Nirma University Ahmedabad Ph.D Architecture and Planning: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Content Curator | Updated on - Jul 19, 2026

The Ph.D. (Architecture and Planning) programme at Nirma University, Ahmedabad is a full-time doctoral research programme offered by the Institute of Architecture and Planning (IAP), established in 2014 and recognised by the Council of Architecture (CoA), New Delhi. The programme has a minimum duration of 3 years and can extend up to 6 years, with a general intake of 10-15 scholars per cycle. Research areas include Urban Ecology, Disaster Management and Developmental Planning, Urban Open Spaces, Urban Forestry, and related interdisciplinary domains. The programme is offered in full-time mode on campus at Nirma University's lush green campus in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It is popular among architecture and planning graduates seeking to contribute to academic research, urban policy, and built environment studies in India.

Admissions for the Ph.D. (Architecture and Planning) 2026-27 are currently open. The Ph.D. Entrance Examination and Presentation for the Institute of Architecture and Planning is scheduled for 23rd July 2026 (Thursday) at Nirma University, Ahmedabad. Candidates must apply online with a non-refundable processing fee of Rs. 1,250 before the application deadline. The online application portal is live at admissions-phd.nirmauni.ac.in.

Key Points

The programme is offered under the Faculty of Doctoral Studies and Research (FDSR), which coordinates all doctoral programmes across the university.
Research scholars are required to complete 16 credits of coursework as part of the programme.
Scholars must publish at least one research paper in a refereed journal indexed in Web of Science/Scopus (Q3 or higher) and make two conference presentations, or publish two refereed papers and make one conference presentation, before thesis submission.
Full-time PhD scholars are eligible for a monthly fellowship/scholarship from the university.
Candidates with valid UGC-NET (including JRF), UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF), or GATE scores are exempted from the written entrance test and directly called for the personal interview/viva-voce.
Full-time scholars may also get an opportunity to work as Lecturers on a contractual basis during their PhD tenure.

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05 May, 2026 Nirma University Ahmedabad Ph.D Architecture and Planning Fee Structure 2026 is out. The total academic fee is ₹ 1.62 Lakhs.

Nirma PhD (Architecture and Planning) Fees

The Ph.D. (Architecture and Planning) Full Time programme at Nirma University has a straightforward and affordable fee structure for the 2026-27 academic year. The annual tuition fee is Rs. 40,000, making it one of the more economical doctoral programmes among private universities. In addition to tuition, scholars pay a one-time registration fee, course work examination fee, and a viva voce fee at the time of thesis submission. A refundable security deposit of Rs. 15,000 is also collected.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition Fee (Per Annum)	40,000
Registration Fee (One Time)	5,000
Initial Post-Graduation Registration Fee (One Time)	1,000
Course Work Examination Fee (One Time)	1,200
Viva Voce Examination Fee (at thesis submission)	20,000
Total One-Time/Other Fees	27,200
Refundable Security Deposit	15,000
Total Fees (for 3 years, including all components)	1,62,200

The refundable security deposit of Rs. 15,000 is returned upon completion/exit from the programme.
Tuition fee of Rs. 40,000 is charged per annum; total tuition for 3 years = Rs. 1,20,000.
Eligibility certificate fee of Rs. 1,000 is applicable only if required.
Application processing fee of Rs. 1,250 is non-refundable and paid at the time of applying.
No hostel fee is included above; hostel accommodation is available on campus at additional cost.

Nirma PhD (Architecture and Planning) Admission 2026

Nirma University conducts annual admissions to its Ph.D. (Architecture and Planning) programme. Admissions for 2026-27 are currently open, with the entrance examination scheduled for July 2026. Candidates who hold valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE scores are exempted from the written test and directly proceed to the viva-voce/presentation round. The final selection is based on 70% weightage to the entrance test and 30% to the viva-voce performance.

Nirma University Ph.D. Admission Schedule

Event	Tentative Date
PhD Admissions 2026-27 Open	February 20, 2026
Online Application Start	February 2026
Application Processing Fee	Rs. 1,250 (Non-refundable)
Written Test and Presentation - Institute of Architecture and Planning	July 23, 2026 (Thursday)
Result / Merit List Declaration	After July 23, 2026
Batch Commencement	August/September 2026 (Tentative)

Relevant Exam Dates for PhD Admissions

Exam	Details	Relevance
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Exam: December 31, 2025 - January 7, 2026; Result: February 4, 2026	Valid score exempts from written entrance test
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Registration: April 1 - May 1, 2026 (Tentative); Exam: June 2026 (Tentative)	Valid score exempts from written entrance test
GATE 2026	Exam: February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026; Result: March 19, 2026	Valid score exempts from written entrance test

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

A Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (Architecture, Planning, or allied fields) from a recognised university with at least 55% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade.
OR a 4-year Bachelor's degree programme in a relevant discipline from a recognised university with at least 75% marks in aggregate.
OR an M.Phil. degree from a recognised university with at least 55% marks in aggregate.

Admission Process

Apply online at admissions-phd.nirmauni.ac.in with a non-refundable processing fee of Rs. 1,250.
Eligible candidates are called for the written entrance test (50% qualifying marks required); syllabus covers 50% Research Methodology and 50% subject-specific topics.
Candidates with valid UGC-NET (including JRF), UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF), or GATE scores are exempted from the written test.
Shortlisted candidates appear for a viva-voce/presentation before the Departmental Research Committee.
Final merit is computed with 70% weightage to the entrance test and 30% to the viva-voce.
Selected candidates are allotted a Research Supervisor based on specialisation and research interests.
All admitted scholars must complete 16 credits of coursework.

Nirma PhD (Architecture and Planning) Scholarships 2026

Nirma University provides monthly fellowships to full-time PhD scholars, making the programme financially accessible for meritorious candidates. The fellowship amounts are competitive and are disbursed monthly throughout the programme duration. Architecture and Planning falls under the Science/Humanities and Social Science category for fellowship purposes.

Fellowship Amounts

Category	Fellowship Amount
Architecture and Planning (Full-Time PhD) - First Two Years	Rs. 22,550 per month
Architecture and Planning (Full-Time PhD) - Third Year	Rs. 26,290 per month

Fellowships are available only for full-time PhD scholars; part-time scholars are not eligible.
The fellowship is subject to satisfactory academic progress and compliance with university norms.
In addition to the university fellowship, scholars may apply for external fellowships such as UGC-JRF, CSIR-JRF, or DST-INSPIRE, which carry higher stipends.
Scholars working as Lecturers on a contractual basis during their PhD tenure may receive additional remuneration as per university guidelines.

Nirma PhD (Architecture and Planning) FAQs

Ques. Is the Ph.D. in Architecture and Planning at Nirma University recognised by the Council of Architecture (CoA)?

Ans. The Institute of Architecture and Planning at Nirma University is recognised by the Council of Architecture (CoA), New Delhi. The PhD programme is a research degree and falls under the purview of UGC regulations. However, the CoA primarily regulates professional degrees like B.Arch; the PhD is governed by UGC norms and Nirma University's own academic regulations.

Ques. What are the research areas available for PhD in Architecture and Planning at Nirma University?

Ans. The institute offers research in areas such as Urban Ecology, Disaster Management and Developmental Planning, Urban Open Spaces, Urban Forestry, Sustainable Architecture, Heritage Conservation, and related interdisciplinary topics. Candidates are advised to check the latest list of tentative research areas published on the FDSR website before applying.

Ques. Can a working professional pursue the PhD in Architecture and Planning at Nirma University?

Ans. Yes, Nirma University offers both full-time and part-time PhD programmes. Working professionals can opt for the part-time PhD, which has an annual fee of Rs. 50,000 and a different fee structure. However, the part-time PhD does not come with the monthly fellowship benefit.

Ques. Is it mandatory to appear for the entrance test if I have a valid GATE or UGC-NET score?

Ans. No. Candidates with a valid UGC-NET (including JRF), UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF), or GATE score are exempted from the written entrance test and are directly called for the viva-voce/presentation round before the Departmental Research Committee.

Ques. What is the minimum duration of the PhD programme and how many papers do I need to publish?

Ans. The minimum duration is 3 years (full-time). Before submitting the thesis, scholars must publish at least one research paper in a refereed journal indexed in Web of Science/Scopus (Q3 or higher) and make two conference presentations, or publish two refereed papers and make one conference presentation.

Ques. Are hostel facilities available for PhD scholars at Nirma University?

Ans. Yes, Nirma University has on-campus hostel facilities available for PhD scholars. Hostel fees are charged separately and are not included in the PhD programme fee structure. Scholars are advised to contact the university directly for current hostel fee details and availability.

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Nirma University Ahmedabad: 1 Answered Question

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