programme is popular among food technology, life sciences, and agriculture graduates seeking a research career in the food processing industry, regulatory bodies, and academic institutions.

Admissions for the 2026-2027 batch are currently open. The last date to submit the online application is 11th May 2026. The Ph.D. entrance exam (GReAT) for Science disciplines will be conducted in-person at the GITAM campus on 30th May 2026, followed by interviews from 30th May to 1st June 2026. Final admission results will be declared on or before 30th June 2026, with the programme commencing on 24th August 2026.

Key Points

  • The Ph.D. in Life Sciences (Food Science and Technology) is available at all three GITAM campuses - Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.
  • Full-time scholars are eligible for a GITAM PhD Fellowship of Rs. 33,000 per month for up to three years (confirmed for 2025-26 batch; 2026-27 fellowship details to be confirmed with the university).
  • Mandatory coursework is required for all full-time scholars, with a minimum of 75% attendance per course.
  • Scholars have access to sophisticated food science and analytical instrumentation for research in food processing, safety, and quality.
  • Candidates with valid CSIR/UGC-NET, GATE, or ICAR scores are exempted from GReAT and are directly called for an interview.
  • The eligibility includes M.Sc. in Food Science and Technology, M.Tech. in Food Technology, and related life sciences degrees.

GITAM PhD Fees

Fee Structure

Fee ComponentAmount (INR)
Application / Registration Fee (Non-refundable)₹1,200
Annual Tuition Fee (Year 1)₹30,000
Annual Tuition Fee (Year 2)₹30,000
Annual Tuition Fee (Year 3)₹30,000
Processing FeeNIL
Total Fees (3 Years)₹91,200
  • Hostel accommodation is available on campus but is not mandatory.
  • Hostel fees are charged separately and are not included in the above total.
  • The application/registration fee of Rs. 1,200 is non-refundable.
  • In case of admission cancellation, fees paid (excluding the registration fee and administrative charges) are refundable up to 15th September 2026 as per the 2026-27 brochure.
  • Academic fees are subject to revision by the university from time to time.
  • No EMI option has been officially announced; fees are typically paid annually at the time of joining each academic year.

GITAM PhD Admission 2026

Important Dates

EventDate
Online Application OpensAvailable at researchadmissions.gitam.edu
Last Date for Online Application Submission11th May 2026
Ph.D. Entrance Exam - GReAT (Science - In-Person at GITAM Campus)30th May 2026
Results of Ph.D. Entrance Exam30th May 2026
In-Person Interviews at GITAM Campus (Science)30th May 2026 to 1st June 2026
Final Admission ResultsOn or before 30th June 2026
Release of Offer Letters, Fee Payment and Document VerificationJuly - August 2026
Commencement of Ph.D. Programme24th August 2026
Last Date for Admission Cancellation with Fee Refund15th September 2026

Qualifying Exam Dates

ExamEventDate
CSIR-UGC NET (Life Sciences)December 2025 Session Exam18th December 2025
UGC-NET (Home Science / Food Technology)Phase 1 Exam31st December 2025 - 7th January 2026
UGC-NETPhase 1 Result4th February 2026
UGC-NETPhase 2 Registration (Tentative)April 1 - May 1, 2026
UGC-NETPhase 2 Exam (Tentative)June 2026
CSIR-UGC NET (June 2026 Session)Registration (Tentative)May 1 - May 21, 2026
CSIR-UGC NET (June 2026 Session)Exam (Tentative)July 2026
GATE (Food Technology / XE)ExamFebruary 2026 (Completed)
ICAR-JRFExamAs per ICAR schedule
  • Candidates with a valid CSIR/UGC-NET, GATE, or ICAR score are exempted from GReAT and are directly eligible for the interview round.
  • Please check official websites (csirnet.nta.nic.in, ugcnet.nta.nic.in, gate.iitkgp.ac.in) for the latest updates on exam schedules.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Candidates must hold an M.Sc. degree in Food Science and Technology, Food Science and Nutrition, or any branch of Life Sciences, or M.Tech. in Food Technology, or an equivalent degree, with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (or equivalent grade).
  • Alternatively, candidates with a 4-year B.Sc. (Honours) degree in relevant subjects with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate are also eligible.
  • Candidates appearing in the final year/semester of their qualifying degree are also eligible to apply, subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria at the time of joining.

Admission Process

  • Submit the online application at researchadmissions.gitam.edu by paying a non-refundable registration fee of Rs. 1,200 on or before 11th May 2026.
  • Candidates without a valid CSIR/UGC-NET, GATE, or ICAR score must appear for the GITAM Research Admissions Test (GReAT) - an objective-type written test of 160 marks (80 marks Research Aptitude + 80 marks Life Sciences subject area), conducted in-person at the GITAM campus.
  • Candidates who qualify in GReAT, or those with valid national-level exam scores, are called for an in-person interview at the GITAM campus.
  • The interview evaluates the candidate's research competence, suitability of the proposed research area, and potential to generate new knowledge.
  • Final admission is offered based on merit and seat availability; merely meeting eligibility does not guarantee admission.
  • Selected candidates must complete document verification and fee payment between July and August 2026.

GITAM PhD Scholarships 2026

Fellowship Details

Scholarship / FellowshipAmountEligibilityDuration
GITAM PhD FellowshipRs. 33,000 per monthFull-time Ph.D. scholars admitted to the on-campus programme (confirmed for 2025-26 batch; 2026-27 details to be confirmed by university)Up to 3 years
CSIR-JRF / UGC-JRF (Life Sciences)Rs. 37,000 per month (JRF) + HRACandidates who qualify CSIR-NET / UGC-NET with JRF2 years (extendable as SRF)
ICAR-JRFAs per ICAR normsCandidates who qualify ICAR-JRF in Food Science/TechnologyAs per ICAR norms
GATE Fellowship (MHRD)Rs. 12,400 per monthCandidates admitted on the basis of GATE scoreAs per MHRD norms
  • The GITAM PhD Fellowship of Rs. 33,000/month was confirmed for the 2025-26 batch.
  • Scholars admitted under the 2026-27 batch should confirm the fellowship amount and terms directly with GITAM at phdsupport@gitam.edu before joining.
  • Scholars receiving externally funded fellowships (CSIR-JRF, UGC-JRF, ICAR-JRF) may be shifted to the GITAM PhD Fellowship after the completion of their external fellowship period, subject to university norms.
  • GITAM's institutional merit/need-based scholarship policy explicitly excludes Ph.D. programmes; hence, those scholarships do not apply here.
  • Fellowship amounts are as per the latest DST/UGC/MHRD/ICAR norms and are subject to revision.
5 Views Last Year

Table of Contents

GITAM PhD FAQs

Ques. Is the Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology at GITAM available at all three campuses?

Ans. Yes, the Ph.D. in Life Sciences (Food Science and Technology) is available at all three GITAM campuses - Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. Students can choose their preferred campus at the time of application, subject to seat availability and supervisor availability at that campus. This makes it one of the more accessible PhD specialisations at GITAM compared to those restricted to only the Visakhapatnam campus.

Ques. Can a candidate with an M.Sc. in Nutrition or Home Science apply for this Ph.D.?

Ans. The eligibility criteria for Ph.D. in Life Sciences (Food Science and Technology) at GITAM includes M.Sc. in Food Science and Technology, Food Science and Nutrition, or any branch of Life Sciences. Candidates with M.Sc. in Nutrition or Home Science may be considered under the broader Life Sciences category, but it is advisable to confirm eligibility directly with GITAM at phdsupport@gitam.edu before applying, as the final decision rests with the admissions committee.

Ques. What is the GITAM PhD Fellowship and is it available for Food Science and Technology scholars?

Ans. The GITAM PhD Fellowship offers Rs. 33,000 per month for a maximum of three years to full-time on-campus Ph.D. scholars across all disciplines, including Food Science and Technology. However, the fellowship is not automatically guaranteed to every admitted scholar and is subject to availability and university norms. Candidates who already hold an external fellowship (CSIR-JRF, UGC-JRF, ICAR-JRF) will continue on their external fellowship and may be transitioned to the GITAM fellowship after its completion. Scholars should confirm fellowship terms at the time of receiving the offer letter.

Ques. Which entrance exams are accepted for Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology at GITAM?

Ans. GITAM accepts CSIR-NET (Life Sciences), UGC-NET (Home Science or Food Technology), GATE (Food Technology paper or XE paper), and ICAR-JRF for exemption from the GReAT written test. Candidates with valid scores in any of these exams are directly called for the in-person interview at the GITAM campus. Candidates without any of these scores must appear for the GReAT entrance test conducted in-person at the GITAM campus.

Ques. What research areas are typically available for Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology at GITAM Visakhapatnam?

Ans. The Food Science and Technology faculty at GITAM Visakhapatnam typically works in areas such as food processing and preservation technologies, food safety and quality management, food microbiology, functional foods and nutraceuticals, food packaging innovations, food biotechnology, food chemistry, and value addition to agricultural produce. Prospective students are advised to identify a potential supervisor and research area before applying, as admission is subject to supervisor availability. Contact the department at phdsupport@gitam.edu for faculty profiles and current research projects.

Ques. Is GATE in Food Technology the right paper for Ph.D. Food Science and Technology admission at GITAM?

Ans. Yes, GATE in Food Technology (FT paper) is one of the accepted qualifying exams for Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology at GITAM. Candidates with a valid GATE score in Food Technology are exempted from the GReAT written test and directly called for an interview. The XE (Engineering Sciences) paper with Food Technology section may also be considered. Candidates should confirm the specific GATE paper requirements with GITAM at phdsupport@gitam.edu before applying.

Course Finder

Search from 20K+ Courses and 35+ Streams

Clear

Comments


No Comments To Show